U.S. Magistrate Jerry Davis has found that the way inmates are treat­ed on Mississippi’s death row con­sti­tutes cru­el and unusu­al pun­ish­ment in vio­la­tion of the Eighth Amendment. Noting that the death row at Patchman prison is so harsh and filthy that inmates are being dri­ven insane, Davis stat­ed, ​“No one in a civ­i­lized soci­ety should be forced to live under con­di­tions that force expo­sure to anoth­er per­son­’s bod­i­ly wastes. No mat­ter how heinous the crime com­mit­ted, there is no excuse for such liv­ing con­di­tions.” The rul­ing came in a law­suit filed on behalf of six inmates who alleged harsh con­di­tions were con­tribut­ing to a high rate of men­tal ill­ness among pris­on­ers. Davis ordered 10 facil­i­ty reforms, includ­ing annu­al men­tal health check-ups, bet­ter light­ing, improved toi­lets, and insect con­trol. The Mississippi Corrections Commissioner said that he does not con­sid­er the state’s death row to be any worse than oth­ers across the country.

(Associated Press, May 22, 2003) See Mississippi Death Penalty Information.

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