Activists take the fight to keep inmates safe to Mississippi state capitol after recent inmate deaths

MISSISSIPPI — Since December 29, ten men have died in Mississippi prisons, most at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman.

Related: Another inmate death at Parchman Prison just before scheduled protests in Jackson

FOX13 spoke to the girlfriend of one of the inmates that died. She said enough is enough.

Kara Cox traveled from DeSoto County to speak at the Prayer for Prisons Rally at the state capitol in Jackson.

“Things are not the same. I’m used to hearing the phone ringing several times a day from calling me. his kids are confused. he used to tell them he loved them everyday, and now he’s not here anymore,” Cox said.

Cox’s boyfriend, Gregory Emary, transferred from Parchman a year ago. She thought he would be safer at the Chickasaw County Correctional Facility.

Officials said Emary, was stabbed during a fight at the Chickasaw County Correctional Facility.

The sheriff said it was possibly gang related.

“His kids are confused. he used to tell them he loved them everyday, and now he’s not here any more,” Cox said.

RELATED: No contact with inmates more than two weeks after Parchman deadly riot, families say

Cox and several other family members of inmates stood together in solidarity Thursday with signs honoring their loved ones.

During a news conference, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said he is focusing on transparency.

He said he plans to hire more corrections officers and increase their pay. He also said he has an agent who will look into problems within MDOC.

When asked about the conditions inside the prisons, he explained each unit is different. He said some of the problems are caused by the inmates.

Still, family members said that answer is not good enough.

“It’s very sad that so many tragedies have had to happen for people to pay attention and organizer its very important to me.”

RELATED: Families speak out about recent violence, living conditions within MS State Penitentiary at Parchman

Governor Reeves, who just took office a couple of weeks ago, said he also plans to reclassify some prisoners based on their risk factors.

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