TUPELO (AP) — The transfer of convicted murderer Steven Farris from the Parchman state penitentiary to a private prison in Wilkinson County has prompted protests from the victim’s family.

Farris was convicted of killing Casey Harmon, a Lee County juvenile detention center officer, in 1998. He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. Farris was being held at the detention center on a shoplifting charge.

John Harmon told The Clarion-Ledger that he considers the private prison a less secure facility. He said he just recently learned of the transfer.

“The question is whether this guy should be sent to Wilkinson, given his crimes,” Harmon said. “He should stay in Parchman, not go to one of these modern facilities.”

Mississippi Department of Corrections spokeswoman Tara Booth said such a transfer is not unusual.

“Farris is serving life plus 55 years. He wouldn’t be at Wilkinson CCF if it wasn’t an appropriate facility,” Booth said.

Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps said the Wilkinson County Correctional Facility has the same maximum security level as Parchman.

Epps said Farris and about 70 other inmates were moved last fall from a building that was being shut down at Parchman.

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Information from: The Clarion-Ledger, http://www.clarionledger.com