Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 29 - Prisons And Parole › Part 1 - Administration and Management › Subpart 1 - Administration › Chapter 6 - Citizenship Involvement and Volunteers › Subchapter 2 - Volunteer Programs Procedure › Rule 29-1-1-6.2.4 - PROCEDURES

Current through June 25, 2024
1.
General
A volunteer is not considered a state employee and may
						not be used instead of a classified position. The services of volunteers may
						supplement, but never replace, any service, activity, or function of employees
						of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
2.
Administration of Correctional
					 Agencies
(Central Office)
:
Written policy
					 provides for securing citizen involvement in agency programs, including service
					 as advisors, interpreters, and similar direct service roles [2
					 -CO-1G-01].
The Commissioner or designee will ensure procedures are
						established for securing citizen involvement in agency programs, including
						services as advisors, interpreters, and similar direct service roles.
3.
Adult Probation and
					 Parole Field Services:
Written policy, procedure, and practice
					 provide for securing volunteer citizen involvement in the programs, including
					 roles as
advisers, interpreters between the program and the
					 public, in direct service roles, and in cooperation endeavors with offenders
					 under supervision [PP 3-3117].
A Volunteer Services Coordinator, appointed by the
						Director of Treatment and Programs, is responsible for coordinating a citizen
						involvement and volunteer services program for the benefit of offenders. MDOC
						Treatment Programs, Departments, Community Work Centers, and Field Services as
						well as each Regional Jail and Private Prison, will appoint a staff member
						responsible for recruiting, screening and assisting volunteer applicants to
						their area.
4.
Adult Probation and Parole Field Services:
Written policy,
					 procedure, and practice for volunteer citizen involvement includes a system for
					 selecting, training, deciding on the term of service, terminating service, and
					 defining tasks, responsibilities and authority of volunteers [PP
					 3-3118].
The Commissioner or designee will ensure that there is a
						system for selecting, training, deciding on the term of service, terminating
						service, defining task, and the responsibilities and authority of
						volunteers.
5. Citizens
					 seeking to offer volunteer services once or for a special event, will be
					 considered guests of the facility, not subject to all requirements of becoming
					 a regularly scheduled (weekly, monthly) volunteer involved directly with the
					 offender population.
A. Such a request will be
					 proposed at least two (2) weeks in advance with the guest completing the
					 Volunteer/Contract Services/Guest Background Form which will be submitted for
					 review.
B. Guests will be listed on
					 a memorandum which identifies any concerns reported such as felony
					 conviction/charges, previous correctional employment or kinship to an offender
					 for review and approval by the facility administrator.
C. Approved guests will receive brief
					 instructions by staff responsible for the program in which they will be given
					 guidance concerning possible consequences of inappropriate interaction with
					 offenders during the event and sign a Release Volunteer Form.
D. Both the Volunteer/Contract Services/Guest
					 Background Form and the Release Volunteer Form will be maintained on file by
					 the staff personnel responsible for the program.
E. All such guests will be 21 years of age
					 with any exception being considered by the facility administrator and approved
					 by the respective Deputy Commissioner.
F. Guests seeking to provide a service on a
					 regularly scheduled basis will submit proper documentation to become a
					 volunteer and receive the Volunteer Orientation for Certification.