PTO-29412
12-01-2004, 05:48 PM
I wanted to post this information for familys whos loved ones are going into the MDOC system and this information will be useful to thouse whos loved ones have already been through the process. I was in the MDOC system for 19 months at CMCF and MSP. Nothing is sugar coated, and from here on out I will be referring to your loved ones as Inmate/Convicts/Offenders, I am not doing this out of spite or meaness to you or them, but from here on out this is how they will be referred as to you by MDOC. They are now a number not a name in the states eyes. I will focus mainly on the Receiving and Classification (R&C) stages, all of which will take place at:
Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF)
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, Mississippi 39208.
Lawerence Kelly, Superintendent
601-932-2880.
I must stress to you that you should not call CMCF while your loved one is in R&C there will be NO use in calling anyone at CMCF for any information, they do not know and will not tell you anything usefull. Only call for emergencies or Family Deaths. I will also list some tips, and helpful links at the end
1. PICKUP:
The county jail is responsible for letting MDOC know that they have state inmates in county custody, and they will set up a pickup time for them. This information is not known to anyone inside the jail and you will not be notified when they are leaving. By this time the inmate will have been given Yellow Jumpsuits, with MDOC CONVICT printed on the back, Yellow Jumpsuits classify them as “C” Custody. Inmates will not be allowed to take any personal property with them, they will only be allowed to carry there Bible with them, NO PICTURES, No loose papers. I would suggest that they write all of there contacts and address/phone numbers on the blank pages at the front and back of the Bible. In some cases inmates will be given the clothing they wore when they came into the jail to wear to CMCF. If they have none they will wear the MDOC Jumpsuit. ACCORDING TO Rick McCarty’s office, Finance Director, inmates are allowed to have money in their possession to carry to CMCF, this money will be taken from them and placed into their Inmate Account. They will be shackled down and transported to CMCF. Once arriving they will be ordered to stand in a straight line with there backs to the officers, and they will be facing the wall with hands clasped behind the back, and forehead resting on the wall. The officers will then proceed with rolecall, when that inmates name is called they will step forward to have all personal information entered into the computers. Name, address, Emergency contact, etc. Then they will be given an MDOC number which they must memorize immeadeatly. NOONE may use the bathroom during this process. After roll call, they will proceed to the showers where they will be strip searched, and have a cavity search performed. They will be showered, and have deliceing solution sprayed on them. They will be able to dry off and will receive there property. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are inmates allowed to keep clothing they brought with them. If they do not want to lose it then they should wear it, Everything is burned once it is received. Inmates personal property is issued, 3 pairs of boxers, 3 t-shirts, 1 yellow jumpsuit, 1 pair of keds like tennis shoes, 1 pillow case (no pillow), 2, towels and wash cloths, 2 sheets, roll or toilet tissue, toothbrush and toothpaste. and bar of soap. During winter months they will receive 1 set of long flannel underwear, 1 jacket, and 1 blanket. IF THEY LOSE OR HAVE STOLEN ANY OF THE ABOVE PROPERTY THEY CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE GIVEN ANY MORE PROPERTY. They are given 2 minutes to dress and are then lined up to receive a haircut. I would suggest that inmates receive a haircut at the county jail where they hair is almost shaved, if not they will get a gapped up haircut from old, filthy clippers. The heads are shaved. They will then be finger printed, have a photo taken for the MDOC Inmate ID card. They will be served lunch in a holding cell where they will stay until everyone is processed and MDOC officals assign housing units. Once they are taken to a housing unit, the head officers over that building will Search all inmate property, they will be assigned to a zone and rack #, and will be issued a mattress, pillows are rarely available. They will be housed in a zone with 125 other inmates, 4 toilets. 4 urinals, 4 sinks, and 12 shower heads. EVERYTHING is open and there is NO privacy at ALL. They are going to be sleeping on either a top or bottom rack, there are two slid out drawers on the bottom where they can store property etc. however no locking devices allowed at CMCF R&C so anything in there they must watch or tie closed. There will be 1 Television on each zone which is allowed on at all times except for count and rack down. While at R&C they will be given a sheet to fill out for there phone list, 10 numbers are only allowed. This takes anywhere from 2-3 weeks to be activated. Inmates are allowed calls on Saturday and Sunday, the calls are for 15 minutes and cost around $6.00 per call. There are only 5 phones on each zone, but can call multiple times if noone else is waiting to use the phones. They will be allowed to go outside on “Yard Call” when time and weather permits, this will last anywhere from 30 -60 minutes. Both zones are let out for Yard Calls, so it is a total of 250+ inmates. Wake Up call is every morning at 5:30 am, inmates are to get up and dressed, make there racks(beds), they may lay back down, but cannot cover up. Breakfast is served between 6 – 7 am, inmates have 5 minutes to eat. Lunch and Dinner are the same way. Any mail that they want to send out to familys can be taken at this time to the dining room, there is an outgoing mailbox posted outside of the dining hall. Mail Call is everyday but Saturday and Sunday during the PM hours, No books, tapes, stamps, extra sheets of paper, poloroid pictures, money, allowed in mail. Canteen is done every two weeks, and they can order $40.00 worth of items. Little Debbie Snacks, Drinks, paper, stamps, shower shoes, hygiene products, chips etc. are able to be ordered. NO smoking anytime period at CMCF R&C, if anyone is caught smoking it is an RVR and permenant mark on there record.
2. Physical Examination
Medical staff examines each inmate, they are given a blood test, TB test, and given a complete physical, a doctor will see each inmate. If they have anytype of medical condition, then this needs to be previously documented. 99% of inmates are given a Medical Level of 1:
Medical Class One – The offender is able to work in any job which he is assigned.
Medical Class Two – The offender may do light outdoor work to include light lifting (10-15 pounds), some construction work, etc. Offenders in this class are unable to perform logging, heavy lifting, and/or strenuous fieldwork.
Medical Class Three- The offender may do any type of indoor work to include cleaning, lifting, etc. The offender can not have direct exposure to sunlight.
Medical Class Four – The offender may do light infoor work to include electrical or other deskwork, etc.
Medical Class Five – The offender is medically ubable to work. The offender must have a signed authorization to work.
After the Physical all inmates are sent to an HIV/AIDS class.
3. Psychological Evaluation
All inmates are given personality test, intelligence test, educational test, psych test. They will meet with a psychiatrist who will interview them to see if any need of psych attention.
4. Classification Process
During this process all relevant information concerning the offenders is evaluated and this is used to assign a Custody Status. Inmates take no part in this process except for requestion what type of work program they are interested in. 9-10 times they are put into field work for 6 months and after this they are given a program spot.
Classification Criteria
Age, Nature of offense, Type of crime committed, prior and current conduct, sentence data, prior criminal history and NCIC, Personal and social factors, escape history, detainers, Red Tag (separate and caution measures), Disciplinary actions, Evaluations and recommendations, security requirements, education, resident stability, employment experience, Youth court and juvenile history, Gang involvement (any at all and they are placed in lockdown).
Programs:
If they request a certain program it is NO gurantee they will go to that facilty.
MSP – Agri-Business, Auto Mechanics, Auto Body Repair, Carpentry, Diesel Mechanics, Industrial Electricity, Industrial Food Workers, Machine Shop, Masonary & Tile Setter, Plumbing and Pipefitting, Sheet metal, welding, Communications Systems installer, Heating and air conditioning & refrigeration, Out Board Mechanic.
CMCF – WOMEN ONLY – Administrative Assitant / Secretary, Cosmetology, Clothing Apparel & Textile workers, Upholestry.
SMCI –Auto body repair, Industrial Electricity, Plumbing and Pipefitting, Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Repair, welding.
It is not a fact but most inmates south of Jackson and I20, go to SMCI, North of I20 goes to MSP.
While a classification the inmate will find out what they are classified as:
A Custody – MOA and MORA – Green and White pants
B Custody – MOB and MORB – Black and White pants
C Custody – All yellow
D Custody – Red and White pants
Death – ALL RED
CP - county prisoner all Orange
Before being transferred all inmates classified as A or B custody will have a urine drug test.
Inmates WILL NOT know where they are being sent to until the morning they are called to pack there rack. They will be taken out to the hall with there property, and told to line up in either MSP, or SMCI line, and then they get breakfast are taken to R&C, shackled and led to the bus to go.
:angry: *** WARNING***:angry:
SAFETY SYSTEM – Set up a safety word, or code word for them to use if there is a problem, such as, “When are you leaving for your trip to Mexico”, if they tell you this then you know that they are in danger a cannot get to a guard for help. In this case call the superintendent, warden , and watch commander, give them the MDOC #, name, and unit number. They will lock down they unit and call them out to go into Protective Custody, PC is better than death. I would also have a password set up, sometimes they go into lock down or they get sent to lock down without a opportunity to call you, in this case they can get another trusty to call you for them using your loved ones MDOC#. Example, the password is Faybeth,, “James asked me to call you and tell you he is in Lockdown, and fayebeth is the password” ALWAYS CHANGE IT IF IT WAS GIVEN TO SOMEONE. ALSO NEVER EVER EVER Send money to anyone claiming to be calling for them. Someone will say if you send money to my account I will but such and such for them and take it to them. THIS NEVER WORKS. Always get the person callings name. You get the idea.
SCAM - some inmates steal others phone list from them and will call there family saying that they are going to be killed etc. unless you send them money, if you receive a call from anyone or get mail from anyone like this then contact MDOC.
TELL THEM to beware of spiders, they are numerous at CMCF, I personally got bitten on the neck by a brown recluse.
GANGS - Gangs are a huge problem in the MDOC system, the most popular are Gangsters, Vice Lords, ( black men are only in those two) then there are two other ones That I cannot remember the name that are white members only. Gangsters and one of the white ones stick together and the other two stick together, anyone not with them or with the other are enemys. They try to recruit new members at CMCF and when they first go into a new state facility, most require that you Tattoo a gang symbol on your body. ANYONE, that has anytype of gang tattoo will be placed into Segregated Lock Down, they have a specific unit used only for gang member lock downs. And they are locked down for years and sometimes the remainder of the sentence.
EXTORTION- Some of the gangs will try to extort you for money with the promise of protection, this doesn’t work and all they will do is stab you before the otherone does.
SICK CALLS
Any Illness or sickness that the inmate has will only be handled after they fill out a Sick Call sheet, this is a sheet where they list what is wrong, if the staff feals that it is serious or needs medical attention then they will be called later in the week to go to Medical Unit. Only in life threatening situations will a inmate be taken before that step to the Medical Unit.
Writing home at CMCF
Before they can get canteen which is around 2 weeks from arrival this will help:
In order to write home, all inmates will be given a chance during the first week to go on a Helicopter Ride(not really a real one), this is a program that the chaplain does, where he gets you to look at your life, by going on a helicopter ride of your life, afterwards you receive a certificate for this, a pen, pad of paper, and prestamped envelopes. I stayed at CMCF for close to one month, some stay 2 -5. It all changes and varies.
The guards at CMCF in my opinion are very rude and power hungry, most of them are new graduates from the police academy or guard training program. If the inmate does as he is told never talks back, or ask to many questions. Follows all orders, stays on his rack, then they will have no problem. Some guards want shoes turned facing a certain way when you aren’t wearing them, some don’t want anything outside of your personal drawer. They can and will throw away the property if they want to. They need to look at this experience like military boot camp, once they complete the 4 weeks they are gone, parchman may not be a better place, but I like it a lot better than I did CMCF, officers are nicer and a lot more laid back, plus you have more privledges and can receive family visits.
Family Rehabilitation Apartments:
For inmates at MSP and family, you must be RVR free for 1 year,A custody for 6 months. You stay in a apartment for 3 days or 1 week, your family can bring food from home, games, go fishing etc. Only Immeadiate family allowed, cost is around $10-$20 per night. They are nitpicky about what you can bring but it is worth it.
I hope that this will help all of you, I do not mean to scare you, but I am not going to sugar coat it. This is a critical time for you and them. If I can help any of you, or if you didn’t understand something I wrote, then please PM me.
Helpful Links and Addresses:
MDOC Website
http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/
Family Link and Need to Know
Click on MDOC Inmate Information, then Inmate Family Information
At this site you can Locate an inmate, get all information on sending funds, medical concerns, as well as download the Inmate Handbook which is really useful because you can see what they see.
INMATE SEARCH
http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/
then click on Inmate search, sometimes only typing in the last name helps, because they will misspell names etc. Here you can see what unit they are in, release date, and crime information.
Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF)
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, Mississippi 39208.
Lawerence Kelly, Superintendent
601-932-2880.
I must stress to you that you should not call CMCF while your loved one is in R&C there will be NO use in calling anyone at CMCF for any information, they do not know and will not tell you anything usefull. Only call for emergencies or Family Deaths. I will also list some tips, and helpful links at the end
1. PICKUP:
The county jail is responsible for letting MDOC know that they have state inmates in county custody, and they will set up a pickup time for them. This information is not known to anyone inside the jail and you will not be notified when they are leaving. By this time the inmate will have been given Yellow Jumpsuits, with MDOC CONVICT printed on the back, Yellow Jumpsuits classify them as “C” Custody. Inmates will not be allowed to take any personal property with them, they will only be allowed to carry there Bible with them, NO PICTURES, No loose papers. I would suggest that they write all of there contacts and address/phone numbers on the blank pages at the front and back of the Bible. In some cases inmates will be given the clothing they wore when they came into the jail to wear to CMCF. If they have none they will wear the MDOC Jumpsuit. ACCORDING TO Rick McCarty’s office, Finance Director, inmates are allowed to have money in their possession to carry to CMCF, this money will be taken from them and placed into their Inmate Account. They will be shackled down and transported to CMCF. Once arriving they will be ordered to stand in a straight line with there backs to the officers, and they will be facing the wall with hands clasped behind the back, and forehead resting on the wall. The officers will then proceed with rolecall, when that inmates name is called they will step forward to have all personal information entered into the computers. Name, address, Emergency contact, etc. Then they will be given an MDOC number which they must memorize immeadeatly. NOONE may use the bathroom during this process. After roll call, they will proceed to the showers where they will be strip searched, and have a cavity search performed. They will be showered, and have deliceing solution sprayed on them. They will be able to dry off and will receive there property. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are inmates allowed to keep clothing they brought with them. If they do not want to lose it then they should wear it, Everything is burned once it is received. Inmates personal property is issued, 3 pairs of boxers, 3 t-shirts, 1 yellow jumpsuit, 1 pair of keds like tennis shoes, 1 pillow case (no pillow), 2, towels and wash cloths, 2 sheets, roll or toilet tissue, toothbrush and toothpaste. and bar of soap. During winter months they will receive 1 set of long flannel underwear, 1 jacket, and 1 blanket. IF THEY LOSE OR HAVE STOLEN ANY OF THE ABOVE PROPERTY THEY CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE GIVEN ANY MORE PROPERTY. They are given 2 minutes to dress and are then lined up to receive a haircut. I would suggest that inmates receive a haircut at the county jail where they hair is almost shaved, if not they will get a gapped up haircut from old, filthy clippers. The heads are shaved. They will then be finger printed, have a photo taken for the MDOC Inmate ID card. They will be served lunch in a holding cell where they will stay until everyone is processed and MDOC officals assign housing units. Once they are taken to a housing unit, the head officers over that building will Search all inmate property, they will be assigned to a zone and rack #, and will be issued a mattress, pillows are rarely available. They will be housed in a zone with 125 other inmates, 4 toilets. 4 urinals, 4 sinks, and 12 shower heads. EVERYTHING is open and there is NO privacy at ALL. They are going to be sleeping on either a top or bottom rack, there are two slid out drawers on the bottom where they can store property etc. however no locking devices allowed at CMCF R&C so anything in there they must watch or tie closed. There will be 1 Television on each zone which is allowed on at all times except for count and rack down. While at R&C they will be given a sheet to fill out for there phone list, 10 numbers are only allowed. This takes anywhere from 2-3 weeks to be activated. Inmates are allowed calls on Saturday and Sunday, the calls are for 15 minutes and cost around $6.00 per call. There are only 5 phones on each zone, but can call multiple times if noone else is waiting to use the phones. They will be allowed to go outside on “Yard Call” when time and weather permits, this will last anywhere from 30 -60 minutes. Both zones are let out for Yard Calls, so it is a total of 250+ inmates. Wake Up call is every morning at 5:30 am, inmates are to get up and dressed, make there racks(beds), they may lay back down, but cannot cover up. Breakfast is served between 6 – 7 am, inmates have 5 minutes to eat. Lunch and Dinner are the same way. Any mail that they want to send out to familys can be taken at this time to the dining room, there is an outgoing mailbox posted outside of the dining hall. Mail Call is everyday but Saturday and Sunday during the PM hours, No books, tapes, stamps, extra sheets of paper, poloroid pictures, money, allowed in mail. Canteen is done every two weeks, and they can order $40.00 worth of items. Little Debbie Snacks, Drinks, paper, stamps, shower shoes, hygiene products, chips etc. are able to be ordered. NO smoking anytime period at CMCF R&C, if anyone is caught smoking it is an RVR and permenant mark on there record.
2. Physical Examination
Medical staff examines each inmate, they are given a blood test, TB test, and given a complete physical, a doctor will see each inmate. If they have anytype of medical condition, then this needs to be previously documented. 99% of inmates are given a Medical Level of 1:
Medical Class One – The offender is able to work in any job which he is assigned.
Medical Class Two – The offender may do light outdoor work to include light lifting (10-15 pounds), some construction work, etc. Offenders in this class are unable to perform logging, heavy lifting, and/or strenuous fieldwork.
Medical Class Three- The offender may do any type of indoor work to include cleaning, lifting, etc. The offender can not have direct exposure to sunlight.
Medical Class Four – The offender may do light infoor work to include electrical or other deskwork, etc.
Medical Class Five – The offender is medically ubable to work. The offender must have a signed authorization to work.
After the Physical all inmates are sent to an HIV/AIDS class.
3. Psychological Evaluation
All inmates are given personality test, intelligence test, educational test, psych test. They will meet with a psychiatrist who will interview them to see if any need of psych attention.
4. Classification Process
During this process all relevant information concerning the offenders is evaluated and this is used to assign a Custody Status. Inmates take no part in this process except for requestion what type of work program they are interested in. 9-10 times they are put into field work for 6 months and after this they are given a program spot.
Classification Criteria
Age, Nature of offense, Type of crime committed, prior and current conduct, sentence data, prior criminal history and NCIC, Personal and social factors, escape history, detainers, Red Tag (separate and caution measures), Disciplinary actions, Evaluations and recommendations, security requirements, education, resident stability, employment experience, Youth court and juvenile history, Gang involvement (any at all and they are placed in lockdown).
Programs:
If they request a certain program it is NO gurantee they will go to that facilty.
MSP – Agri-Business, Auto Mechanics, Auto Body Repair, Carpentry, Diesel Mechanics, Industrial Electricity, Industrial Food Workers, Machine Shop, Masonary & Tile Setter, Plumbing and Pipefitting, Sheet metal, welding, Communications Systems installer, Heating and air conditioning & refrigeration, Out Board Mechanic.
CMCF – WOMEN ONLY – Administrative Assitant / Secretary, Cosmetology, Clothing Apparel & Textile workers, Upholestry.
SMCI –Auto body repair, Industrial Electricity, Plumbing and Pipefitting, Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Repair, welding.
It is not a fact but most inmates south of Jackson and I20, go to SMCI, North of I20 goes to MSP.
While a classification the inmate will find out what they are classified as:
A Custody – MOA and MORA – Green and White pants
B Custody – MOB and MORB – Black and White pants
C Custody – All yellow
D Custody – Red and White pants
Death – ALL RED
CP - county prisoner all Orange
Before being transferred all inmates classified as A or B custody will have a urine drug test.
Inmates WILL NOT know where they are being sent to until the morning they are called to pack there rack. They will be taken out to the hall with there property, and told to line up in either MSP, or SMCI line, and then they get breakfast are taken to R&C, shackled and led to the bus to go.
:angry: *** WARNING***:angry:
SAFETY SYSTEM – Set up a safety word, or code word for them to use if there is a problem, such as, “When are you leaving for your trip to Mexico”, if they tell you this then you know that they are in danger a cannot get to a guard for help. In this case call the superintendent, warden , and watch commander, give them the MDOC #, name, and unit number. They will lock down they unit and call them out to go into Protective Custody, PC is better than death. I would also have a password set up, sometimes they go into lock down or they get sent to lock down without a opportunity to call you, in this case they can get another trusty to call you for them using your loved ones MDOC#. Example, the password is Faybeth,, “James asked me to call you and tell you he is in Lockdown, and fayebeth is the password” ALWAYS CHANGE IT IF IT WAS GIVEN TO SOMEONE. ALSO NEVER EVER EVER Send money to anyone claiming to be calling for them. Someone will say if you send money to my account I will but such and such for them and take it to them. THIS NEVER WORKS. Always get the person callings name. You get the idea.
SCAM - some inmates steal others phone list from them and will call there family saying that they are going to be killed etc. unless you send them money, if you receive a call from anyone or get mail from anyone like this then contact MDOC.
TELL THEM to beware of spiders, they are numerous at CMCF, I personally got bitten on the neck by a brown recluse.
GANGS - Gangs are a huge problem in the MDOC system, the most popular are Gangsters, Vice Lords, ( black men are only in those two) then there are two other ones That I cannot remember the name that are white members only. Gangsters and one of the white ones stick together and the other two stick together, anyone not with them or with the other are enemys. They try to recruit new members at CMCF and when they first go into a new state facility, most require that you Tattoo a gang symbol on your body. ANYONE, that has anytype of gang tattoo will be placed into Segregated Lock Down, they have a specific unit used only for gang member lock downs. And they are locked down for years and sometimes the remainder of the sentence.
EXTORTION- Some of the gangs will try to extort you for money with the promise of protection, this doesn’t work and all they will do is stab you before the otherone does.
SICK CALLS
Any Illness or sickness that the inmate has will only be handled after they fill out a Sick Call sheet, this is a sheet where they list what is wrong, if the staff feals that it is serious or needs medical attention then they will be called later in the week to go to Medical Unit. Only in life threatening situations will a inmate be taken before that step to the Medical Unit.
Writing home at CMCF
Before they can get canteen which is around 2 weeks from arrival this will help:
In order to write home, all inmates will be given a chance during the first week to go on a Helicopter Ride(not really a real one), this is a program that the chaplain does, where he gets you to look at your life, by going on a helicopter ride of your life, afterwards you receive a certificate for this, a pen, pad of paper, and prestamped envelopes. I stayed at CMCF for close to one month, some stay 2 -5. It all changes and varies.
The guards at CMCF in my opinion are very rude and power hungry, most of them are new graduates from the police academy or guard training program. If the inmate does as he is told never talks back, or ask to many questions. Follows all orders, stays on his rack, then they will have no problem. Some guards want shoes turned facing a certain way when you aren’t wearing them, some don’t want anything outside of your personal drawer. They can and will throw away the property if they want to. They need to look at this experience like military boot camp, once they complete the 4 weeks they are gone, parchman may not be a better place, but I like it a lot better than I did CMCF, officers are nicer and a lot more laid back, plus you have more privledges and can receive family visits.
Family Rehabilitation Apartments:
For inmates at MSP and family, you must be RVR free for 1 year,A custody for 6 months. You stay in a apartment for 3 days or 1 week, your family can bring food from home, games, go fishing etc. Only Immeadiate family allowed, cost is around $10-$20 per night. They are nitpicky about what you can bring but it is worth it.
I hope that this will help all of you, I do not mean to scare you, but I am not going to sugar coat it. This is a critical time for you and them. If I can help any of you, or if you didn’t understand something I wrote, then please PM me.
Helpful Links and Addresses:
MDOC Website
http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/
Family Link and Need to Know
Click on MDOC Inmate Information, then Inmate Family Information
At this site you can Locate an inmate, get all information on sending funds, medical concerns, as well as download the Inmate Handbook which is really useful because you can see what they see.
INMATE SEARCH
http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/
then click on Inmate search, sometimes only typing in the last name helps, because they will misspell names etc. Here you can see what unit they are in, release date, and crime information.