Formerly incarcerated Mississippians will share their stories about rebuilding their lives at the "Redemption Over Retribution" fall conference next month.

Mississippi has one of the world's highest incarceration rates.

Pastor Wesley Bridges, CEO of Clergy for Prison Reform, a faith-based organization that supports families with incarcerated loved ones and amplifies their voices, said the conference will offer resources and feature people who've been released from prison in a vairety of roles - including preaching, singing, teaching and workshops.

"We're doing that again, to shine the light on the fact in Mississippi that second chances work," he said. "So, we did that in Jackson in April. We're going to do it in Columbia, Mississippi, again in September. And we hope again to have it 100% of people that are formerly incarcerated - because nobody can tell the story like they can tell the story."

The in-person conference will be Sept. 27-28 at New Life Fellowship Church in Columbia.

Bridges said the organization was established in 2015, at the height of turmoil within the Mississippi Department of Corrections. This period saw rampant gang violence and arson, as tensions boiled over in prisons because of living conditions and related issues.

Bridges emphasized that Clergy for Prison Reform aims to enlighten legislators and the people of Mississippi about the importance of recognizing the humanity of individuals behind bars. He said the group collaborates with like-minded organizations to advance their goals.

"And we advocate for laws that are antiquated to be removed from books, laws that don't make moral or fiscal sense for the State of Mississippi," he said. "We advocate for compassionate release. We advocate for suffrage for those that are released, who've paid their debt to society, to have something to return to."

He said he's convinced Mississippi could decrease its prison population by re-examining some cases. As an example, he cited an 85-year-old woman whose parole was recently denied and won't be reconsidered for another five years. He added that implementing more compassionate release policies could lead to more efficient use of state resources.


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Indiana lawmakers are moving forward with plans to expand the state's Lifeline Law, which protects those seeking emergency help in alcohol-related crises.

A Senate committee unanimously approved a bill to extend immunity to individuals in distress due to excessive drinking, aiming to address hesitation among young people to call for help.

Rebecca Siner, student body vice president at Purdue University, said broader protections encourage people to seek assistance in dangerous situations without fearing legal repercussions.

"The Indiana Lifeline Law provides amnesty from arrest or prosecution to those seeking medical attention for underage drinking," Siner explained. "The parties protected under this law are the caller and those who assist the caller, staying on scene and remaining compliant. The person in need of medical attention is not protected to this day."

Critics, however, raised concerns expanding immunity might unintentionally encourage reckless behavior, such as excessive drinking, by reducing perceived consequences. Some also questioned whether the law's broader scope could create enforcement challenges or overwhelm emergency services with noncritical calls.

Jason Packard, student body president at Purdue, told lawmakers he supports the amendment to broaden protections. He said it will be imperative to educate the community about the changes to drive better outcomes.

"With this change, it gives them protection and it makes educating students on this topic much easier," Packard contended. "And it's a much more convincing message for them to remember when they're in that scary situation to take decisive action and call 911 to save a life."

The Lifeline Law was first enacted in 2012 and revised in 2014, giving immunity to minors reporting emergencies. If the latest amendment passes, it adds another layer of protection for Hoosiers while fueling debate over how best to balance safety and accountability.


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In Mississippi, where thousands of people are serving life sentences, the impact of long-term imprisonment falls disproportionately on Black communities. Their advocates are raising concerns about the state's sentencing practices. And they're urging legislative reforms to reduce what they call "extreme sentences" and to address racial inequities in the system.

Celeste Barry, program associate with The Sentencing Project, co-authored a new report on the effects of long-term imprisonment. She said in Mississippi, more than 2,300 people are serving life sentences - and nearly three-quarters have no opportunity for parole.

"We see in Mississippi some extreme racial disparities that are far greater than the national average. So, over 70% of the life sentence population is Black in Mississippi, and that's compared to the still troubling 45% nationally" she explained.

Groups like hers are pushing for reforms to address these disparities. Barry highlights Oklahoma as an example, where the state passed the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act, allowing incarcerated individuals to seek reduced sentences if they can prove that abuse played a role in their crime.

Barry believes similar reforms could offer significant relief in Mississippi, especially given the state's disproportionately high number of women serving life sentences without parole.

"And this has the power to bring relief to hundreds of survivors in the state, and could be particularly meaningful in a state like Mississippi, where they have the largest share of their female life-sentenced population serving life without parole," she continued.

In 2021, Mississippi lawmakers passed a bipartisan bill to reduce the prison population by expanding parole opportunities for nonviolent offenders, but Gov. Tate Reeves vetoed it, citing public safety concerns.

Services for North Carolinians affected by the justice system is going mobile.

The Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services mobile resource center is hitting the road today to provide reentry support across the state. It is the first effort of its kind.

Kerwin Pittman, founder and executive director of the organization, said the center will meet North Carolinians where they are, literally.

"What we wanted to do was bring a plethora of resources into these communities," Pittman explained. "Particularly communities that are highly impacted by recidivism and incarceration, and bring a wealth of resources to them to hopefully curb the recidivism rate."

The center had its unveiling and ribbon cutting on Tuesday and is starting in the Raleigh-Durham area today. Pittman pointed out it is the first of four units he hopes to have running by the end of the year. They will be located in different parts of the state and rotate throughout their region each week.

Pittman emphasized the units will be able to provide a long list of services.

"Some of those services range from social-benefit assistance to employment assistance to education and skill development to offering support and mental health services, substance misuse treatment and services, housing assistance, legal support, family and community support, digital literacy," Pittman outlined.

He added they will also provide inclement weather supplies, hygiene kits and local reentry resources through the organization's call center.

Places like NC Works Career Centers and other state services are able to provide local resources. But Pittman noted the services can be hard to access without a car, which can deter people.

"It's hard to walk in the cold to NC Works Center to sit in there and have to go through no telling what the intake process is, just to get whatever benefit that you may be trying to apply for or a resume or try to find a job," Pittman observed.