This week, Governor Bryant vetoed House Bill 1033, a bipartisan measure designed to improve the criminal justice system in Mississippi. In response, the ACLU of Mississippi issues the following statement, which can be attributed to Jennifer Riley-Collins, Executive Director of the ACLU of Mississippi:
“We are deeply disappointed that the governor vetoed House Bill 1033, a proposal that was fully supported by both Houses at the Mississippi Legislature. HB 1033, a critically important piece of legislation, would have been a huge leap toward making our criminal justice system fair, just, and efficient. Governor Bryant has missed yet another opportunity to move the state forward in an unnecessary and costly move to be ‘tough on crime.’
“HB 1033 would have removed collateral consequences of misdemeanor offenses, increased the likelihood for successful reentry for those who have served their time, and ensured that people living in poverty were not criminalized for being poor.
“In 2014, our state acknowledged that we were taking the first step in reforming our broken, unsustainable, inefficient criminal justice system. On April 18, 2017, Governor Bryant single-handedly halted the second step. The people of Mississippi deserve so much better.”
