Mississippi Code 1972 (2023)
Title 47 - PRISONS AND PRISONERS; PROBATION AND PAROLE (§§ 47-1-1 — 47-7-101)
Chapter 5 - CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM (§§ 47-5-1 — 47-5-1517)
PRISON AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES (§§ 47-5-351 — 47-5-371)
Section 47-5-355 - Director of prison agricultural enterprises; duties and powers; records; annual report; joint ventures

• (1) The Commissioner of Corrections shall employ a director of the prison agricultural enterprises, who shall be directly responsible to the commissioner. The director shall have the following duties and powers:
  • (a) To implement and manage the prison agricultural enterprises;
  • (b) To determine, with the advice of the Director of Planning, the type of agricultural, animal husbandry and aquaculture products needed to feed inmates and which may be grown profitably on department lands;
  • (c) To use inmate labor to meet the labor needs of the programs, subject to the requirements of subsection (2);
  • (d) To recommend rules and regulations and employ personnel necessary for the operation of the programs;
  • (e) To determine the proper methods of canning, freezing or preserving that may be used to the best advantage of the programs;
  • (f) With approval of the commissioner, to do those things necessary and proper to accomplish the purposes of the programs;
  • (g) To determine and establish priorities on the most appropriate and profitable products to be grown and which department lands should be farmed, taking into consideration the available prison labor, existing equipment and funds available therefor, markets for the products, and other matters consistent with prudent agricultural practices;
  • (h) To manage the food services of the department at the discretion of the commissioner.

• (2) The director shall have the right to use inmate labor to the exclusion of prison industries. The superintendents shall provide the prison agricultural enterprises with sufficient inmate labor. If a superintendent refuses to provide inmate labor because of security concerns, the commissioner shall decide if security requirements preclude use of inmate labor. Upon the request of the director, the superintendents shall provide security for prison agricultural enterprises.

• (3) The director shall maintain accurate and complete financial records of all receipts and expenditures of the prison agricultural enterprise programs.

• (4) The director shall file a full and complete report with the Legislature before January 1 of each year detailing the costs, inventory and receipts of each program. The report shall also provide the cost or cost savings of such programs.

• (5) The department may enter into joint ventures with private businesses related to prison agricultural enterprises.

Laws, 1992, ch. 506 § 3, eff. 5/15/1992.