Statewide News

MDOC commissioner Epps honored for leadership

Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner (MDOC) Christopher B. Epps has been honored by one of Jackson’s most historic churches for his transformative and innovative leadership.

Epps was the recipient of Mount Helm Baptist Church Anchor Community Award in Government. He and seven other recipients were honored on March 29 at the 2013 Resurrection Gala and Community Anchor Awards Banquet at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson. […]

Top Stories

Escaped inmate found dead in jail cell

An escaped Rankin County inmate was discovered dead in his jail cell one day after being found in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Officials with the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) said 27-year-old Bryan Owens was found hanging from his cell late Tuesday afternoon.

MDOC Spokesperson Tara Booth said officers were serving dinner when they found Owens hanging from a sheet in his cell.

Owens was housed alone, Booth said, and he was pronounced dead at 5:09 p.m.

Owens escaped on Sunday, March 24. […]

Uncategorized

Deadbeat dad sentenced for failing to pay child support

A Madison County man has answered in court for his failing to pay child support, Attorney General Jim Hood said.
 
James Coy Fendley, 41, pleaded guilty and was sentenced for Felony Non-Support of a child before Madison County Circuit Court Judge John Emfinger.
 
Judge Emfinger sentenced Fendley to five years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), with five years suspended and post release supervision in the custody of MDOC. 
[…]

News

Christopher Epps sworn in as president of world’s largest correctional association

By Lonnie Ross

Online Editor

Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Christopher B. Epps was sworn in on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, as the 102nd president of the American Correctional Association (ACA). He is a native of Tchula, Mississippi.

The ACA, founded in 1870 as the National Prison Association, is the oldest and largest international correctional association in the world. The organization has more than 20,000 members from 60 countries…. […]

News

Man falls asleep while smoking, dies in fire

A 70-year-old Natchez man has died from severe burns to his upper body and face days after he fell asleep smoking a cigarette setting his bed and sheets on fire.

Bill Grover Hammett died Jan. 26 at the Joseph M. Still burn center at Doctor’s Hospital in Augusta, Ga.

Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said deputies responded to a report of a house fire at 1:06 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24. […]

News

Pike County convict escapes from jail

An inmate serving seven years for a series of burglaries and identity theft walked away from the McComb facility where he was being held and remains at large, authorities said.

Richard Glen Maples, 22, reportedly left the Pike County Community Work Center around 10:30 p.m. Saturday night wearing his state-issued MDOC green and white striped pants and white MDOC shirt. His shirt has “MDOC Convict” printed on the back.

Prison officials are investigating how Maples escaped from facility and whether or not he had assistance. […]

News

Miss. has 2nd highest inmate population in the nation

As Mississippi enters the second half of the current fiscal year, the state’s prison population continues to increase with no apparent signs of abating.

During 2011, the number of prisoners under the jurisdiction of state and federal correctional authorities declined by 0.9 percent, from 1,613,803 to 1,598,780.

But that was not the case in Mississippi. […]

News

Inmates harvest fall crops

Enough vegetables, including broccoli, mustard and turnip greens, are being harvested now at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman to feed the 12,000-plus offenders in the three main prisons and community work centers of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC).

Farming is one way the state cuts down on food cost to taxpayers, plus give hundreds of inmates something to do while serving time.

In addition to vegetables, the Mississippi Prison Agricultural Enterprises (MPAE) crop production also includes rice, wheat, soybeans and corn. There’s also a poultry facility with a capacity for 36,000 hens. […]

News

Man steals car with toddler inside

A 25-year-old man is in police custody after he allegedly stole a woman’s car with her 3-year-old child inside.

Bradly Scott Hilsabeck is being held by request of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) following an incident that occurred about 6:46 p.m., Sunday.

Lt. James Massey, of the Pascagoula Police Department, said a woman was standing at her vehicle in the Walgreen’s Parking lot in the 3800 block of Market Street when Hilsabeck reportedly pushed her away and took off in her vehicle. […]

Education

Former teacher gets 5 years for sex with student

A 42-year-old former educator will spend the next five years behind bars after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual battery in a Jackson County courtroom.

Robert Frank Griffin plead guilty before Judge Kathy King in circuit court on Friday, Nov. 30. Griffin, who is a former St. Martin teacher, admitted to having sex with a student back in 2010. […]