A bill to test inmates for dyslexia dies in the Mississippi Legislature

Senate Bill 2041, authored by State Senator Rod Hickman, to test entering Mississippi inmates for dyslexia failed to advance for the second consecutive year.

The measure grew from a simple three-page directive into a 43-page bill with added requirements (review boards, legal exemptions, etc. ), which Hickman believes led to its defeat.

Surrounding states testing inmates find about half have a learning disability (versus 5–15% in the general population); dyslexia impairs reading and language processing.

The bill would have required the Mississippi Department of Corrections to collect inmate background data and analyze dyslexia’s correlation with educational attainment, disciplinary history, and recidivism; tests were estimated at about $5 each.

Supporters say testing could allow funds to be redirected from corrections to education, produce a strong return on investment, and Hickman plans to reintroduce the legislation next year.

Read more about Senate Bill 2041 on the Magnolia Tribune website.