Mississippi fire marshal investigates Parchman unit amid safety concerns

The Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating Unit 29 at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, according to Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. Deputies visited the facility Thursday as part of a probe into recent safety and maintenance issues.

The investigation follows reports that prisoners in Unit 29 endured freezing temperatures without heat last month after a winter storm knocked out power. Chaney said investigators have been examining the situation for at least 10 days and are looking into fire code violations and other problems. He declined to specify whether the probe is part of a broader review of Parchman.

A prisoner in Unit 29 told Mississippi Today that fire marshal officers recorded information using tablets inside the unit. The inmate also reported that a fellow prisoner was told to prepare for transfer to another unit. The facility has faced scrutiny for years over poor conditions and violence, including riots in December 2020 that resulted in multiple deaths.

Despite plans announced by Corrections Commissioner Burl Cain to renovate parts of the prison, concerns remain about the safety and habitability of units like 29. Mississippi Insurance Department senior attorney Mark Lampton said the fire marshal’s office has found fire code violations and has sent a letter to prison officials requesting corrective actions. He noted that the department has yet to receive a response.

House Corrections Committee Chairwoman Becky Currie called for Unit 29 to be shut down, citing longstanding issues such as holes in the ceiling, mold, and lack of heat during the recent ice storm. Currie said the building has been uninhabitable for years and should be closed immediately.

Chaney indicated the fire marshal’s office has the authority to shut down the unit but prefers to work with the attorney general’s office and prison officials to resolve the issues first. He added that a shutdown could occur if conditions do not improve, but no timeline has been set for the ongoing investigation.

As of 2024, approximately 700 inmates are housed in Unit 29, according to the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

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