MDOC - Wilkinson County Correctional Center (WCCF) - MTC

You can support your loved ones at WCCF on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 601-888-3199.

Located in Woodville, MS, WCCF operates as a private contractor with various government agency agreements providing state-minimum custody requirements. Programs are offered to all custody levels, including work release residents focused on reentry success. With a strong emphasis on rehabilitation, WCCF provides comprehensive educational and vocational opportunities. Onsite amenities include dietary, health, fitness, educational, religious, and recreational services. Regular inspections ensure compliance with government standards, ensuring the facility's continued operation.

Wilkinson County Correctional Center (WCCC), a private prison in unincorporated Wilkinson County, has been managed by Management and Training Corporation (MTC) since July 2013 under a five-year contract with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Originally established as a low to medium-security facility, it was later converted to a maximum-security prison in 2010 when prisoners were transferred from the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. However, the facility has faced challenges, including increasing levels of violence and inmate murders. With an authorized capacity of 900 inmates, WCCC occupies 17.5 acres of enclosed area within a total property of 97.5 acres. As of November 2016, it is one of four private prisons contracted by the state of Mississippi, following the closure of the Walnut Grove Correctional Facility in September 2016, which has since reopened and is fully operational again.

State contracts with MTC and the former operator, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), came under scrutiny during Operation Mississippi Hustle, an investigation into corruption involving former Commissioner Chris Epps and consultant Cecil McCrory, among others. Epps and McCrory pleaded guilty in February 2015 and cooperated with investigators, leading to indictments and convictions of several individuals. In February 2017, the Mississippi State Attorney announced a civil suit against private prison operators and contractors for damages and punitive damages.

WCCC opened in January 1998 under CCA management, with the expectation of providing employment opportunities for residents in the Woodville area. It underwent changes when Mississippi State Penitentiary reforms resulted in the closure of Unit 32, leading to the transfer of prisoners to WCCC to improve their conditions. However, the influx of prison gang leaders and members from Unit 32 contributed to rising violence rates at WCCC, earning it the reputation of "New Unit 32" and "The Killing Field." Violence under CCA management exceeded rates in state-operated prisons.

Raymond Byrd became warden in 2012 and oversaw the facility until MTC took over management in July 2013. Recent incidents, such as the stabbing of inmate Demond Flowers by gang members in April 2013, have led to lawsuits against CCA. Violence, gang activity, and overcrowding remain ongoing challenges at WCCC, highlighting the complexities of private prison operations and the need for comprehensive reforms to ensure inmate safety and effective rehabilitation programs.