This Notorious Mississippi Penitentiary Has Been Named One Of The Craziest Prisons In The World
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published March 01, 2018
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
The website Complex recently released a list of the craziest prisons in the world. Coming in 19th, was the Mississippi State Penitentiary, otherwise known as Parchman. The notorious prison, which dates back to the 1900s, has a long history littered with turmoil and scandal. Read on for some facts about the infamous Mississippi landmark.
Located deep in the Delta, Mississippi State Penitentiary is the only maximum security prison for men in the state. It’s also the oldest.
Built in 1901, Parchman originally included three separate farms. The intent was for the 20,000-acre property to be self-sufficient and profitable – and it was. In 1918, it had a net revenue of $825,000!
Convicts were responsible for a variety of tasks, including acting as prison guards.
Some prisoners were given guns and entrusted with the responsibility of watching the men working in the fields. These armed prisoners were called "trusty shooters."
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Part of the prison’s original focus was to arrest African American males for a "convict leasing" program.
Some men were arrested for legitimate crimes; however, many others were arrested under false pretenses for crimes they didn’t commit. The state then began leasing the prisoners to wealthy contractors, who, in turn, would sublease them to other companies.
Aside from working long hours for no pay, the inmates were poorly fed and often times, forced to sleep in tents near the job site. The men were responsible for physically demanding and dangerous tasks, such as dynamiting tunnels for railroad companies and cleaning malaria filled swamps for construction.
By 1917, the penitentiary grew to include black and white prisoners of both genders.
The first Freedom Riders arrested were sent to Mississippi State Penitentiary on June 15, 1961. During their time at the prison, they were subject to "strip searches, disgusting food, and constant psychological abuse."
Throughout the years, Parchman has been mentioned in numerous books, movies, and TV shows.
Even though it was filmed in California, the movie "Life" was set in Parchman. The infamous prison was also mentioned in the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" And famous Mississippian John Grisham used the prison for the setting of his novel, "The Chamber," which was later adapted for the big screen.
Watch the video below to learn more about Mississippi’s most notorious prison.
So, were you aware of the prison’s past? Surprised by its ranking? Have something to add? Tell us below.
