Mr. Knight operates the detention facility and staff of 35 employees in accordance with state and federal laws, the Hinds County Policy and Procedures Handbook set forth by the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, parent agency policies, and the executive orders, judicial decisions and supervision of Judge William "Bill" Skinner . The facility is established to provide short-term care in secure custody for juveniles who are accused or adjudicated pending court action or awaiting transfer to another facility and who cannot be served in an open setting. The facility provides for the basic needs such as shelter, food, clothing, and medical care; prevents the abridgment of juveniles legal rights during detainment at the facility; provides for physical, emotional, and religious (optional) growth, and educational and social needs of the juveniles during detainment; and houses juveniles in a safe and humane environment, maintaining the level of security necessary to prevent escape and assure that juveniles live free from fear or assault or intimidation by staff or other juveniles.

    This state-of-the-art facility maintains the following areas to aid and assist in the daily operation procedures:

    The Training Division implemented in May of 2001, by the Training Coordinator, is responsible for satisfying the training needs of the Detention Staff mandated by State and Federal Law. The Training Division consists of a Safety & Training Coordinator, Detention Supervisors and a host of other Certified Training Facilitators contracted for training services. Training is delivered to staff in three levels: New hires with no prior training are required to enroll in the Basic Detention Officer Course. It is an intensive three week course. The 80 hour course is designed to assist our detention officers to cope with the unique problems of working with delinquent juveniles. Our goal is to provide quality training through a standardized training curriculum. Once this course has been successfully completed the officer moves on to Level two: Certification from the Board on Jail Officers Standards & Training through Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Level Three: Juvenile Detention Officers who have received the Basic Detention Officer Course and Certified by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. All Detention Officers are required to receive forty (40) hours of instruction per year to maintain their certification. New employees receive In-Service Training along with the Basic Detention Officer Course simultaneously. Our department provides a minimum of 40 hours of training; this training is constantly updated and is continuous throughout the year.

    The training consists of, but not limited to the following courses: Job Knowledge, Strategies for Juvenile Supervision, Workplace Safety, Report Writing, Decision Making, Ethics & Professionalism and other procedures critical to effective Detention Officer Job performance. In order to place the officers into situations where they react to certain occurrences scenario based training has been incorporated in all areas of the curriculum. On completion of the training module our detention officers will have mastered the following aspects of Detention Officer Training:

• Security- implementing the policies and procedures to detainee supervision to maintain custody and control of all detainees.
  
  
• Record Keeping- providing accurate and promptly written documentation of all aspects regarding detainees, staff and visitors through observation and recording skills.
  
  
• Behavioral management- using techniques learned through behavioral theories to minimize physical and emotional harm to detainees and staff when dealing with crisis situations.
  
  
• Safety- Exemplifying knowledge and skills in relation to emergency procedures (First aid, CPR, OSHA guidelines).
  
  
• Program implementation- teaching, creating and supervising the center's daily activities (P.E., recreation, crafting and work detail).
  
  

    Detention Officers play a number of roles such as security monitor, counselor, activity coordinators and disciplinarians, roles in which the Training Division expand so that the officers perform their job effectively.

    Modern, up-to-date facility for food storage and preparation for population meals served.

    Two full-time LPN's on duty for assistance in medical needs of detainees.

    The three shifts consist of:

• A group of professionally trained people who provide care to the juveniles detained at the Center.
  
  
• Two (2) cooks and one (1) certified Food Service Manager.
  
  
• Thirty-one (31) detention officers, one (1) Training/Coordinator/Support Service Staff and one (1) Administrative Assistant.