The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) is a state government agency responsible for operating prisons and providing correctional services in the state of Mississippi. Established in 1976, the MDOC oversees the state’s adult correctional system, including state prisons, regional facilities, and community corrections programs. The department manages three state prisons: Mississippi State Penitentiary (Parchman), Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, and South Mississippi Correctional Institution. It also supervises private prisons, regional correctional facilities, and work centers throughout the state. The MDOC is responsible for approximately 20,000 incarcerated individuals and supervises roughly 25,000 people on probation or parole. Key functions of the MDOC include maintaining security in correctional facilities, providing rehabilitation programs, offering educational and vocational training to inmates, and managing probation and parole services. The department also operates intensive supervision programs and reentry initiatives to help former inmates transition back into society. The agency is headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, and operates under the authority of the Governor of Mississippi. The MDOC employs approximately 2,000 staff members, including correctional officers, administrative personnel, and support staff. The department works in coordination with various law enforcement agencies and community organizations to maintain public safety and reduce recidivism rates.