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S. B. No. 2780 *SS26/R1255* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Corrections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th)
SENATE BILL NO. 2780
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "CAPTAIN JUSTIN JAMES WHIPPS 1
CORRECTIONAL SAFETY AND WELLNESS ACT"; TO REQUIRE MANDATORY 2
WEAPONS SCREENING OF EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEE VEHICLES AT STATE AND 3
PRIVATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; TO REQUIRE MENTAL HEALTH, 4
WELLNESS, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR CORRECTIONAL 5
OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORY STAFF; TO REDUCE WORKPLACE VIOLENCE AND 6
CONFLICTS AMONG CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES; TO PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT 7
MECHANISMS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be 10
cited as the "Captain Justin James Whipps Correctional Safety and 11
Wellness Act." 12
SECTION 2. Legislative findings and purpose. The 13
Legislature finds that: 14
(a) The safety of correctional officers, staff, 15
inmates, and the public is a compelling state interest. 16
(b) Workplace violence within correctional facilities 17
poses a serious threat to life, morale, and institutional 18
integrity. 19
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(c) Proactive safety screening, mental health support, 20
and leadership development reduce conflict, misconduct, and 21
violence. 22
(d) The State of Mississippi has a duty to provide safe 23
working conditions for correctional employees. 24
(e) The purpose of this act is to: 25
(i) Prevent the introduction of unauthorized 26
weapons into correctional facilities by employees; 27
(ii) Promote mental well-being, emotional 28
regulation, and professional leadership among correctional staff; 29
and 30
(ii) Reduce incidents of violence, retaliation, 31
and fatal conflict within correctional institutions. 32
SECTION 3. Mandatory employee weapons screening. (1) All 33
state-operated and privately operated correctional facilities 34
within the State of Mississippi shall implement mandatory weapons 35
screening procedures for all employees, contractors, and 36
volunteers entering secure areas of the facility. 37
(2) Screening shall include, but not be limited to: 38
(a) Walk-through or handheld metal detection upon 39
entry; 40
(b) Bag and personal item inspections consistent with 41
constitutional standards; and 42
(c) Randomized secondary screening as determined by 43
facility administration. 44
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(3) Screening procedures shall apply equally to all staff 45
regardless of rank, seniority, or position. 46
SECTION 4. Employee vehicle weapons inspections. (1) Each 47
correctional facility shall establish a policy for random and 48
reasonable inspection of employee vehicles parked on correctional 49
property. 50
(2) Inspections shall be: 51
(a) Conducted pursuant to written policy; 52
(b) Nondiscriminatory in application; and 53
(c) Limited to ensuring the absence of unauthorized 54
weapons or contraband. 55
(3) Refusal to comply with lawful inspection under this 56
section may result in administrative discipline, including 57
suspension or termination, consistent with due process 58
protections. 59
SECTION 5. Mental well-being and wellness training. (1) 60
The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) shall require 61
annual mental health and wellness training for all correctional 62
officers and supervisory personnel. 63
(2) Training shall include: 64
(a) Stress management and trauma-informed practices; 65
(b) Conflict de-escalation techniques; 66
(c) Emotional regulation and impulse control; 67
(d) Peer support and early intervention strategies; and 68
(e) Resources for confidential mental health support. 69
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(3) Completion of such training shall be a condition of 70
continued employment. 71
SECTION 6. Leadership development and conflict reduction 72
training. (1) All supervisory and command-level correctional 73
staff shall complete annual leadership development training. 74
(2) Training shall address: 75
(a) Ethical leadership and accountability; 76
(b) Managing conflict among staff; 77
(c) Preventing retaliation and abuse of authority; 78
(d) Professional communication and decision-making 79
under stress; and 80
(e) Creating a culture of safety and respect. 81
(3) Failure to complete required leadership training shall 82
result in administrative review and corrective action. 83
SECTION 7. Enforcement and oversight. (1) The Mississippi 84
Department of Corrections (MDOC) shall adopt rules and regulations 85
necessary to implement this act. 86
(2) MDOC shall submit an annual report to the Legislature 87
detailing: 88
(a) Compliance with screening and training 89
requirements; 90
(b) Reported incidents of staff-on-staff violence; 91
(c) Disciplinary actions related to weapons violations; 92
and 93
(d) Recommendations for improvement. 94
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ST: "Captain Justin James Whipps Correctional
Safety and Wellness Act; enact.
SECTION 8. Applicability. This act shall apply to: 95
(a) All state-operated correctional facilities; and 96
(b) All private correctional facilities operating under 97
contract with the State of Mississippi. 98
SECTION 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from 99
and after July 1, 2026. 100