Tereda Hairston, Superintendent

The Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF) was established in 1986 and built on 171 acres in Pearl in Rankin County. The facility was expanded in 1996 and now includes 18 housing units and 10 support buildings to accommodate its current capacity of 4,131 offenders. CMCF is the first stop for individuals sentenced to the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC). It provides initial orientation and classification.

CMCF is authorized to have 702 full-time positions, two part-time and seven time-limited, full time.

Of the seven State Prisons, CMCF is the only facility to house youthful offenders. Its population consists of both male and female offenders of all custody levels (minimum, medium, and close) to include female offenders sentenced to death.

Youthful offenders are housed in a separate facility. The Youthful Offender Unit (YOU) opened on Dec. 12, 2012, as a separate, independent facility to serve individuals under the age of 18. It offers a wide range of programs to include academic classes, vocational programs, mental health counseling, psychological and psychiatric services in a group and individual basis, alcohol and drug treatment, social services, religious and recreational services.