Winston Prison Sees Changes

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — Poor record keeping and other administrative shortfalls almost cost the Winston County Correctional facility its accreditation.

Now it has cost two top administrators their jobs.

Warden Tim Palmer and administrator Brenda Johnson were let go after an audit by the American Correctional Association resulted in the joint state-county facility being placed on probation. The prison houses state and local inmates.

A loss of accreditation would mean the removal of state inmates and the loss of state funding that is critical to keeping the facility open.

Winston Sheriff Jason Pugh made the staff changes after consulting with the state Department of Corrections. He stressed the problems had nothing to do with safety, just administrative functions.

Pugh plans to recommend new staff at next week’s board of supervisors meeting and says the prison will be ready for another review this fall.