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Friday, January 28, 2011

Wilkinson County Correctional Facility

In the process of emptying Unit 32 of prisoners, I was transferred to Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in Woodville, Mississippi. A trip of approximately 200 miles, lasting between 4 and 5 hours, sandwiched in with 9 other inmates, one of which was just doused in pepper spray.

Any change from the environment of Unit 32 was welcome. The Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman has an oppressive air about it -so much so that every time I've left the grounds of that prison, it has felt like a literal weight was lifted from my shoulders.

Wilkinson County Correctional Facility is operated by the Corrections Corporation of America, and has contracted with the MDOC since last year to start housing prisoners on longterm-segregation status. Normally they wouldn't have wanted to house prisoners that are on longterm-seg because it costs more, but with the downturn of the economy in recent years, the corporation reevaluated its policy.

Understandably, WCCF wasn't prepared to house the prisoners shipped in from Parchman. They were not accustomed to dealing with this many prisoners in lockdown. They are still adjusting, but I have to say, they are making progress. I will write about conditions in a future post. I do want to give some basic info here.

The main administration is composed of Warden Jacquelyn Banks, Assistant Warden Vines, and Assistant Warden Walker. From what I've seen, they aren't about micromanaging. They appoint individuals to positions and allow them to do their jobs. That makes for a better atmosphere than that of Unit 32, where the style of administration was exactly the opposite.

WCCF's physical address is 2999 U.S. Highway 61 North, and it's located two miles north on Highway 61/junction 563.

The mailing address is:

Wilkinson County Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 1079
Woodville, MS 39669-1079

And they can be reached by calling- (601) 888-3199

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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Getting Personal

Though there is a more informal feel to what's reported and talked about here at PrisonInmatesLife, if you want it raw and uncensored from Steven and in his own "voice", check out his personal blog, The Writing On The Wall. There you'll read about his personal thoughts, experiences, ideas, opinions and much more. So check it out. Take a look into the abyss. . .
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A Change of Scenery

After 9 years at Unit 32, Steven Farris was transferred to Wilkinson County Correctional Facility on October 29, 2010. We are hoping the move is to an environment where he will be given an opportunity to work and earn his way out of lockdown and to a less restrictive housing unit. As with anything else, we've heard good and bad about it. If it's possible though, he wants to avoid getting involved in another prolonged legal battle.

We have news to post, and we'll be updating you -where we can- on what has happened at Unit 32 and in general at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. If you have any info you would like to pass along to us, or if you have questions, comments, or whatever else -give us some feedback and don't hesitate to contact us.
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About Steven

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Steven Farris is a prisoner who has been incarcerated since a month after his 16th birthday in 1998. Currently serving a life sentence without the possibility for parole, he is seeking to educate the public about the true nature of prison and the widespread and negative effects of the prison industrial complex. Steven has worked with both the National Prison Project of the ACLU, as well as the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in furthering this effort.

You can contact him directly at:
Steven Farris #R5580
WCCC
P.O. Box 1889
Woodville, MS 39669-1889

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