Walnut Grove Correctional Facility (WGYCF) is a correctional institution located in southern Leake County, Mississippi. It was established in 1990 and sits on 72 acres of land, with an additional 27 acres not connected to the main facility grounds. The facility was operated by privately owned companies from 1996 until 2016.
The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) took over the facility’s management in 2016. The facility has a capacity of 1,496 inmates and houses both male and female offenders. Walnut Grove Correctional Facility is a medium-security institution that offers a range of programs and services to inmates, including educational and vocational courses, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services. The facility also provides work programs that allow inmates to earn money while serving their sentences.
| Security | Mixed |
| Capacity | 1,496 |
| Physical Address | 1650 MS Hwy 492 Walnut Grove, MS 39189 United States |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 389 1650 MS Hwy 492 Walnut Grove, MS 39189 United States |
| Can You Send a Gift? | No |
| Dress Code | Yes |
| Phone Number | 601-253-0700 |
| Jurisdiction | State |
Location and Capacity
Walnut Grove Correctional Facility is located in southern Leake County, Mississippi, United States. The facility is situated on 72 acres of land, with an additional 27 acres that are not connected to the main facility grounds. The address of the facility is 1650 MS Highway 492, Walnut Grove, MS 39189.
The facility was established in 1990, and it was expanded in 1996 to include 18 housing units and 10 support buildings. Currently, the facility has a capacity of 1,496 inmates, according to the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The jail capacity is approved by the courts and includes inmates, sheriff trustees, and work program participants.
Walnut Grove Correctional Facility was closed in 2016 due to allegations of inmate abuse and mistreatment. However, it was re-opened in November 2021 after extensive renovations and improvements. The facility offers rehabilitation programs, vocational training, and educational programs to help inmates prepare for their re-entry into society.
The Leake County Correctional Facility is also located in the same county as Walnut Grove Correctional Facility. However, there is no direct connection between the two facilities. The Leake County Correctional Facility is a county jail, while Walnut Grove Correctional Facility is a state prison.
History
Walnut Grove Correctional Facility was a privately run youth correctional facility located in Walnut Grove, Mississippi. The facility was opened in 2001 and was operated by Management and Training Corporation (MTC), a private prison company.
The facility was designed to house juveniles who were considered to be high-risk offenders. However, the facility was plagued with a series of issues, including allegations of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment of inmates. These issues led to a federal investigation of the facility by the Department of Justice in 2010.
In 2012, a federal judge issued a scathing report on the conditions at WGYCF, citing numerous violations of the inmates’ constitutional rights. The report found that the facility was “a cesspool of unconstitutional and inhuman acts” and that the inmates were subjected to “systemic, egregious, and dangerous practices” by the staff at the facility. As a result of the report, the facility was shut down in 2016.
The closure of WGYCF was not just due to the findings of the federal investigation. The facility had been struggling financially due to budget cuts, and MTC had been losing money on the contract. The closure of the facility resulted in the loss of jobs for many of the staff members who had worked there.
Overall, the history of WGYCF is one that is marked by controversy and tragedy. The facility was supposed to provide a safe and secure environment for juvenile offenders, but instead, it became a place where the inmates were subjected to abuse and neglect. The closure of the facility was a necessary step in ensuring that the inmates were no longer subjected to these conditions.
Management and Training
Walnut Grove Correctional Facility was operated by Management and Training Corporation until September 13, 2021, when it transitioned to state control under the Mississippi Department of Corrections. MTC is a private prison company that has been criticized for its management practices and treatment of inmates. Burl Cain, a former Louisiana prison warden, was hired by MTC to oversee the facility in 2016. Cain was later fired in 2020 after allegations of misconduct, including nepotism and misuse of state resources.
William Grady Sims was the MDOC Commissioner during the time that Walnut Grove was under MTC’s management. Sims resigned from his position in 2015 after an investigation found that he had improperly awarded contracts and used state resources for personal gain.
Correctional officers at Walnut Grove received raises under MTC’s management, with starting salaries increasing from $9.50 to $10.50 per hour in 2014. However, the facility has also faced allegations of inadequate training for correctional officers, which may have contributed to instances of violence and abuse toward inmates.
Overall, the management and training practices at Walnut Grove Correctional Facility have been the subject of controversy and criticism. The transition to state control may bring changes to the facility’s operations and management.
Facility Information
The facility was established in 1990 and sits on 72 acres of land with an additional 27 acres not connected to the main facility grounds. Walnut Grove is a small town in southern Leake County with a population of 1,675.
The facility was operated by privately owned companies from 1996 until 2016, and since then, it has been under the management of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The current warden of the facility is Brady Sistrunk.
The facility has a capacity of 1,496 inmates. The inmates are housed in dormitory-style housing units and cells. The facility provides a variety of programs and services to inmates, including educational and vocational programs, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.
Security at the facility is a top priority, and the facility is equipped with a range of security measures to ensure the safety of staff, visitors, and inmates. These measures include electronic surveillance, perimeter fencing, and a staff of trained correctional officers.
Inmates at Walnut Grove Correctional Facility can be located using the Mississippi Department of Corrections inmate locator tool. Friends and family members of inmates can also send money to their loved ones using the JPay system, and inmates can purchase items from the commissary.
The facility’s address is 1650 MS Hwy 492, Walnut Grove, MS 39189, and the telephone number is 601-253-0700. Visitors to the facility should be aware of the facility’s rules and regulations, including dress code and prohibited items.
For visitation information call 601-253-0700.
Inmate Information
Walnut Grove Correctional Facility is a state prison in Mississippi that houses adult male offenders. The facility has a capacity of 1,496 inmates and is currently operated by the Mississippi Department of Corrections after being re-opened in November 2021.
The facility does not house youthful offenders or female offenders. Inmates at Walnut Grove Correctional Facility have varying release dates depending on their individual sentences. The MDOC provides a searchable inmate list on its website that includes the offender’s name, race, gender, location, and release date.
Mugshots of inmates at Walnut Grove Correctional Facility are not publicly available on the MDOC website. However, the facility does provide visiting hours for approved visitors to see their loved ones. Visitors must follow strict guidelines and dress codes and are subject to search before entering the facility.
Inmates at Walnut Grove Correctional Facility are able to file complaints and grievances through the MDOC’s Inmate Grievance Procedure. The procedure allows inmates to file complaints regarding their treatment, health care, and other issues related to their incarceration.
Overall, Walnut Grove Correctional Facility is a medium-security prison that provides housing and rehabilitation services for adult male offenders. The facility follows strict guidelines and procedures to ensure the safety and security of both inmates and staff.
Controversies
Walnut Grove Correctional Facility has been the center of many controversies over the years. These controversies range from allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct to claims of rape and sexual abuse. The following entities have been involved in some of these controversies:
- Private Prison: Walnut Grove Correctional Facility is a private prison that is owned and operated by the Management and Training Corporation.
- Southern Poverty Law Center: The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has been involved in a lawsuit against MTC, alleging that the company has violated the rights of prisoners at Walnut Grove.
- Allegations: There have been numerous allegations of mistreatment and abuse at Walnut Grove, including claims that prisoners were subjected to inhumane living conditions, inadequate medical care, and physical abuse.
- Sexual Abuse: There have been multiple reports of sexual abuse at Walnut Grove, with some allegations involving staff members and others involving other inmates.
One of the most significant controversies at Walnut Grove involved allegations of corruption. In 2010, a group of prisoners filed a lawsuit against MTC, alleging that the company had engaged in a wide range of corrupt activities, including bribing public officials and falsifying records. The lawsuit was eventually settled, with MTC agreeing to pay $2.5 million in damages.
Another major controversy at Walnut Grove involved allegations of rape and sexual misconduct. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice released a report detailing numerous instances of sexual abuse at the facility, including allegations that staff members had engaged in sexual relationships with inmates. The report also found that the facility was not adequately staffed and that there were serious deficiencies in the medical care provided to prisoners.
Overall, the controversies at Walnut Grove have raised serious questions about the role of private prisons in the American criminal justice system. While some argue that private prisons are more efficient and cost-effective than their public counterparts, others argue that they are more prone to abuse and corruption. Regardless of one’s perspective on this issue, it is clear that the controversies at Walnut Grove have had a profound impact on the lives of many prisoners and their families.