Mississippi prisons to replace two superintendents

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By Associated Press

Published: 05/18/2001

Two Mississippi prison superintendents will be replaced June 1 in a move to help resolve the state's lingering prison crowding lawsuit.
State Corrections Commissioner Robert Johnson disclosed the moves during a recent legislative subcommittee meeting.
Johnson said the changes at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman and the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin County are intended to bring in leaders who will work for accreditation of the state's prison system.
Mississippi has been under federal court order for years to ease prison crowding and improve living conditions. Among other things, the case has resulted in the construction of additional prisons and housing some state inmates in county jails.
As of June 1, Emmitt Sparkman will be superintendent of Parchman. He will replace Robert Armstrong, who is being demoted to Parchman's warden of security.
Sparkman is superintendent of a privately operated prison in Marshall County.
On the same day, Lawrence Kelly will be promoted from warden of security at Parchman to superintendent of the Rankin County prison, Johnson said. Kelly previously ran the state's Law Enforcement Training Academy in Rankin County.
Kelly will replace Fred Childs, who has headed the Rankin County prison for three years. Johnson said Childs is retiring.
Johnson told senators he had no idea how much accreditation will cost, but he hopes to meet the goal in 14 months.
Senate Corrections Chairman Rob Smith, D-Richland, said meeting accreditation standards could mean hiring more clerical staff or doing other things that will make little difference in the quality of the prison system.
Johnson said meeting national corrections standards will save the state money in the long run.

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