MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Corrections

By: Senator(s) Farris

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-116, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT EVERY OFFENDER SHALL BE TRANSPORTED IN A VEHICLE WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH A BIDDLE GUARD; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN OFFENDERS TO BE PLACED IN HANDCUFFS, WAIST CHAINS AND SHACKLES WHEN BEING TRANSPORTED; TO PROHIBIT STATE, COUNTY, MUNICIPAL AND PRIVATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES FROM ACCEPTING OR RELEASING SUCH OFFENDERS BEING TRANSPORTED IN VEHICLES WITHOUT A BIDDLE GUARD AND WITHOUT HANDCUFFS, WAISTCHAINS AND SHACKLES; TO PROVIDE A CIVIL PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF THIS ACT; TO EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT ANY VEHICLE WHICH IS BEING USED BY A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER TO TRANSPORT OFFENDERS TO OR FROM A WORK DETAIL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-116, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-5-116. (1) For the purposes of this section, the term "Biddle guard" * * * means a device or partition installed in a vehicle operated by a law enforcement officer which separates the front and rear passenger compartments.

(2) Any felon or person accused of a felony shall be transported only in a vehicle which is * * * equipped with a secure Biddle guard separating the operator's compartment from the passenger compartment. Each felon or person accused of a felony shall be placed in handcuffs, waist chains and shackles to be transported, and shall be transported in the protected passenger compartment.

(3) A state, county, municipal or private correctional facility shall not release any felon or person accused of a felony into the custody of a law enforcement officer unless the person is being transported in strict compliance with subsection (2).

(4) The Commissioner of Corrections, sheriff, or chief law enforcement officer who is responsible for a vehicle in which a prisoner is transported in violation of this section shall not be liable personally for any damages arising from injuries to persons or property caused by a prisoner who has escaped while being transported in violation of this section. However, the Commissioner of Corrections, sheriff or chief law enforcement officer who is responsible for a vehicle in which any transportation in violation of this section occurs shall be assessed a civil penalty of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) which shall be collected by the Attorney General and paid into the State Treasury.

(5) This section shall not be applicable to any vehicle used by a correctional officer for the purpose of transporting prisoners from place to place on the grounds of any penal facility under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Corrections nor to any vehicle that is used by a correctional officer or law enforcement officer to transport prisoners to or from a work detail.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.