I've only passed on the outskirts of Jackson. Never been in the city proper.
Is it really a crime-ridden dump - much like NO?
crime is a problem, obviously gangland is that but the city is small enough to were it permeates almost everwhere in jackson and ridgeland.
The largest mall in jackson, metrocenter, finally closed due to being located in a very bad area, with kidnappings in the parking lot, etc. It is the second mall in jackson to close due to its location having gone to pot (jackson mall closed roughly 15 years ago for similar reasons though the violence level wasn't as bad then, i THINK)....