INFAMMS Inmate Families of Mississippi

Updates From The Director Parole Board News

While no matter what, she is part of the system, and I have had and do have some small issues with her, I do believe her to be honest and fair, and will be the first to let her know if she's not.  All members of the parole board can be seen on the MS Dept. of Corrections web site at www.mdoc.state.ms.us , by clicking on the Parole Board link.  You should go to the MDOC website and wander around there and read and 'familiarize yourself with names, positions and other pertinent info. October 07, 2002 The meeting of the Inmate Families Sub-Committee was held at the State Capitol in Jackson.  Inmate Families of MS was represented by four people.  Present along with the legislators that comprise this committee (listed under the Legislature link on this site), were newly appointed Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps, Lawrence Kelly, Superintendent of Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF) in Rankin County, and David Turner, Superintendent of  South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI) in Greene County. It was not casual as I had hoped and stated to Mr. Smith.  Previously when Mr. Malone had appointed the INFAMMS sub-committee, it was a little different. I would like to have had a 'round table' discussion, ............. informally, with the committee members and then taken it a step further at another meeting with MDOC officials.  However, we charged ahead.  The legislature was in a special session; our meeting was scheduled for four o'clock and did not get started until around seven.While I do feel like some positive steps were made, I am concerned that some thought this was ALL of the concerns that we have, and that the four people representing INFAMMS were the only ones with concerns, and that this meeting was the only one we would have, and that is not our conception or plans at all.  Just because we were represented by a small number doesn't mean that our numbers are small or that our problems and concerns are limited to those expressed at the meeting.  Commissioner Epps stated to the sub-committee and "these ladies" (we were never addressed as an organization by him) that he was accessible and could be reached by phone, mail, and email address during regular business hours and after, even on the weekends.  He stated that he should be given a chance, as INFAMMS stated that we had no one to report problems and concerns to.  Our answer to that is we could only gage our feelings on actions of past Commissioners!  He also stated that as there was no one speaking about problems at the MS State Penitentiary, he felt that things were running smoothly there!  Lawrence Kelly, Superintendent of CMCF, Rankin County, also stated that he was available, but personally I have never been able to reach him, via email or by phone.  So time will tell.  Additional and on-going detailed documentation of recurring problems as we know them is being prepared in the days following the initial meeting and will be mailed to committee members at their home addresses.  After a press release state wide about INFAMMS and what we hope to accomplish, we expect to be contacted by more and more people, when they discover that indeed they do have a voice.  It must be understood that many people do not realize that or that they have rights, and many who may actually know that are fearful of stepping out and speaking up.  There is a constant concern of retaliation against us and our loved one who is incarcerated, and it does and has happened. September 25, 2002: I received a call this morning from State Representative Charlie Smith, the newly appointed Chairman of the Inmate Families of MS (INFAMMS) Sub-Committee. He asked me how I suggest we get started and I told him that it worked out well before to begin with a casual meeting with INFAMMS members to hear initial concerns.  The meeting is scheduled at the Penitentiary Committee conference room at the Mississippi State Capitol on Monday, October 7, 2002, at 4:00 P.M.  At that time, several INFAMMS member will take a composite of concerns before the committee. Third week of September 2002: I met with Representative Bennett Malone, Chairman of the House Penitentiary Committee. I asked him to re-activate the sub-committee for Inmate Families of MS. I stated some of our concerns to him and told him they were not exclusive to families of inmates, but inclusive of the inmates as well, particularly medication and food. I told him that I would like to see the sub-committee be permanent, as the problems within the MS Dept. of Corrections was a constant festering sore, not something that could have a band aid put on it and forgotten about. He agreed and said that he would re-activate the sub-committee! I don't know if he plans on making the sub-committee permanent at this time, but we will certainly lobby for that.

On May 6, 2003, Governor Musgrove appointed Patricia Miller as Chairman of the Ms. Parole Board. "Pat" has served as a member of the Board since July 2000. Her resume includes two terms in the Ms. House of Representatives, member of the Southern States Growth Policy Board, and the Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments. Pete Pope, former parole board chairman, resigned from the chair and from the parole board in April/May.  Mrs. Pat Miller is the new chairwoman.  Mrs. Miller is a former state representative from DeSoto County, but now resides on the MS coast.  When Inmate Families was in its birthing stage, and we first lobbied the House Penitentiary Committee to form a sub-committee for Inmate Families of MS, she was on the house committee and on the sub-committee.  She was very supportive of us, and our concerns, and shared these concerns with us.  I personally felt that she was a great choice for the parole board and I'm elated that she is now the chairwoman.