Current through December 10, 2024
1. Each person
having contact with juveniles shall demonstrate emotional maturity, sound
judgment, and a sound knowledge of the developmental needs of children.
2. Employees who have direct
contact with youth receive a physical examination, including screening for
infectious and contagious diseases prior to job assignment, in accordance with
state and federal law.
3. Employees
undergo a criminal history record check in accordance with Miss. Code Ann.
§
43-15-6
and other applicable state and federal laws. Staff members are not hired unless
and until an exemption is granted by the licensing agency for any disqualifying
offense. This record check includes inquiry with the Child Abuse and Sex
Offender Registry. Facility policies shall include provisions in policy for
periodic rescreening of all staff and volunteers.
4. Contractors shall also undergo criminal
history checks, including the Child Abuse and Sex Offender Registry checks in
compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) regulations prior to
interacting with youth.
5. Facility
administrator/director qualifications.
a.
Each facility administrator/director shall demonstrate the following skills and
abilities:
i. thorough knowledge of the
Mississippi Code for the care of children and the Mississippi juvenile offender
code;
ii. considerable knowledge of
principles and techniques applicable to the care and rehabilitation of
juveniles and to the growth, development, needs and unique problems of
children;
iii. considerable
knowledge of the principles, practices, methods and
iv. techniques of administration and
management;
v. ability to train,
supervise, plan, direct and evaluate the work of others, as documented by
experience, training or a combination of both;
vi. ability to establish and maintain
effective working relationships with others; and
vii. ability to establish and maintain
effective working relationships with the courts, law enforcement agencies,
schools and community organizations.
b. The facility administrator's minimum
qualifications include some related college experience (including related
military experience) or a high school diploma or equivalent and a minimum of
five years' experience working in youth programs.
c. Each detention facility administrator
shall demonstrate thorough knowledge of the methods and techniques used in
dealing with juvenile offenders in an institutional or detention setting.
d. Each secure care facility
administrator shall demonstrate thorough knowledge of the methods and
techniques used in dealing with juveniles in a residential setting.
6. Youth care staff and alternate
youth care staff shall, before employment:
a.
Be twenty-one years of age or older; and
b. Possess a high school diploma or its
equivalent.
7.
Professional staff and consultants shall meet all Mississippi qualification and
licensing requirements for their respective profession, including but not
limited to, any continuing education as required by state or federal law.
8. Medical and healthcare
professionals.
a. Medical and healthcare
professionals who provide services at the detention facility shall receive
continuing education as required by state and federal law. Those with patient
contact are current with CPR training and also receive annual sexual misconduct
prevention and intervention training.
b. If the facility relies on health staff who
are not mental health professionals to provide any mental health service
otherwise permitted by state law, the governing body shall approve such staff
and ensure those staff members obtain training in mental health services.
c. If facility staff perform
health screenings at the time of admissions, adequate instruction in conducting
the admission screen is required.
Miss. Code Ann.
§§
43-21-901
to
43-21-915
(Rev. 2016).
