Chris Epps facts for kids

Christopher B. Epps (born January 25, 1961) is a former leader in the state's justice system. He worked for the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) for 32 years. He started his career as a teacher.

Mr. Epps became the Commissioner of MDOC in 2002. He served until 2014, working under three different governors. He was the longest-serving commissioner in the agency's history.

During his time, Mr. Epps worked to make prisons better. He helped reduce the use of solitary confinement. He also supported letting non-violent offenders leave prison earlier. He helped create halfway houses for people leaving prison.

In 2010, Mr. Epps was chosen to be the president of the American Correctional Association. He resigned from this role on November 5, 2014. He also resigned as the state's corrections commissioner that day.

Early Life and School

Christopher Epps was born on January 25, 1961. He grew up in Tchula, Mississippi. This town is in Holmes County. His family was very involved in education.

Mr. Epps went to Mississippi Valley State University. He earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education. He thought he would become a teacher.

He started teaching science and math at a school in Drew, Mississippi. In 1982, the MDOC asked him if he wanted to work in prisons. Later, Mr. Epps earned a master's degree. He studied guidance counseling at Liberty University.

Career in Corrections

In 1982, Mr. Epps decided to work in the criminal justice system. He thought it offered more chances to grow his career. At first, he taught school and also worked as a correctional officer. He worked at the Mississippi State Penitentiary (Parchman).

In 1985, he started working full-time at Parchman. He became a case manager there. He then moved up to higher positions. He was Chief of Security and a supervisor for case management.

In 1988, Governor Ray Mabus made Mr. Epps the deputy superintendent of Parchman. He was in charge of security and daily prison operations. He also held other important roles. These included Chief of Staff and Deputy Commissioner.

In 2002, a group called the ACLU filed a lawsuit. They said conditions for inmates on Death Row were very bad. On August 30, 2002, Governor Ronnie Musgrove appointed Mr. Epps as Commissioner. Later, Republican governors Haley Barbour and Phil Bryant reappointed him.

In 2006, Mr. Epps worked with the ACLU to improve conditions. They focused on a specific prison unit. He brought in experts to help. They changed how prisoners were classified. This helped reward good behavior.

Controls in the unit were made less strict. Group dining and classes were started. Over four years, programs helped prisoners leave solitary confinement. By 2007, the number of prisoners in solitary dropped a lot. Incidents of violence also went down.

In 2010, Mr. Epps continued to work with the ACLU. They moved prisoners with serious mental health issues. These prisoners went to the East Mississippi Correctional Facility. This facility was designed for more intensive care.

In 2008, Mr. Epps supported a new law. This law allowed non-violent offenders to be eligible for parole sooner. The law was signed in 2009. It meant some prisoners could leave after serving 25 percent of their sentence. This was a big change.

This new policy helped reduce the number of prisoners. It also saved the state money. From 2009 to 2010, over 3,000 non-violent felons were paroled. Mr. Epps was known for his efforts to reduce solitary confinement.

By 2014, Mr. Epps earned a salary of $132,700 a year. He was the only African American leading a state department at that time.

Mr. Epps also served in the Mississippi National Guard since 1984. He became a lieutenant colonel before retiring in 2008. He was an auditor for the American Correctional Association (ACA). In May 2010, he became the ACA's president. He also became president of the Association of State Correctional Administrators in August 2014. He resigned from his ACA position on November 5, 2014.

Personal Life

Mr. Epps is married to Catherlean Sanders. They have two sons. Before 2015, the family lived in Flowood, Mississippi. This area is near Jackson. He was a deacon at Hanging Moss Road Church of Christ.

He once owned a condominium in Biloxi. Later, he had a condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi.