JACKSON - Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps cites the prison system's gain of more than 700 inmates in the past two years as one reason the state was able to reopen Greenwood's Delta Correctional Facility.
Epps also says the expanded authority he's been given by the Barbour administration has enabled him to run his agency more effectively.
Epps was first appointed commissioner in 2002 by then-Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, a Democrat. He was reappointed by Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, who defeated Musgrove last fall and took office in January.
During a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Epps told lawmakers the Department of Corrections "is going through some good times."
He said Barbour has allowed him to reorganize and streamline MDOC.
"It relates to staffing, rotating posts and collapsing posts. That type of authority is very important when you're looking an agency as big as corrections," Epps said.
Epps is expected to easily win full Senate confirmation.
"I know he's qualified. He can take what he's got and make it look good," said Senate Corrections Chairman Robert "Bunky" Huggins, R-Greenwood.
Rep. Bennett Malone, D-Carthage, chairman of the House Corrections Committee, said he doesn't "know of any individual we have in state government that is more dedicated or knowledgeable about his area than Chris Epps."
Epps has 3,800 employees overseeing the 44,000 convicted felons in Mississippi's corrections system. Just over 21,000 inmates are held in prison facilities, Epps said. The rest are in community correctional programs or are on probation or parole.
Epps said the reopening of the Delta Correctional Facility in Leflore County will help alleviate prison crowding. Last month, Barbour signed a contract with Corrections Corporation of America to run the facility.
When Musgrove ordered the prison closed in October 2002, Epps supported the move. Epps now says that the space wasn't needed at the time.
That's changed with the 700 additional inmates. "As you net gain inmates, you have more coming in than going out. Then you have a need for more beds," Epps said.
He said CCA will charge $30 a day to house 950 inmates. By allowing CCA instead of MDOC to house the inmates, the state saves $1.3 million, Epps said.
"As commissioner, one of my jobs is to be a good steward with the taxpayers' money," Epps said.
Laws passed this legislative session will also reduce prison crowding, Epps said.
One bill would allow nonviolent inmates to earn more time off their sentences. Epps said another bill would grant prison release to terminally ill inmates who don't pose a threat to the community.
"Those types of legislation won't hurt public safety, but at the same time will get us within our budget and consistent with other states," Epps said.
Malone said the bills were a "Band-Aid."
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