The South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI), established in 1989, sits on 360 acres at Leakesville in Greene County. It has 16 housing units and a maximum 3,082 beds. Men classified as minimum, medium, and protective custody are housed there as well as  those in disciplinary detention, high risk incentive program, and long-term segregation. It is the first prison in the state to receive accreditation from the American Correctional Association and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. 

Personnel: The prison is authorized to have 473 full-time permanent positions and four time-limited positions.

SMCI provides free inmate labor to Greene County and adjacent municipalities and assists other state agencies. Inmates are assigned to the Greene County Road Crew and a mobile work crew.

Inmates also can work in the blueberry operations. The orchard was started at the prison in 2006 as a way to address inmate idleness and to teach inmates a trade skill in the blueberry industry. The blueberries help reduce food cost and serve as a healthier menu option.

The Chaplains Department is responsible for all religious activities at SMCI. In addition to regularly scheduled religious programs, Bible classes are offered whereby the inmates may study together.  The department has a pastoral and crisis ministry which includes spiritual guidance counseling during a crisis or grieving period. Chaplains also provide marriage counseling and coordinate the marriage process of those incarcerated. Additionally, this department is responsible for interviewing, training, and supervising volunteers providing a variety of services.

Healthcare: Through the state’s contracted healthcare vendor, VitalCore Health Strategies provides onsite medical services to the inmates. Onsite services include, but are not limited to, emergency care, infirmary care, dental, optometry, clinical, and pharmaceutical services. Specialty care services are also available through a network of off-site contracted hospitals and specialty care providers.