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MDOC is conducting interviews for correctional officers at the three state prisons through Saturday
JACKSON, MISS. – The Mississippi Department of Corrections is conducting interviews for correctional officers through Saturday at each of the three state prisons.
Interview and screening days usually are twice per month, but the MDOC is being more flexible with recruitment to accommodate potential applicants’ schedules, especially those of graduating college students.
The hours are from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., except Saturday when screening ends at 10 a.m., at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF), Mississippi State Penitentiary (MSP) and South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI).
The agency is aggressively recruiting to address staffing shortages mainly in security.
“Coming to work for the Mississippi Department of Corrections is an investment in a career,” Commissioner Pelicia E. Hall said. “The wages for a correctional officer are not as attractive as we would like them to be, but we will continue to work with the Legislature. You may start out in an entry-level position at the MDOC, but you can become one of its leaders.”
The department is filled with examples of once entry-level employees now in command. They include Deputy Commissioners Jerry Williams, SMCI Superintendent Joe Errington and CMCF Chief of Security Dean Epps, just to name a few.
“I wanted a career,” said Epps, now second in command at CMCF. “That is why I joined and stayed with the MDOC.”
Epps understands concerns about the dangers of the job, she said, but “we offer training at every level to make us think safety at all times. If you take advantage of the training, you will always be mindful of doing your job correctly.”
When her daughter became ill and needed her attention for two weeks, she had enough time to take off without fear of losing her job, Epps said. She became interested in corrections after hearing from her brother, then an employee at the MDOC, about the benefits the department was offering.
She also has had the opportunity to further her education as she moved from a correctional officer to a case manager to an academic teacher to a warden and now her current position.
After more than 20 years with the MDOC, Epps, who is unrelated to the former corrections commissioner, is happy with her career choice.
“The Mississippi Department of Corrections is packed with lifelong professional and personal growth opportunities,” Epps said.
In addition to the benefits Epps mentioned, the MDOC also is offering a 5 percent increase in starting pay, if you have a college degree or experience in the workforce.
Applications are available at:
- Job Line, 1-866-783-9359;
- MDOC recruitment website, mdocrecruitment@mdoc.state.ms.us;
- Mississippi State Personnel Board’s website, www.mspb.ms.gov;
- MDOC Personnel Services Division, Central Office, 633 North State St., or call Personnel Services, 601-359-5696
- CMCF, 3794 Highway 468, Pearl, or call (601) 932-2880, ext. 6701;
- MSP, 708 Parchman Road, Parchman, or call (662) 745-6611, ext. 2366; and
- SMCI, 22689 Highway 63 North, Leakesville, or call 601-394-5600, ext. 1217
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