Reassessment of Confinement Priorities in Mississippi

• In Event: Improving Reentry Outcomes

Abstract

Under the administration of Governor Bryant, the Mississippi Department of Corrections has gained increased attention and support. The Governor, a former law enforcement officer, has directed in conjunction with Christopher Epps, the Commissioner of Corrections, that appropriate alternatives to confinement be identified and utilized. In 2013, in a bipartisan effort, a 21-member task force was assembled of consisting of lawmakers, judges, prosecutors, law enforcement personnel and defense attorneys. Working together over a seven month period, with assistance from the Pew Charitable Trust’s Public Safety Performance Project, the task force developed a series of recommendations for the 2014 Legislature. This paper will examine those recommendations and the changes occurring within the Mississippi Department of Corrections in 2014.

Authors

• Lorri C. Williamson, University of Mississippi

• Leisa S. McElreath, Mississippi Board of Cosmetology

• Daniel Adrian Doss, University of West Alabama

• David Hughes McElreath, University of Mississippi