Mississippi Dept of Corrections Needs to Renegotiate Inmate Work Programs; Not End Them

The Mississippi Department of Corrections is putting an end to county inmate work programs effective August 1. The reason? The state pays participating jails $20 a day per state inmate held within a county jail, and this is money the MDOC feels can be put to better use elsewhere.

 Pearl River County Sheriff David Allison said:

• ...cutting the inmate work program will be devastating to the county. Trusty inmates in Pearl River County work on litter crews, maintenance on county buildings and lawn care on county property, said Allison. Allison’s kitchen staff at the Pearl River County Jail is also made up of inmates who are responsible for preparing 350 meals a day. If sixty workers were brought in to replace the inmates it would cost an estimated $1.8 million, said Allison. [Picayune Item]

 But, the Department of Corrections has a very valid concern. So does Allison. And inmate work programs are a good form of rehabilitation. I am not sure what kind of negotiation would be amicable but I think the goal of any negotiation should have two goals in mind (on top of the money issue): 1) To reduce costs on the counties instead of ending program and 2) prisoner rehabilitation. Those two things in mind should produce  a win-win for both sides in the end.

Picayune, Poplarville, Pearl River County All Using Body Cameras

Per a report in the Picayune Item:

• For the past year and a half officers with the Picayune Police Department have been using the small devices as part of the department’s new policy, said Chief Bryan Dawsey.

• Poplarville Police Chief Charlie Fazende said his officers have also been using them. For the past year his staff of 10 full time officers and one part time officer all have their own body camera.

• The Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department is using them on a limited basis. However, Sheriff David Allison said he has plans to implement them department wide. Currently two of the cameras are used by their DUI officers and three are being used by narcotics investigators, Chief Deputy Shane Tucker said.