Mississippi  Department of  Corrections

Christopher B. Epps	Phil Bryant
Commissioner	Governor

Religious Programs The Religious Programs Department has a mission to serve the inmate population and institutions by promoting and delivering quality spiritual life services in the areas of worship, religious education and crisis counseling.  This department seeks to achieve the highest professional response from staff chaplains and volunteers involved in the delivery of a variety of religious activities across the state, and to integrate Religious Programs Department staff and services into an institutional response toward meeting the needs of the inmate population.     The Mississippi State Penitentiary, the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility and the South Mississippi Correctional Institution provide full-time chaplains who offer a wide range of religious services.  Additionally, a large number of volunteers have been recruited and are under the direction of the chaplains.    Chaplains provide services to all inmates in need.  Staff members are responsible for coordinating emergency suspensions, delivering religious services and sacraments, providing pastoral counseling, and coordinating and directing religious educational programs.  Additionally, an orientation at CMCF Reception and Classification is provided to obtain information that may be necessary for emergencies as inmate’s progress through the system.  This is also the best opportunity to confront negative attitudes and behaviors of newly adjudicated offenders.  The Director of Religious Programs provides guidance to the chaplains located in the private prisons and assists with the development of volunteers in the county/regional facilities and community work centers.