A new warden has been named at the Yazoo County Regional Correctional Facility with the arrival of Keith Brown, who brings military and correctional experience.
Brown, along with former warden Chaz White, appeared before the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors to make introductions following Brown’s hire by Sheriff Jeremy McCoy. White will also remain active in a leadership role at the local jail.
Brown, a native of Bryam, said he has 23 years of experience ranging from military police to local law enforcement to correctional supervision.
According to the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Brown arrived at MDOC in after having served as a military police officer in the U.S. Army for eight years, including six with the National Guard and two years deployed on active duty. He started as a correctional officer and moved to the K-9 unit before joining probation and parole.
Brown was also a commander for the MDOC Special Response Team (SRT) in the southern area of the state. He established training for and served on the SRT selection committee. This team was responsible for seizing contraband and apprehending absconders, according to MDOC, citing Brown’s military experience.
Jerry Williams, jail consultant, also told the county board that changes are taking place at the local facility.
“We got some changes taking place over there you that you will probably have some disgruntled employees,” Williams admits. “Things are being shaken up, particularly with the American Correctional Association. We function over there as a compliance unit. When I came on in 2020, the facility had dropped its accreditation. I came here because I am from Yazoo County to make sure we got through the accreditation process.”
Williams said “different approaches” are being made at the local jail.
“You got a lot of disgruntled employees,” Williams said. “The sheriff has come in and made some needed changes. We are probably going to have a lot of people come before the board to introduce some things that they are not used to. But we must maintain compliance. Things we are finding now…it’s kind of bad.”
Supervisor Willie Wright said the jail’s operation falls under the sheriff and warden, adding that there is no need for the county board to become involved.
“They don’t need to be coming in here,” Wright said. “They are welcome to come, but it it’s not going to be what they want. We aren’t going over anybody’s head. That is the sheriff and the warden. Some of the folks have been doing bad and wrong for a long time. But we got a new sheriff and a new warden straightening some things up.”
Williams added that all contract employees, including the warden, have background checks available at the facility and at the sheriff's office for the board’s review.
