Mississippi Senate Bill SB2580

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/22
• Refer: 1/17/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

State inmates; require MDOC to pay increased rate to house inmates in county jails.

Impact

The amendments associated with SB 2580 will directly affect the operational protocols of the Department of Corrections and the financial arrangements between the state and county jails. By allowing more flexibility in housing arrangements, the bill aims to alleviate overcrowding in state facilities and ensure that inmates can be housed more effectively. Furthermore, the increased reimbursement rates serve to incentivize counties to accommodate state prisoners, thereby enhancing the cooperation between local and state correctional systems. This change is presented as a method for managing staffing and space limitations while ensuring that inmates fulfill their sentences appropriately.

Summary

Senate Bill 2580 amends various sections of the Mississippi Code regarding how inmates can serve their sentences in county jails. Specifically, it allows a person under the custody of the Department of Corrections to serve part or all of their sentence in a county jail if requested by a sheriff or a board of supervisors. The bill addresses the situation when state correctional institutions lack the physical space for inmates, thereby facilitating their transfer to local facilities. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum amounts that the Department of Corrections will pay counties for housing state offenders, establishing new reimbursement rates that rise with the length of time an inmate is housed in a county jail.

Contention

While supporters argue that the bill will alleviate overcrowding and streamline the handling of inmate transfers, opponents may voice concerns over the potential burdens placed on county jails and the local taxpayers who fund these facilities. There is also the question of how measured the standards may be for classifying inmates and determining eligibility for transfer to local facilities. Overall, the bill is positioned as a technical adjustment in the correctional policy but could spark broader discussions regarding criminal justice reform and the adequacy of the state's correctional infrastructure.