MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: County Affairs; Municipalities

By: Representative Chaney

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 19-25-71 AND 47-1-49, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ANY JAILER OF A COUNTY JAIL OR A JAIL JOINTLY OWNED BY A COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITY TO ATTEND AND TRAIN FOR TWO WEEKS AT THE MISSISSIPPI LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S TRAINING ACADEMY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 19-25-71, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

19-25-71. The sheriff shall be the jailer of his county, except in any county in which there is a jointly owned jail, in which event the jailer shall be, pursuant to Section 47-1-49, the person appointed by the governing authorities of the municipality insofar as municipal offenders are concerned. The sheriff shall keep in the jail thereof separate rooms for the sexes, and shall not permit any communication between a male and a female offender, unless they be married. The sheriff, as jailer, shall provide daily wholesome and sufficient food and drink, fire and lights when necessary and proper, and sufficient and clean bedding for all offenders in his custody committed to the jail, either before or after conviction. Any offender may, if he thinks fit, supply himself with meat and drink and bedding, but the same shall pass through the hands of the sheriff, as jailer, to the offender.

The jailer of a county jail shall attend and train for two (2) weeks at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer's Training Academy.

SECTION 2. Section 47-1-49, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-1-49. In the case of a jail owned jointly by a county and municipality, under the provisions of Section 17-5-1, the governing authorities of the county and municipality are * * * vested with full and complete authority, jurisdiction and control over the jointly owned jail facility and the governing authority of the municipality may appoint a jailer who shall be responsible for all municipal offenders lodged in the jail in the same manner in which the sheriff is responsible for state offenders, and the jailer shall have the same right of access to the jail as the sheriff.

The jailers of a jail jointly owned by a county and municipality shall attend and train for two (2) weeks at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer's Training Academy.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.