Prisons in Mississippi have long been a topic of debate and controversy, with issues such as overcrowding, understaffing, and inadequate healthcare plaguing the state’s correctional system.
Despite efforts to reform and improve conditions, Mississippi’s prisons continue to face significant challenges in ensuring the safety and well-being of both inmates and staff.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the current state of prisons in Mississippi, examining the key issues, policies, and debates that shape this complex and important topic.
From the history of Mississippi’s prison system to the latest developments in correctional reform, we will provide a comprehensive overview of one of the most pressing issues facing the state today.
Mississippi Prison Map
Use the Mississippi prison map below to locate any facility. Click on the map markers to read our detailed guide of that facility.
State Prisons
| Prison Name | Location | Inmate Capacity | Security Levels | Gender | Operator/ Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Mississippi CF | Pearl | 4,131 | All custody levels | Male/Female/Youthful Offenders | Mississippi Department of Corrections |
| Mississippi State Penitentiary | Sunflower County | 2,542 | Minimum to close custody | Male | Mississippi Department of Corrections |
| South Mississippi CI | Leakesville | 3,082 | Minimum to medium custody | Male | Mississippi Department of Corrections |
| Marshall County CF | Marshall County | 1,000 | Medium custody | Male | Mississippi Department of Corrections (previously managed by Management Training Corporation) |
| Walnut Grove CF | Walnut Grove | 1,496 | All custody levels | Male | Mississippi Department of Corrections |
| Delta Correctional Facility | Mississippi | 300 | All custody levels | Female | Mississippi Department of Corrections |
Central Mississippi Correctional Facility
The Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF) is a state prison located in Pearl, Mississippi. It was built on 171 acres in Rankin County in 1986 and has since undergone expansion to include 18 housing units and 10 support buildings.
With a capacity of 4,131 offenders, CMCF is the first stop for individuals sentenced to the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC). The facility offers initial orientation and classification to its population, which consists of both male and female offenders of all custody levels, including female offenders sentenced to death.
CMCF is the only state prison in Mississippi to house female offenders and youthful offenders, with the latter housed in a separate facility known as the Youthful Offender Unit (YOU).
The YOU offers a wide range of programs, including academic classes, vocational programs, mental health counseling, and religious and recreational services. Mississippi Prison Industries Corp. (MPIC) operates a commercial print shop, a Johnson & Johnson Clean Room, and a metal fabrication shop at CMCF.
​Mississippi State Penitentiary
Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm, is the oldest prison in the state of Mississippi. Established in 1901, it covers an area of approximately 18,000 acres in Sunflower County.
The facility has 2,542 beds and comprises seven different housing units, ranging from 56 beds at the hospital to 856 beds in Unit 30.
MSP only houses male offenders classified as protective custody, close custody, restrictive housing, extended restrictive housing, and death row, with custody levels ranging from minimum to close.
In addition, MSP is home to Mississippi Prison Industries Corp. (MPIC)’s work program for its textile and metal fabrication, and Mississippi Prison Agricultural Enterprises (MPAE) operates on its land to supply food to other state institutions, community work centers, and restitution centers.
MSP also has its own licensed, full-service hospital, which is contracted through VitalCore Health Strategies for medical services twenty-four hours a day.
South Mississippi Correctional Institution
The South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI) is a state prison in Mississippi that was established in 1989. It is the newest prison in the state and is situated on 360 acres at Leakesville in Greene County.
With 16 housing units, SMCI can accommodate a maximum of 3,082 beds. The prison houses minimum and medium-classified men, as well as those in protective custody and long-term segregation.
SMCI has 404 full-time permanent positions and four full-time, time-limited positions. The prison provides free inmate labor to Greene County and adjacent municipalities and assists other state agencies.
Inmates are assigned to the Greene County Road Crew and a mobile work crew, and they can also work in the blueberry operations. The blueberry orchard was started in 2006 as a way to teach inmates a trade skill in the blueberry industry and to address inmate idleness. The blueberries serve as a healthier menu option and help reduce food costs.
Marshall County Correctional Facility
Marshall County Correctional Facility in Mississippi is a medium custody adult male inmate facility that opened in June 1996. It is located on 42 acres of land, with 17 acres fenced in, and has an authorized capacity of 1,000 beds.
The facility was previously operated by Management Training Corporation (MTC) since Aug. 13, 2012, but transitioned to state control on Sept. 13, 2021. It received accreditation from the American Correctional Association in January 1998 and has been re-accredited several times since then.
The facility offers a range of programs, including adult basic education, vocational education, culinary arts, horticulture, computers, and A&D programs. Additionally, there are adjustment skills/orientation, life skills/pre-release, Bible education, and eight educational club programs available to inmates.
Walnut Grove Correctional Facility
Walnut Grove Correctional Facility is a prison located in the town of Walnut Grove, Mississippi. Established in 1990, the facility sits on 72 acres of land, with an additional 27 acres not connected to the main facility grounds.
From 1996 until 2016, the facility was operated by privately owned companies. During this time, the facility’s mission was to house youthful offenders until 2012, when the mission changed to housing adult offenders.
The facility was closed in 2016 but reopened in November 2021 by the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) and has a capacity of 1,496 inmates. Walnut Grove Correctional Facility offers re-entry programs, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, vocational training, and security threat group management to its inmates.
Delta Correctional Facility
Delta Correctional Facility in Mississippi is a major state facility that was previously closed for a number of years until it was acquired by the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Initially, it was supervised by the Community Corrections division and served as a Technical Violation Center, a Community Work Center, and a Restitution Center. Currently, the facility houses around 300 female inmates and is primarily aimed at rehabilitating and providing workforce development for adult female inmates.
Programs are being developed to offer Alcohol and Drug Counseling and GED educational programs. In 2022, the facility was transferred to the Institutions division and is now designated as a major state facility.
Private Prisons
| Prison Name | Location | Inmate Capacity | Security Level | Gender | Operator/ Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County Correctional Facility | Holly Springs, Marshall County | 1,076 | Minimum/Medium | Male | Management and Training Corporation |
| Wilkinson County Correctional Center | Wilkinson County | 900 | Maximum | Male | Management and Training Corporation |
Marshall County Correctional Facility
Marshall County Correctional Facility is a for-profit prison located in Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi. The facility is managed by Management and Training Corporation on behalf of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
It is a minimum/medium-security prison with an authorized capacity of 1,076 inmates and is situated on 17 acres of enclosed area. The prison property covers a total of 47 acres. Marshall County Correctional Facility is one of three private prisons operated on behalf of the state as of March 2017.
The facility made headlines in 2014 when Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps resigned a day before he was indicted on corruption charges for bribery and taking kickbacks. Epps was known for reducing the use of solitary confinement in state prisons and reducing prison populations.
Two other co-conspirators, including former lawmaker Irb Benjamin, were also indicted for bribing Epps in return for having prison services contracts steered to them and their clients. Benjamin pleaded guilty to federal charges in October 2016 and was sentenced to 70 months in prison.
Wilkinson County Correctional Center
Wilkinson County Correctional Center is a private prison managed by Management and Training Corporation (MTC) under a five-year contract with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Originally established as a low to medium-security prison, it was later converted to a maximum-security facility due to the transfer of prisoners from the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman in 2010. However, the prison has faced increasing levels of violence and inmate murders since then.
With an authorized capacity of 900, the facility occupies 17.5 acres of enclosed area and a total of 97.5 acres of prison property. As of November 2016, it is one of four private prisons under contract with the state of Mississippi, with the fifth one being closed in September 2016.
Despite its operation, the prison has been under investigation in Operation Mississippi Hustle, a corruption case involving the state’s contracts with MTC and the previous operator, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA).
Federal Prisons
| Prison Name | Location | Inmate Capacity | Security Level | Gender | Operator/ Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Correctional Institution, Yazoo City | Yazoo County, MS | 1,642 | Low/Medium/High | Male | Federal Bureau of Prisons |
Federal Correctional Institution, Yazoo City
United States Penitentiary, Yazoo City (USP Yazoo City) is a high-security facility within the Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo County, Mississippi. The complex is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and houses male offenders.
The prison complex consists of two other facilities: Federal Correctional Institution, Yazoo City Low, a low-security facility with an adjacent satellite prison camp for minimum-security offenders, and Federal Correctional Institution, Yazoo City Medium, a medium-security facility with an adjacent satellite prison camp for minimum-security offenders.
USP Yazoo City is located 36 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, the state capital.
Sources:
https://www.mdoc.ms.gov/Institutions/Pages/State-Prisons.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Correctional_Institution,_Yazoo_City