Mississippi’s Parchman Prison has long stood as a symbol of deep systemic neglect. In 2020, after a series of tragic deaths and rising public concern, a coalition of advocates and legal leaders filed a federal lawsuit that led to a landmark ruling calling for major reforms. This discussion brings together those who helped drive the case forward— alongside the prison wardens now working to implement change—to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of creating meaningful prison reform. Together, they’ll explore how legal action, collaboration, and accountability can help move even the most troubled systems toward dignity and justice.

Moderator: Ari Melber, MSNBC Chief Legal Correspondent; Host, The Beat with Ari Melber

Marcy Croft, Founding Partner, MJ Legal

Dr. Baz Dreisinger - Founding Executive Director, Incarceration Nations Network; Founder, Prison-to-College Pipeline Program, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Marc McClure, Regional Superintendent for the Mississippi Department of Corrections

Munajj Salahuddin, Court Advocate, Mississippi Bail Fund Collective / People’s Advocacy Institute, Islamic Chaplain for Mississippi State Penitentiary, Author | Speaker | Faith-Based Justice Advocate