On Tuesday, outgoing Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour granted full and unconditional pardons to 193 inmates. Many of these prisoners had been convicted of murder, rape, assault and robbery. Four of those released had served as trustees in the governor’s mansion as part of a program for inmates who earned special privileges. However, Barbour may have violated the state constitution by granting pardons without giving sufficient notice. As a result Attorney General Jim Hood has blocked the release of 21 of those inmates. Daniel Cherry has been covering the story for MPB, Mississippi Public Broadcasting.
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