To stop the spread of the Coronavirus, the Carroll-Montgomery Regional Correctional Facility has put guidelines in place for the safety of its employees and inmates.
Warden Brandon Smith said the guidelines are what the Mississippi Department of Correction has ordered that every facility put in place. He said the guidelines are in place until they receive the okay to lift them by the state.
Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker said, “All the arrestees from Carroll and Montgomery counties are being quarantined for 14 days before going into general population to make sure no fever or symptoms arise.”
Smith said there are no cases of the virus in the facility, and families of inmates understand the importance of the guidelines.
“They understand. We haven’t had any complaints. I mean, the whole state is under guidelines, and we’re just in line with the rest of the state.”
Smith said before employees have their temperature checked before they go on duty, and of anyone has a temperature, they’re required to see a doctor.
“There’s a questionnaire that asks you ‘Where have you been?’ ‘Do you know someone with COVID-19?’ And they have to fill it out every day before clocking in,” Smith said.
He said they’re working to keep the Coronavirus out of the facility.
“In my opinion, prison is the safest place they can be,” he said. “It’s the fear of the unknown that’s causing all of this. No one knows if what we’re doing is right or wrong, so we’re doing what we feel is right.”
Smith said the company the jail uses for phone service sent 500 calling cards for the inmates, and each inmate received two to be able to continue to make phone calls to their families.
Walker said, “I’d like to commend Monica Murphy, the jail nurse, along with the Warden Smith and the staff for working diligently to follow the guidelines of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.”
Other guidelines are:
• All visitation has been suspended for state and county inmates until further notice.
• All religious programs with outside volunteers have been suspended until further notice.
• All educational classes with outside instructors have been suspended until further notice.
• All joint county workers outside work details have been suspended until further notice.
• All joint county 72-hour passes have been suspended until further notice.
• Thermometers have been placed at the employee clock in station, employees with a fever are required to go home.
• Disinfectant has been placed in each zone for inmates to spray phones and kiosks after each use.
• Minimum custody inmates have been designated to wipe down common areas such as doorknobs, handles, tables, and chairs with disinfectant.
• Nurse Murphy has made an announcement in each zone about COVID-19 and the do’s and don’ts about the virus.
• Flyers have been posted in each zone with facts about the virus.
• Hand sanitizer has been placed at each entrance of the facility for employees to use every time they go in or come out of the facility.
• All employees have been given gloves to wear while working inside the facility.
• Proposal was sent to CTC (inmate phone provider) to allow one free phone call, text message, or video message per week during the CORONA Virus panic. (Waiting for response)
