MDOC – South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI)

MDOC – South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 601-394-5600

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at South Mississippi CI located at 22689 Hwy 63 N in Leakesville, MS are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

The South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI) was established in 1989 and is located in Leakesville Mississippi. It is the state’s newest state prison and the first prison in the state to receive accreditation from the American Correctional Association. SMCI was also the first state prison in Mississippi to be accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. SMCI is located on 360 acres at Leakesville, MS in Greene County. There are 16 housing units at SMCI with a capacity of 3,282 beds.

This facility also has a boot camp program called the RID or Regimented Inmate Discipline program. The RID program attempts to instill discipline, respect, and self-esteem through a boot camp-like program. One of the distinct features of this prison is a 25-acre blueberry patch that inmates harvest. Offenders can receive substance abuse treatment, counseling, earn a GED and obtain an adult basic education. In addition, multiple vocational disciplines are taught to inmates.

Mission Statement – To provide and promote public safety through efficient and effective offender custody, care, control and treatment consistent with sound correctional principles and constitutional practices.

SMCI houses male offenders who are classified minimum, medium, and close custody levels as well as protective custody and long term segregation.

SMCI inmates provided more than 49,466 hours of free inmate labor during 2012 to adjacent municipalities and counties, as well as assisting other state agencies.

SMCI has 25 acres of blueberry plants. During the 2012 harvest season, a total of 57,693 pounds of blueberries were harvested with an income of $79,594.21. Inmate labor is utilized in the harvesting of the blueberries.

There are approximately 515 full-time employees and positions available for part-time and contract employees at SMCI.

SMCI is divided into three areas:

AREA	WARDENS/ DEPUTY WARDEN	UNITS
SMCI I & III	Andrew Mills, Warden Timothy Barnes, Deputy Warden Angie Holloway, Associate Warden	Lockdown (Unit 7-A Zone Protective Custody, Unit 7-B Zone High-Risk Incentive Tier), Bldg. 8 Close Custody, Bldg. 9, 10, 11, 12 is GP, Vo Tech, Law Library, MPIC, Academic and Vocational School, Fire Team Maintenance. Area III includes General Population and Regimented Inmate Discipline (Thinking For a Change).
SMCI II	Marshall Turner, Warden Brenda Sims, Deputy Warden K. Blount, Associate Warden	Bldg.A-1, Close Custody, Bldg. A-2 General Population, Buildings B, C, D, E (A&D Program offenders), MSU Lockdown, Law Library, South Mississippi Medical Services, and Vocational.
Central Security	Joe Errington, Deputy Warden	Central Security, Emergency Response Team, Common Labor, Transportation, Central Kitchen, Post Office, Laundry, Recreation Departments, Armory, Security and Escort Unit, Inmate Locator.

Programs offered include:
Adult Basic Education
Alcohol & Drug
Inmate Legal Assistance
Pre-Release
Therapeutic Recreation
Religious Programs
Vocational Programs

The SMCI Educational Department offers both Adult Basic Educational and General Education Development Classes providing students access to a full-time counselor.

SMCI provides a Short Term (twelve (12) weeks) and a Long Term (six (6) months) Alcohol and Drug Program providing individual and group counseling to offenders for the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction. The offenders participate in educational and skills building classes and groups which include the following: alcohol and drug education, relapse prevention, coping skills, life skills/re-entry and post-release, interview skills, anger and stress management, depression management, anxiety management, communication, and relationship skills. After successful completion, offenders are awarded a certificate of completion and are processed out according to sentencing orders. Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services are also provided for Community Work Center offenders who violate by using drugs or alcohol and for offenders in SMCI Administrative Segregation and Protective Custody Units.

The SMCI Chaplains Department is primarily responsible for all religious activities that occur at the Institution. Some of the activities include regularly scheduled religious programs including Christian Worship Services, weekly Jumah Prayer Service, Communion Services, and Mass. Many Bible classes are offered whereby the inmates may study together and learn the principles of the Word of God. The inmates in Area I enjoy meeting in the beautiful new Chapel facility built by inmate labor and monies donated by individuals outside of the institution. In addition, the department has a pastoral and crisis ministry which includes spiritual guidance counseling during a crisis or grieving period, as well as marriage counseling and coordination of the marriage process of those incarcerated. This department is also responsible for interviewing, training, and supervision of volunteers.

The SMCI Vocational Technical Department offers five vocational education programs that will enable offenders to become productive citizens upon their release from this facility. These programs are Auto Body, Auto Mechanics, Electrical, Plumbing and Pipefitting, and Welding. Program length for each program begins at approximately 1300 hours to 2650 hours. GED classes and tutoring have been added as night classes.

Mississippi Prison Industries Corporation (MPIC) provides real work experience to adult offenders residing at SMCI by providing employment skills to manufacture their own clothing and clothing for other state agencies, resulting in substantial revenue savings for the state. MPIC focuses on commitment to the production of quality garments and meeting the customers' needs. Items manufactured include work shirts, T-shirts, thermal underwear, gym shorts, BDU pants and BDU jackets. Officer uniform shirts are also produced for the State of Mississippi and other agencies.

SMCI, through its contracted healthcare vendor, Centurion, LLC., provides a full range of onsite medical services to the MDOC Offenders housed at SMCI and the Regional Facilities in the Southern Region of Mississippi. These onsite services include, but are not limited to, emergency care, infirmary care, dental, optometry, clinical, and pharmaceutical services. In addition, when deemed necessary and appropriate by the onsite Medical Director in conjunction with the MDOC Office of Medical Compliance, specialty care services are available through a network of off-site contracted hospitals, and specialty care providers.

Effective July 1, 2012, all MDOC facilities and grounds including South Mississippi Correctional Institution became tobacco-free. The use or possession of tobacco (cigarettes, loose tobacco, cigar, snuff, chewing tobacco, and any preparation of tobacco, (tobacco substitutes), smoking paraphernalia (matches, lighter, cigarette papers), and packaging material (snuff or cigarette containers) is prohibited. These items are considered contraband and will no longer be permitted by inmates, staff or visitors. Any possession of these items will result in appropriate administrative action.

MDOC – South Mississippi Correctional Institution – Visitation
MDOC – South Mississippi Correctional Institution – Inmate Handbook
MDOC – South Mississippi Correctional Institution – Inmate Family Information

visitation Info

MDOC – South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI) – Visitation

VISITING AN INMATE AT SMCI

GENERAL PROCEDURES

At all times while on the grounds of the Mississippi Department of Corrections a visitor is subject to search of his person, vehicle, personal property, or any/all items one may have in his possession.  Guns, knives, ammunition, alcohol, drugs, weapons, or any instrument or tool that may be used as a weapon, or any other items declared by the institution to be contraband are strictly forbidden.  Contraband will be confiscated and violators will be prosecuted.

Visitors are required to park their vehicles in the designated parking area.

Visitors are prohibited from taking personal property or articles of any kind into the institution, with the following exceptions:

1. Visitors may have a maximum of $20 in coin.  Visitors seeing RID facility will not be allowed to have any money.  A change machine is provided as a courtesy to those visitors wishing to use the vending machines in the visiting rooms.  The change machines are located in the entrance buildings at  Area-I, Area-II, and Area-III.
2. All paper currency must be converted to coin prior to admission to the visiting room. Any visitors found with paper currency in their possession in the visiting room will have their visit terminated and may be subject to suspension of future visiting privileges.
3. Visitors with infants may have one (1), clear diaper bag with up to two diapers, and one bottle, one change of baby clothes, and any necessary medications for the infant.  All diaper bags will be thoroughly searched.  
4. Visitors who are on any kind of prescribed medication may have the necessary dosage in their possession.  However, all prescribed medicine must be kept at the front desk.
5. All other articles and/or items of any kind are prohibited. Cameras, cell phone cameras, or any type of recording devices are not allowed on the grounds of the South Mississippi Correctional Institution. Visitors must leave beepers, wallets, purses, handbags, change purses, and all other non-allowable items locked in one of the visitor lockers provided in the entrance building for Area I or lock them in their vehicles.

The visitation rooms are designated as non-smoking areas.

 The Mississippi Department of Corrections is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal possessions belonging to visitors while they are in or on the grounds of the institution.

Visitors will only be permitted to visit one offender unless they are related (immediate family) to another offender.  Visitors who claim immediate family relationship to an offender may be required to provide verifiable proof of relationship.

Visitors under the age of eighteen (18) may visit but must have on file with the institution the written permission of their parent or guardian.  MINORS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

All visitors fourteen (14) years of age and older must have photographic identification

Visitors who claim to be the spouse of an offender must provide a valid certified copy of their marriage license, as well as the location where the marriage took place (state, county, city); name of the church, courthouse, etc., where the ceremony was performed; and if possible the name of the person who performed the ceremony.

Persons on probation, parole, or other forms of conditional release will not be permitted to visit an offender unless a verifiable family relationship can be established, and then only with the written approval of the Superintendent.

No more than five (5) persons (including babies/children) will be permitted to visit an offender at one time. 

VISITING HOURS 

General Population Units – Saturday or Sunday, 0800 – 1400 hours.  Each unit has its own assigned visitation days.

Special Treatment Units (STU) – First Saturday or Third Sunday, 1600 – 1700 hours.

• Maximum Security (“C” Custody) – 1st Saturday and 3rd Sunday from 1600 – 1700 hours.  “C” Custody offenders will be restricted to non-contact visits only.  Visits must be limited to two hours and prearranged by appointment.
• Maximum Security (“D” Custody) – Except for attorney visits, offenders in “D” Custody will receive NO visitors.
• Because of space limitation, persons visiting STU offenders are limited to no more than two adults and one child or one adult and two children at a time.
• Punitive Isolation – Punitive isolation offenders are not permitted to receive visits.

RID offenders – 0800 – 1200 hours. 1 & 2 Phase offenders visit on the 1st and 3rd Saturday, 3 & 4 Phase offenders visit on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. 

DRESS CODE

MALE VISITORS

• Shirts must be worn
• No tank tops or bare midriffs
• Shorts may not be above the knee
• No cut-off shorts, jogging shorts, or biking shorts
• Shoes/tennis shoes must be worn
• Under shorts will be worn
• Shorts and long pants must be worn above the hips
• No hats or head covering of any kind

FEMALE VISITORS

• Shorts may not be above the knee
• No hip huggers, cut-offs, jogging shorts or biking shorts
• Skirts and dresses will not be above the knee
• Slits will not extend above the knee when seated
• No sheer clothing
• No tank tops or bare midriffs
• Shoes/tennis shoes must be worn
• Bras and panties will be worn
• No hat or head covering of any kind

VISITING DAY

Upon arrival at the institution, visitors will be processed in the following manner:

• Present proper photographic identification (all persons over fourteen (14) years of age).
• Sign the visitor’s sign-in log.
• Submit to a search of their person by frisk search and/or scan with a metal detector.
• Submit to a search of any/all items in their possession that are allowed to be carried into the institution.
• Visitors who are not on an offender’s approved visiting list will not be granted admission to the institution.
• Inquiries concerning clarification, explanation, or errors in visiting lists should be directed by the visitor to the institution between the hours of 0800 and 1700, Monday through Friday.
• Visitors who are admitted to the institution will proceed directly to the Visitation Center.
• Visitors shall not be permitted to leave designated visiting areas.  When a visitor leaves the designated visiting areas for any reason, the visit will be terminated.
• The visiting processing officer will instruct visitors not having proper identification to wait until all other visitors are processed.  It will then be determined if the visitor can be positively identified.  If not, the visitor will not be permitted to visit.
•  Upon conclusion of visitation hours, visitors will not be permitted to leave the institution with any items or property that was not in their possession upon entering the institution except inmate’s personal property which has been confiscated.
• Offenders and visitors are prohibited from giving, trading, selling or receiving anything to or from each other or other offenders or visitors.
• If the visiting room becomes overcrowded, the first visitors to register will be asked to exit.
• Communication between offenders and visitors is prohibited after the visitor’s departure from the visiting area.
• Children must not disturb others.  Failure to supervise children may result in termination of the visit.  Absolutely no toy guns or knives will be brought into the institutional grounds.
• The dress code will be enforced for both offenders and visitors at all times.
• Visitors are expected to converse normally.  Loud talking, arguing, loud laughing, yelling and so forth may result in termination of the visit.
• Combing of hair within the visiting building is prohibited.
• Visitors may leave the visiting area at any time.  Once a visitor leaves the visiting area for any reason, he/she will not be permitted to return that particular day.
• Visitors may not visit with more than one offender unless they are members of the same family.
• Any visitor or offender who becomes disruptive or disrespectful to a staff member will be reported and the visit immediately terminated.
• Offenders and visitors must keep the area clean (i.e., all cans, paper, paper cups, and other trash will be placed in trash containers).
• During an emergency or disturbance, all visitors will be asked to leave immediately

PRESCRIBED MEDICATION

Visitors required to take prescribed medication during the time they are visiting an offender MUST follow the procedures outlined below:

• Medication will be left with the Visitor Center Officer.
• The visitor will notify the Visitor Center Officer of the specific time the medication is to be taken.
• The visitor will be permitted to recover the necessary dosage from the officer at the appropriate time.
• Visitors required to possess prescribed medication at all times, such as heart medication, must follow the procedures outlined below:
  1. The visitor must submit a written request to the Area Warden prior to bringing medication into the institution's visiting area.  A written doctor’s statement is required verifying the name of the individual, the prescribed medication, and the fact that the individual is required to maintain the medication in his/her possession at all times.
  2. Upon complying with the above, the Area Warden or designee will notify the visitor in writing of his approval.
  3. The visitor must present both the written approval and the medication to the Visitor Center Officer who will verify the approval and inspect the medication vial, if necessary.
  4. In addition to relinquishing the medication vial to the officer for inspection prior to entering, he/she will also do the same upon departing the institution.
  5. Medication brought onto institutional grounds by visitors other than as outlined above will be considered promoting dangerous contraband and appropriate action will be taken.
  6. No over-the-counter medication of any kind will be permitted.

AFFECTIONATE BEHAVIOR

Affectionate behavior is accepted and expected; however, visitors and offenders are expected to demonstrate appropriate affectionate behavior at all times.

Appropriate affectionate behavior at this institution is defined as a brief kiss and embrace upon entry and exit, holding hands, walking or sitting with arms around the shoulders or waist, or hands resting on any part of the body not considered sexual.

Any person involved in inappropriate behavior may have their visit terminated immediately.  Inappropriate affectionate behavior is defined as:

• Touching or fondling of areas considered sexual
• Sexual activity
• Prolonged body kissing or body embracing
• Lip kissing except for beginning or end of the visit
• Sitting in such a manner so as to expose to view areas of the body considered sexual
• No sitting in each others lap – does not apply to children under the age of 12 years
• Sitting or lying on the grass is prohibited