MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Corrections; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Stogner, Harvey, Gollott, White (29th), Rayborn, Huggins, Hamilton

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-931, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO CONTRACT FOR REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN MARION AND WALTHALL, CARROLL AND MONTGOMERY, STONE AND PEARL RIVER AND WINSTON AND CHOCTAW COUNTIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-931, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-5-931. The Department of Corrections, in its discretion, may contract with the board of supervisors of one or more counties and/or with a regional facility jointly operated by two (2) or three (3) counties, to provide for housing, care and control of not more than two hundred fifty (250) offenders who are in the custody of the State of Mississippi. Any facility owned or leased by a county or counties for this purpose shall be designed, constructed, operated and maintained in accordance with American Correctional Association standards, and shall comply with all constitutional standards of the United States and the State of Mississippi, and with all court orders that may now or hereinafter be applicable to the facility. If the Department of Corrections contracts with more than one (1) county to house state offenders in county correctional facilities, excluding a regional facility, then the first of such facilities shall be constructed in Sharkey County and the second of such facilities shall be constructed in Jefferson County.

The Department of Corrections shall contract with the Boards of Supervisors of Marion and Walthall, Carroll and Montgomery, Stone and Pearl River, and Winston and Choctaw Counties to house state inmates in regional facilities.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.