MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Juvenile Justice

By: Senator(s) Smith

AN ACT ENTITLED THE "MISSISSIPPI CRIME AND JUVENILE JUSTICE INFORMATION ACT OF 1998"; TO AUTHORIZE A LOCAL CRIME AND JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSION IN EACH COUNTY IN THE STATE AND PRESCRIBE THE MEMBERSHIP THEREOF; TO DIRECT EACH COMMISSION TO HOLD MONTHLY PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPORTING STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON JUVENILE CRIME, ADJUDICATION, SCHOOL VIOLENCE, SCHOOL DROPOUTS, AND FUNDS EXPENDED FOR JUVENILE PROGRAMS IN THE LOCALITY, AND TO PRESCRIBE OTHER PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. (1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Crime and Juvenile Justice Information Act of 1998."

(2) The board of supervisors of each county may, in its discretion, establish a local Crime and Juvenile Justice Commission, or "commission," consisting of the following public officials or their designated employees who shall serve ex officio:

(a) The youth court judge of the county, or the chancellor with youth court jurisdiction for the county, as the case may be, who shall serve as chairman of the commission; if the youth court judge is unable to serve, the commission shall elect a chairman from the membership;

(b) The superintendent of schools of each school district located within the county;

(c) The sheriff of the county;

(d) The chief of police of each municipality located within the county;

(e) The senior school attendance officer serving each school district located within the county;

(f) The chief county health officer;

(g) The Mayor and president of the city council/board of aldermen of each municipality located within the county;

(h) The president of the board of supervisors of the county;

(i) The senior youth court counsellor serving the youth court of the county; and

(j) The director of the community mental health/mental retardation center located within, or serving the county.

(3) The Local Crime and Juvenile Justice Commission of each county shall meet at least quarterly, in the county courthouse, city hall or other public building at a time designated by the chairman of the local commission. The following information shall be presented by the following commission members at each meeting:

(a) The sheriff of the county and each chief of police shall present statistics on the incidents of juvenile crime in the county or municipality;

(b) The youth court judge and youth court counsellor shall present statistics on youth court petitions, adjudications, nonadjudications and abuse and neglect cases as allowed by confidentiality provisions;

(c) The superintendent of each school district shall present statistics on arrests on school property, incidents of rape or any violent action against another person which occurred on school property;

(d) The school attendance officer of each school district shall present statistics on school dropouts, unlawful absences and any petitions filed for violation of the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law;

(e) The county health officer shall present statistics on incidents of communicable diseases affecting juveniles reported in that county;

(f) The director of the mental health/retardation center serving the county shall present statistics on the number of juveniles treated for alcohol/drug abuse or other mental condition, whether referred by the school or not; and

(g) The president of the board of supervisors, mayor and president of the city councils/board of aldermen shall present statistics on the funds expended on programs relating to juvenile justice, juvenile law enforcement, alternative school programs, home intervention programs for juveniles and any other program relating to juvenile crime prevention in the county/municipality.

Each commission meeting shall be open to the public, and the chairman shall allow public comment following the required presentations and any response by members of the commission.

The purpose of each meeting shall be to inform the taxpayers of the respective counties and municipalities of the rate of juvenile crime in their county/municipality and to inform them of the amount of funds being expended to prevent that juvenile crime through the juvenile justice system, schools and intervention programs.

(4) Members of the local crime and juvenile justice commissions shall receive no compensation or expense reimbursement for attending meetings of the commission.

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