Two lawsuits filed by rappers Jay-Z and Yo Gotti on behalf of Mississippi inmates have come to an end.
The lawsuits, filed in early 2020, scrutinized the living conditions at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, citing broken toilets, moldy showers, roaches, and rats.
According to court documents, the lawsuits were dismissed on Jan. 13 after the Mississippi Department of Corrections worked with the U.S. Department of Justice over the last three years to make the improvements necessary, including the addition of air conditioning and bathroom renovations.
“We’re pleased that Parchman has started to address the cruel and inhumane prison conditions after the Department of Justice’s investigation, but we aren’t satisfied with short-term improvements,” Gotti, whose real name is Mario Mims, said in a statement. “The Mississippi Department of Corrections has neglected these torturous living conditions for decades, so we will continue to hold them accountable and ensure they commit to creating long-lasting change that safely protects their incarcerated people.”
Parchman, a former plantation that currently has 2,450 inmates, has been subject of multiple lawsuits over the years due to not only shoddy living conditions but a long history of violence and racial segregation.
