RANKIN COUNTY — The Mississippi Department of Corrections has launched a new faith-based rehabilitation program for incarcerated women at the Mississippi Correctional Institute for Women aimed at helping participants heal from addiction before returning home or reentering the general prison population.
The program, called The Haven, is now operating at MCIW and focuses on recovery, personal development and preparation for life after incarceration, MDOC officials said.
The Haven was developed from an idea by two field ministers and has grown into a structured program led in part by inmates. It currently includes two inmate co-directors, 24 inmate facilitators and 24 participants.
Participants apply for a nine-month program that includes instruction in 12-step recovery, physical fitness, emotional intelligence, hygiene and manners, along with vocational skills intended to support successful reentry into society.
MDOC said 25 additional women are expected to join the program in March, with new groups added every three months thereafter as the initiative expands.
Corrections officials said updates will be shared as The Haven continues to grow and as participants progress through the program.
