Mississippi

AIDS Services Coalition (ASC) provides comprehensive information, resources, and services for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. The AIDS Services Coalition operates 1-2-1 Haven House, a transitional housing facility for homeless persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Service area: The primary service area is Covington, Forrest, Green, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Marion, Perry, and Wayne Counties, but ASC will help anyone in a 71 county area in Mississippi.
Work with: All people infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Advocacy at local jails for HIV+ detainees who are not being provided with appropriate care; information; and referrals via phone or by mail. Prisoners who are interested in ASC services or in becoming a resident of 1-2-1 Haven House after their release can contact their prison case manager or write to ASC for more information.
Services for survivors after release include: Case management; support groups; rapid HIV testing; a Ryan White Clinic, which provides primary medical care and prescription drugs; limited financial assistance for prescription medication or rent; a food pantry; and 1-2-1 Haven House, a transitional housing facility for homeless persons living with HIV/AIDS. Residents can stay for up to two years and are provided with a range of support services including case management, life skills development, job preparedness, counseling, and education. Those who are interested in becoming residents of 1-2-1 Haven House must first complete an application. Contact ASC to request a copy of the application or download it on the ASC website at Services for loved ones include: Case management; rapid HIV testing; counseling; information; and referrals.
Fees: All services are free. 1-2-1 Haven House residents who are working or receiving disability will be asked to pay a minimal rent each month. Rent is free for residents with no income.

The Catholic Charities Rape Crisis Center serves adult and teen survivors of sexual assault, age 14 and older, and their family and friends.

Service area: Hines, Issaquena, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, and Yazoo Counties
Work with: All adult and teen survivors of sexual assault, age 14 and up, their friends, and family
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline or by mail; hospital accompaniment and advocacy during forensic exams; court and law enforcement escorts for sexual assault cases; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as long-term counseling; support groups; and emergency shelter.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention; support groups; information; and referrals.
Fees: Free

Family Crisis Services offers counseling services to: adult survivors of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, and childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; child survivors of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; and the family or friends of homicide victims and survivors of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and kidnapping.

Service area: Coahoma, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, and Yalobusha Counties
Work with: Adult survivors of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, and childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; child survivors of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; and the family or friends of homicide victims and survivors of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and kidnapping
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline or by mail; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams; legal advocacy and court accompaniment for sexual assault cases; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as individual counseling and a resource library for anyone interested in reading about sexual assault; sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; homicide; HIV/AIDS; and more.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Fees: Free

Grace House is the largest HIV/AIDS housing provider in the state of Mississippi and provides transitional housing and other services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Service area: The primary service area is Metro Jackson, but Grace House takes in people from across the state of Mississippi.
Work with: All people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Needs-assessments and discharge planning for HIV+ male prisoners at Mississippi State Penitentiary and HIV+ female prisoners at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, including interviews for possible residency at Grace House. HIV+ prisoners who are interested in becoming a resident of Grace House after their release can contact their prison case manager or write to Grace House for more information.
Services for survivors after release include: Case management; counseling; support groups; rapid HIV testing; limited financial assistance for prescription medication or rent; a food pantry; and transitional housing for homeless men and women living with HIV/AIDS. Residents can stay for up to two years and are provided with a range of support services including case management, life skills development, job preparedness, counseling, and education. Those who are interested in becoming residents of Grace House must first complete an application. Contact Grace House to request a copy of the application or download it on the Grace House website at www.gracehousems.org/forms/Grace%20House%20Application.pdf.
Services for loved ones include: Case management; rapid HIV testing; counseling; information; and referrals.
Fees: All services are free. Grace House residents who are working or receiving disability will be asked to pay a minimal rent each month. Rent is free for residents with no income.

Gulf Coast Women’s Center provides free, confidential services to men and women who are survivors of sexual assault and rape.

Service area: George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone Counties Work with: All survivors of sexual assault and rape, their friends, and family
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24 hour hotline, by mail or in-person at local jails; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams; court advocacy for sexual assault cases; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams; individual counseling; support groups, depending on availability; court support and advocacy for sexual assault cases; case management; and information and referrals.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention; counseling; information; and referrals.
Fees: Free

The Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) works towards generating a greater awareness of the trauma of rape and sexual assault through training and education, distributing information, assisting in the formation of support groups at local levels, and educating service providers to become better advocates for survivors of rape and sexual assault. MCASA represents the nine rape crisis centers in the state of Mississippi and provides education, training, public awareness, information, referrals, a resource library, and Speakers’ Bureau for the state, community, and member programs.

Service area: Mississippi
Work with: Survivors of sexual abuse and rape, rape crisis center staff, volunteers,
representatives of health care agencies, victim advocates, and concerned citizens trained to work with rape and sexual assault survivors
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Information and referrals to the nearest rape crisis center via phone or by mail and a directory of affiliated rape crisis centers on the MCASA website.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Fees: Free

The Our House Sexual Assault Responders Advocating Healing (S.A.R.A.H.) program provides direct services to survivors of sexual assault.

Service area: Bolivar, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Leflore, Sharkey, Sunflower, and Washington Counties
Work with: All survivors of sexual assault and abuse, their friends, and family Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline or by mail; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as court and legal advocacy for sexual assault cases; counseling; and a support group for female sexual assault survivors between the ages of 6-18.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention; counseling; information; and referrals.
Fees: Free

Safe Haven offers services for adult and child sexual assault survivors, their family members, and friends.

Service area: Attala, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Lowndes, Monroe, Montgomery, Oktibbeha, and Webster Counties
Work with: All adult and child survivors of sexual assault, their friends, and family
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline or by mail; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as individual and group counseling for women and girls. Male survivors will be provided with referrals for counseling services.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention; counseling; information; and referrals.
Fees: Free

Safety and Assistance in Family Emergencies (S.A.F.E.), Inc. provides shelter and assistance for survivors of domestic violence, their children, and survivors of sexual assault.

Service area: Alcorn, Benton, Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo, and Union Counties
Work with: All survivors of domestic and sexual violence, their family, and friends
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline or by mail; accompaniment and advocacy at hospital emergency rooms during forensic exams; legal advocacy for sexual assault cases; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as short-term counseling and support groups for survivors of sexual assault.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention; counseling; information; and referrals.
Fees: Free

South Mississippi AIDS Task Force (SMATF) is a non-profit organization that provides services to people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Service area: George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone Counties Work with: All people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Information on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections via the 24-hour Mississippi HIV/AIDS Information Hotline. SMATF cannot respond to requests for information or assistance by mail.
Services for survivors after release include: Case management; support groups; 90-day transitional housing for homeless people with HIV who are eligible; assistance obtaining permanent housing and food for transitional housing residents; one-time emergency financial assistance with housing, utilities, and non-HIV medication, as funding allows; free HIV testing; information and support via the 24-hour Mississippi HIV/AIDS Information Hotline; and referrals for medical care and other services.
Services for loved ones include: Free HIV testing; information; and referrals.
Fees: Free
Additional Information: Clients in need of transitional housing must meet HUD requirements. Contact SMATF for more information about this and other programs.

The Shafer Center for Crisis Intervention is a social change agency dedicated to serving all survivors of sexual violence and the loved ones of homicide and suicide victims at any point following their experience through direct services, advocacy, education, training, and activism.

Service area: Covington, Forrest, Greene, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Marion, Perry, Smith, and Wayne Counties
Work with: Survivors of sexual assault of all ages, their family, and friends.
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline or by mail; in-person counseling, by arrangement; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams; court advocacy for sexual assault cases; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as individual counseling; support groups, as needed; and assistance with medical, safety/relocation, and transportation expenses, depending on the availability of funds.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention; counseling; information; and support.
Fees: Free
Additional Information: The Shafer Center also offers support groups for adults molested as children and homicide victims’ friends and family.

Wesley House Community Center (WHCC) offers confidential immediate and long-term support to survivors of sexual assault.

Service area: Primarily Clark, Jasper, Kemper, Lauderdale, Neshoba, and Newton Counties, but WHCC will work with anyone who contacts them
Work with: All survivors of sexual assault, their friends, and family
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline or by mail; accompaniment and advocacy at hospital emergency rooms and throughout the court process for sexual assault cases; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as individual therapy and support groups. Christian counseling is also available.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention; counseling; information; and referrals.
Fees: Free
Additional Information: WHCC will provide immediate crisis intervention to any survivor who contacts them. For survivors convicted of sex crimes or domestic violence offenses, WHCC will provide appropriate referrals for ongoing support services.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) Investigation Division is the investigative arm of the agency. It consists of Investigative Units located at each State prison (MSP, CMCF, SMCI, and Central Office Headquarters) and handles issues such as sexual assault. Inmates who have been sexually assaulted in a MDOC facility can contact the Investigation Division to report the assault and any concerns regarding the handling of investigations into such abuse. JDI has directly contacted each organization listed in the Resource Guide in hopes of pointing survivors toward those currently accepting new clients. However, the inclusion of any group or individual in the Resource Guide does not necessarily constitute an endorsement or recommendation by JDI, nor can JDI guarantee the availability of the services described here.

Through advocacy, education, and litigation, the ACLU of Mississippi defends and protects the constitutional rights of Mississippians across the state. One of the ACLU of Mississippi’s main projects involves reforming the state’s criminal justice system and protecting the rights of inmates. State prisoners and jail detainees who have experienced any form of sexual abuse or staff sexual misconduct can write to the ACLU for assistance. The ACLU of Mississippi receives a high number of letters from prisoners whose civil rights have been violated and decides on a case-by-case determination which cases it can accept. Please do not send original documents with your letter.