The Alabama prison system is already fighting a years-long SPLC lawsuit over the neglect of prisoners with medical and mental health needs. Now, the U.S. Justice Department is threatening to sue the state because its prisons are beset by “rampant violence,” “unchecked extortion,” and “severe and widespread sexual abuse.”

The city council of Meridian, Mississippi, approved an agreement today with the SPLC that will end the city’s practice of incarcerating residents who are unable to pay fines and fees, and to stop using secured money bail in misdemeanor cases.

The SPLC this week filed a motion asking a judge to institute contempt proceedings against JONAH (Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing), now known as JIFGA (Jewish Institute for Global Awareness), for violating an injunction entered over three years ago requiring that it permanently cease all operations and completely halt all elements of its fraudulent gay-to-straight “conversion therapy” program.