Mississippi funds corrections operations for fiscal year 2027

The law sets aside up to $434,307,319 in general funds and up to $36,764,700 in department special funds for corrections. The appropriations support the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The special-fund money must be collected by or otherwise available to the department. The funding covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The law makes up to $9.25 million available for the Inmate Welfare Fund, including $500,000 for transitional housing and reentry programs, and up to $1 million available to pay inmates in the work program. The work-program money is for inmates who participate in the Inmate Incentive to Work Program. The $500,000 for transitional housing and reentry programs is part of the $9.25 million available for the Inmate Welfare Fund. These funds come from the department's special-fund appropriation for fiscal year 2027, which runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The department may use $690,000 to monitor and review its medical services contract and must report on that work. The report goes to the chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations, Corrections, and Public Health Committees, and the Legislative Budget Office. The money comes first from funds recovered from a company or person that failed to meet a contract. If recovered funds are unavailable or insufficient, the department may use other available funds under the act. The department must report on the contract review by December 15 each fiscal year.