They included homicides, suicides, and what were termed “natural causes.” Severe understaffing, violence and crumbling facilities have affected virtually all of the state’s prisons. Since late December 2019, before the coronavirus’ arrival, at least 53 inmates have died in Mississippi prisons. She says that message it is the state must invest in the health of its incarcerated population and improve the infrastructure. The lead lawyer for Team ROC says she hopes Centurion’s ending of its relationship with the MDOC “sends a clear message” to Reeves. Governor Tate Reeves has received at least $215,000 for his campaigns from Centene. Its parent company has been a major political donor in Mississippi. Major Political DonorĮxactly why Centurion was given the contract is not surprising. The rapper Yo Gotti funded the hiring of attorneys to represent the 227 inmates living in squalid conditions at MDOC prisons. Team ROCĬenturion’s announcement comes after Team ROC, part of Jay-Z’s philanthropy Roc Nation. Face-to-face psychiatric programs were introduced. According to Wheeler, in that time, Centurion has reduced the number of certain narcotics prescribed to inmates, as well as the number of trips to the emergency room. Centurion serves correctional facilities in 17 states. The company was first brought in to handle MDOC healthcare under an emergency contract in 2015. Without such improvements, Centurion representatives say they cannot provide effective medical care.Īccording to a letter sent July 7 by Centurion Chief Executive officer Steven Wheeler to the MDOC, “We do not believe we can further improve the effectiveness of our level of care without additional investment from the Department in correctional staffing and infrastructure along the lines of what we have already recommended.” The reason stated for the termination was the state’s refusal to properly fund prison facilities and staffing. The $289 million in funding will end in October as Centurion stops providing services. Centurion, part of the Centene Corporation and a healthcare provider to inmates at prisons run by the Mississippi Department of Corrections (“MDOC”), announced in July that it was terminating its multi-million dollar contract.
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