By Monica Mosley
LOUISVILLE, Miss. (Take 30 News) --- The Department of Justice launched an investigation after a lawsuit was filed on behalf of the inmates at the East Mississippi Correctional Facility in Meridian Mississippi.
The suit claims overcrowding, a lack of food, and lack of protection have haunted the facilities, leaving the inmates to suffer like animals.
One former prisoner at the East Mississippi Correctional Facility told Take 30 News "At Central Mississippi its very overcrowded. They actually have a count sheet where they have guys on the floor where they do counts and its called a floor count."
Winston County Sheriff Jason Pugh said this is the result of bribery and embezzlement throughout the justice system.
"They won't take your calls they don't care. Um I don't know what they were, were told by the Senate and the House to play hard ball to get the job done, but this is where they've left the department of corrections in Mississippi," Pugh said.