The Mississippi Department of Corrections issued the following statement.
MDOC OFFICERS RETURN TO SMCI TO COMPLETE SHAKEDOWN
JACKSON – A large number of MDOC officers returned to South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Leakesville today to complete searching the 3,000-plus prison under Operation Zero Tolerance.
During the shakedown, one officer who works at the facility was assaulted by an inmate while enforcing grooming standards. The injury is non-life-threatening.
Areas I and III were searched this time. Last week’s shakedown occurred in Area II, where fewer than a dozen inmates out of 1,836 said they were on a hunger strike. The facility, which can hold a maximum 3,082 inmates, reports that no inmate, however, is now refusing to eat.
Contraband items found today include 17 shanks, 11 cell phones, 18 cell phone chargers, 5 green dot numbers, 5 tattoo ink bottles, footwear, small amounts of tobacco and spice, and an assortment of pills.
“It is good to see that the amount of contraband we found today is far less than what we have been finding,” Corrections Commissioner Pelicia Hall said, “especially considering that we have seen drones lately and have had reports of drones flying around SMCI. Like other prisons around the country, we are seeing the use of drones to introduce contraband into our facilities.”
The shakedown is the ninth statewide in about six weeks. Hall has instituted zero tolerance to reduce the flow of contraband at state, private and regional facilities to improve safety for both staff and inmates. Hall said all facilities will have an unannounced search.
SMCI’s population was 3,062 at the time of today’s shakedown. The prison is the newest of the state’s three state prisons.
The other locations searched so far are the Hinds County Restitution Center, Carroll-Montgomery County Regional Correctional Facility, Wilkinson County Correctional Facility, East Mississippi Correctional Facility, Marshall County Correctional Facility, Yazoo County Regional Correctional Facility, and Holmes-Humphreys County Regional Correctional Facility.
9 comments:
"Grooming Standards". Please define.
"Green DOT Numbers". Please explain.
Not sure about the "grooming standards"
Having had a relative in MDOC, Green Dot is a prepaid Visa card with a dollar amount refill. I am told that someone on the outside holds the master account while inmates pay for contraband using the refill number. You call your family on the outside and request a refill of a certain dollar amount. That refill had a number. Inmate gives that refill number to the outside account holder. It transfers money to the master account number. Bingo Bango Bongo. An illegitimate economy is born. Mind you, all these transactions are done through illegal cell phones in prison.
These shakedowns are great press for MDOC. They can't shut down the inmate system. 24/7 the inmates are thinking of ways to beat the system.
MDOC needs a shakedown!
Excellent response 8:10. Thank you for that explanation. I'd never heard of 'green dot'.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
"MDOC needs a shakedown!"
April 12, 2017 at 12:46 AM
Exactly! Sadly, professions like this in law enforcement quickly lend themselves to all types who're NOT coming for a job, to make a good difference, to mentor, but come to participate in illegal and illicit behaviors. How do you weed them out and still have a viable workforce? How do you NOT hire them in the first place?
11:35...allow me to attempt an answer. First, you establish a specific job description. Then you establish a pay scale commensurate with the responsibilities and experience you require.
Next you have competent people screening resumes and vetting candidates.
Next, after initial interview, you thoroughly vet potential candidates who you think might advance to the level of second interview. You run background checks: Criminal, social, employment. And you do NOT turn this over to a group of high school graduates who simply make a few phone calls and check boxes on forms.
Lastly, you eliminate those who don't match your standards or who 'fail' to meet muster on any of your qualifications or expectations. Period.
The problem we have had for decades is taking what we can get who will accept this piss poor pay schedule and who we think might last a month or two and we keep churning that revolving door.
Is this all we are gonna hear about from MDOC? They should be collecting contraband daily. Its as if Chris Epps is back at the helm.
"Been There..."
There is a flaw in your rationale. It appears to have taken for granted the presence of executives who are intelligent and capable who have character & integrity to guide the process. MDOC has had none of those things in top managers for years. Have they ever? They may have a new person at the top but nothing has changed. just think Epps in a dress taking advice from deputies (at least one of whom) is morally depraved, ethically bankrupt and totally void of character and integrity in addition to not being very bright in general.
Those who have worked in either government OR the private sector know full well that when a person of questionable ability and competency is placed in charge of a unit, division, building, office, department or corporation....they will spend their time piddling with and around the low hanging fruit, pointing out puddles on the floor, demanding that bookshelves be straightened and questioning the schedule for cleaning the venetian blinds.
There's nothing going on in this massive agency that can't wait two years til these shakedown antics are through their first cycle.
And when her time is done and she seeks her PERS reward, she can write a book bemoaning the death chamber, like Don Cabana did.
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