MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Juvenile Justice

By: Representative Warren

House Bill 843

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-27-22, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES REGARDING THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS; TO ESTABLISH THE POSITION OF INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 43-27-22, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-27-22. (1) Within the Department of Human Services there shall be an Office of Juvenile Correctional Institutions which shall be headed * * * by a Director of Juvenile Institutions, who shall be appointed by the * * * Director of the Division of Youth Services. The Director of Juvenile Institutions shall appoint the individual Division of Youth Services Institutional Administrators who, in turn, shall have full power to select and employ personnel necessary to operate the facility he directs, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Youth Services.

(2) The Office of Juvenile Correctional Institutions shall have such duties as the * * * Director of the Division of Youth Services shall assign to it including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Operation and maintenance of training schools and other facilities as may be needed to properly diagnose, care for, train, educate and rehabilitate children and youths who have been committed to or confined in the facilities or who are included in the programs of the facilities.

(b) Fulfillment of the objectives of rehabilitation and reformation of the youths confined in the schools, being careful to employ no discipline, training or utilization of time and efforts of such youth that shall under any condition or in any way interfere with such objectives.

(c) Grouping of the youths in the schools according to age, sex and disciplinary needs with respect to their housing, schooling, training, recreation and work, being careful to prevent injury to the morals or interference with the training and rehabilitation of the younger or correctable youths by those considered to be less amenable to discipline and rehabilitation.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.