LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – Lauderdale County officials marked National Correctional Officers and Employees Week on Tuesday with a proclamation and a cookout honoring the hard work and dedication of the county’s detention staff.
District 1 Supervisor JJ Anders, President of the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors, signed a formal proclamation recognizing May 4–10, 2025, as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week in Lauderdale County.
The weeklong observance, first proclaimed in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan and formally recognized by the U.S. Senate in 1986, celebrates its 41st anniversary this year. The designation honors correctional officers and staff nationwide for their often challenging and dangerous work within jails, prisons, and community corrections.
To celebrate locally, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department hosted a cookout Tuesday afternoon at the Lauderdale County Detention Facility, providing free lunch to employees and officers as a show of appreciation.
“They’re cooking burgers and other food items just to say thank you,” said Lauderdale County Sheriff Ward Calhoun. “We’re extremely thankful for the hard work those men and women do every day for our department, and they are an integral part of our team here at the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department.”
The proclamation issued by the board acknowledges the essential role correctional officers and employees play in maintaining safety, order, and humane care within correctional facilities. It also highlights the daily risks they face and their commitment to upholding security and integrity in the criminal justice system.
The Lauderdale County Detention Facility is among many institutions nationwide participating in this week’s events to show appreciation for correctional personnel.
