Correctional Facility receives high-passing score

WINSTON/CHOCTAW COUNTY,Miss. (WCBI)- Every three years the Winston-Choctaw Correctional Facility receives a top to bottom inspection.

It’s required so the facility can continue to house state inmates. Hundreds of requirements are needed for review.

The checklist is long and requires a lot of work, but the jail is hitting high marks.

The Winston-Choctaw County Regional Correctional Facility passed its accreditation. In fact, every check mark was hit with a score of 100%.

Jails that house state inmates must maintain the high scores through the Americans Corrections Association Accreditation.

“The standards are set by the American Corrections Association. They involve the security measures,the housing standards, our programs and our medical. This will allow us to continue to house state inmates,” said Warden Neil Higgason.

The ACA has over 500 standards.

Deputy Warden and ACA Manager Patricia Whitcomb says she handled most of the paperwork but it took a team effort to receive the highest score possible.

“I have 533 files that I have to prepare for the audit also the presentation of the facility. We want to make sure that we represent the facility well. We are making sure that the inmates are well taken care of and within the guidelines the MDOC make sure their taken care of,”said Whitcomb.

Corrections officers and other staff gave the auditors background information and tours.

Winston County Sheriff Jason Pugh is proud the work put into the accreditation.

“It is a great issue of pride with me to see our employees at this facility succeed in doing as well as they do. We are a major employer in the county we have a lot of people that work for us. And the fact that those people are working and doing such a great job and doing it safely and to the level is incredible,”said Pugh.

Warden Higgason says his staff keeps up with the strict standards each day, that way there’s no last minute work to do when it’s time for an audit.