MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR JUSTICE
5 OLD RIVER PLACE NO 203, JACKSON, MS 39202 www.mscenterforjustice.org

---

Organizations Filed Purposes: MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR JUSTICE IS A NONPROFIT, PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO ADVANCING RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. SUPPORTED AND STAFFED BY ATTORNEYS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS, THE CENTER DEVELOPS AND PURSUES STRATEGIES TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION AND POVERTY STATEWIDE.

TO ADVANCE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION AND POVERTY.

IMPACT LITIGATION PROJECT:MCJ'S GEORGE RILEY IMPACT LITIGATION PROJECT WAS BUSY WITH A VARIETY OF CASES INVOLVING DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS. - MCJ TOOK ON REPRESENTATION OF CURTIS FLOWERS, WHO HAD BEEN TRIED SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME MURDER, WITHOUT A VALID CONVICTION. THE U.S. SUPREME COURT REVERSED THE LAST CONVICTION FOR PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT IN JURY SELECTION AND MCJ GOT FLOWERS RELEASED ON BAIL, PENDING A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO TRY HIM A 7TH TIME. IN 2020, THE MISSISSIPPI ATTORNEY GENERAL DECLINED TO RETRY FLOWERS AND HE IS NOW A FREE MAN. - IN A SUIT AGAINST THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, MCJ AND THE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS WON A PERMANENT INJUNCTION IN THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT AGAINST A BAN ON ABORTIONS WHEN A HEARTBEAT IS DETECTED. THE CASE WILL BE APPEALED TO THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, WHICH AFFIRMED THE PERMANENT INJUNCTION AGAINST A 15-WEEK BAN. - MCJ HAS JOINED THE MISSISSIPPI ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IN SUING STUDENT LOAN SERVICERS FOR IMPROPERLY STEERING BORROWERS AWAY FROM FAVORABLE REPAYMENT OPTIONS. - ALONG WITH THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW, MCJ WON ITS CHALLENGE TO THE LINES OF A SENATE DISTRICT THAT GOES THROUGH SIX COUNTIES AND FAILED TO GIVE AFRICAN AMERICANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT THEIR CHOSEN CANDIDATE IN AN AREA THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJORITY AFRICAN AMERICAN DISTRICT. NEW DISTRICT LINES WERE APPROVED BY THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS AND ONE OF MCJ'S CLIENTS WAS ELECTED SENATOR FROM THE NEW DISTRICT. - IN A CASE FILED ON BEHALF OF EX-FELONS WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE UPON REENTERING SOCIETY, DUE TO A DISENFRANCHISEMENT PROVISION IN THE 1890 MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION, MCJ IS APPEALING THE DISTRICT COURT'S DISMISSAL BASED ON A PRIOR DECISION. - ALONG WITH THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER, MCJ SETTLED A CASE AGAINST A SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR RACIAL PROFILING IN DETAINING A FAMILY FOR FOUR HOURS FOR LOOKING HISPANIC WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH MISSISSIPPI. - ALONG WITH THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW, MCJ CHALLENGED A PROVISION IN THE 1890 MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION REQUIRING CANDIDATES FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE TO RECEIVE BOTH A MAJORITY OF VOTES CAST AND A MAJORITY OF HOUSE DISTRICTS TO BE ELECTED. - ALONG WITH THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW, MCJ CHALLENGED A LAW REQUIRING NATURALIZED CITIZENS TO PRODUCE CITIZENSHIP PAPERS WHEN REGISTERING TO VOTE.IMMIGRATION - IN ADDITION TO SUPERVISING AN ONGOING IMMIGRATION LAW CLINIC AT MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE SCHOOL OF LAW AND HANDLING INDIVIDUAL ASYLUM APPEALS CASES, OUR IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS COORDINATED LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE 580 INDIVIDUALS SWEPT UP BY U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FROM THEIR JOBS AT CHICKEN PROCESSING PLANTS IN FIVE MISSISSIPPI CITIES. WE MOBILIZED A NATIONAL TEAM OF PRO BONO ATTORNEYS INTERESTED IN ASSISTING, AND WE CREATED A BOND FUND ALONG WITH THE MACARTHUR CENTER FOR JUSTICE TO ASSIST DETAINEES IN RETURNING TO THEIR FAMILIES. - MCJ'S PUBLIC BENEFITS ATTORNEY PROVIDED PUBLIC BENEFIT/PUBLIC CHARGE TRAININGS, LEGAL GUIDANCE, AND RESOURCES (IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH) AT THE EMERGENCY LEGAL CLINICS FOR THE ICE RAIDS. MCJ ALSO PUBLISHED A PRESS RELEASE AND ENGAGED IN MEDIA ADVOCACY IN RESPONSE TO THE FINAL PUBLIC CHARGE RULE.CONSUMER PROTECTION: - MCJ LAUNCHED A NAVIGATOR PROGRAM FOR SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS IN JUSTICE COURT IN HINDS COUNTY USING COLLEGE AND LAW STUDENTS AS NAVIGATOR VOLUNTEERS. MCJ PROVIDES INFORMATION CONCERNING DEBT COLLECTION AND EVICTION CASES TO LITIGANTS IN JUSTICE COURT, BETTER PREPARING THEM FOR COURT APPEARANCES. - MCJ PROVIDES EXPUNGEMENT SERVICES TO QUALIFIED PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS THROUGH CLINICS AND INDIVIDUAL SERVICE. - MCJ CONTINUED TO ASSIST PERSONS WITH FORECLOSURE CASES, INCLUDING A CLIENT WHO HAD BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS AND WAS 34 MONTHS BEHIND ON HIS MORTGAGE. MCJ ASSISTED THE CLIENT IN MODIFYING HIS LOAN AFTER HE BEGAN RECEIVING DISABILITY PAYMENTS FOR THE INCIDENT THAT LED TO HIS UNEMPLOYED STATUS.

HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES: - MCJ CONDUCTED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS IN SEVEN LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE TO ENSURE THAT MISSISSIPPIANS UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL PROTECTIONS AFFORDED BY THE FAIR HOUSING ACT (FHA). THE CENTER ALSO CONDUCTED OVER 200 TESTS TO ASSESS COMPLIANCE WITH THE FHA IN THE RENTAL, SALE, OR FINANCE OF HOUSING. - MCJ FILED 13 ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING DISCRIMINATION BASED UPON RACE, GENDER, DISABILITY AND FAMILIAL STATUS AGAINST LANDLORDS, SELLERS AND MUNICIPALITIES. AMONG THE CASES RESOLVED IN 2019 WAS A CONCILIATION ON BEHALF OF FIVE CLIENTS WHO WERE VICTIMS OF A FRAUDULENT RENT-TO-OWN SCHEME AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ON VARYING BASES--INCLUDING RACE, DISABILITY, SEX, AND FAMILY STATUS--RESULTING IN A TOTAL PAYMENT OF $95,000. - IN APRIL, MCJ SPONSORED AN APRIL IS FAIR HOUSING MONTH CONVENING IN HATTIESBURG FEATURING STORIES FROM CLIENTS WHO HAD SUFFERED FROM DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES AND RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM MCJ. - MCJ CONTINUED WORKING WITH DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO REPURPOSE ABANDONED HOUSING IN JACKSON AND THE DELTA. MCJ'S ROLE IS TO PROVIDE TITLE OPINIONS TO ASSIST IN THE PURCHASE OF ABANDONED PROPERTY. - MCJ STAFF CONTINUES TO PROVIDE LIMITED DIRECT SERVICE ON HEIR PROPERTY TITLE MATTERS.HEALTH CARE: - AT PRESENT, MCJ'S PRIMARY FOCUS IS UPON HIV/AIDS WORK, BUT THE CENTER REMAINS SELECTIVELY INVOLVED IN ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE ISSUES, PARTICULARLY MEDICAID AND THE STATUS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA). MCJ HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL HEALTH LAW PROGRAM TO RESPOND WITH LITIGATION TO HARMFUL WAIVERS THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS) MIGHT GRANT MISSISSIPPI, LIMITING ACCESS TO MEDICAID. - MCJ'S MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP, HOUSED AT THE JACKSON MEDICAL MALL, CONTINUES TO ADVISE PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS ON THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS. MCJ ASSISTED A FAMILY IN GETTING HIV TREATMENT AND MEDICATION FOR AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL, AND MCJ'S ATTORNEYS PROVIDE SEMI-ANNUAL TRAINING TO HIV PROVIDERS TO ENABLE THEM TO RECOGNIZE LEGAL ISSUES ENCOUNTERED BY THEIR PATIENTS. THE BULK OF THE MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP WORK IS COUNSELING NEWLY DIAGNOSED INDIVIDUALS ON HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND PRIVACY ISSUES THEY MAY ENCOUNTER. - MCJ WORKS ON EDUCATION AND POLICY IN A GROWING NETWORK OF ALLIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IN THE METRO JACKSON AREA AND THE DELTA. WE HOLD AN ANNUAL AIDS JUSTICE CONVENING, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAININGS, CIVIC GATHERINGS, SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH, AND ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS. - MCJ INSTITUTED A NEW PROJECT ON INTERNALIZED STIGMA, CONDUCTING MULTI-SESSION WORKSHOPS WITH SUPPORT GROUPS TO UNDERSTAND AND CONFRONT STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH AN HIV DIAGNOSIS. THIS WORK WILL BE EXPANDED TO EDUCATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ON ADVANCES MADE IN HIV TREATMENT, IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE STIGMA AND ELIMINATE CRIMINALIZATION OF HIV.- IN POLICY WORK, MCJ'S ADVISORY COUNCIL, COMPRISED PRIMARILY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS, IS WORKING TO GARNER SUPPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO MODERNIZE THE HIV CRIMINALIZATION STATUTE AND EXPLORE WAYS TO REDUCE STIGMA. TO ASSESS HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS, MCJ AND HARVARD LAW SCHOOL ANALYZED INSURANCE PLANS ON THE MARKETPLACE IN MISSISSIPPI TO DOCUMENT AND SHARE INFORMATION ON THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF COVERAGE AFFORDED TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS.

EDUCATION: - THE EDUCATION TEAM WAS BUSY WITH INDIVIDUAL CASES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THERE WERE MANY INSTANCES IN WHICH CHILDREN HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THEM EVALUATED AND SET UP WITH PROPER ACCOMMODATIONS. IN THE SPRING, MCJ HANDLED A CASE FOR A TRANSGENDER STUDENT WHO WAS SENT TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FOR USING HER PREFERRED BATHROOM AND WHO WAS TOLD SHE COULD NOT WALK AT GRADUATION. THROUGH MCJ'S INTERVENTION, SHE WAS PERMITTED TO WALK, AND WE NEGOTIATED A FORMAL POLICY TO ALLOW GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS. - MCJ CONTINUES TO FIGHT THE SCHOOLHOUSE-TO-JAILHOUSE PIPELINE, CHALLENGING SCHOOL DISTRICT PRACTICES OF SENDING STUDENTS TO YOUTH COURT FOR INFRACTIONS THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED IN-HOUSE OR WHICH ARE CAUSED BY MANIFESTATIONS OF RECOGNIZED DISABILITIES. - MCJ, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (ACLU) AND LOCAL PARTNERS, UNDERTOOK A PROJECT IN SUNFLOWER COUNTY TO CHANGE EXISTING DISCIPLINE PRACTICES, STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOL OFFICIALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT (INCLUDING THE COURTS), AND PARENTS, AND TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT YOUNG MEN OF COLOR. THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PROJECT INVOLVES IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND ANALYSIS OF DISCIPLINE STATISTICS.

---

---

Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (public 990 form dataset) from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202003219349314655_public.xml