Regional Jail Facility Funding Issues

CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss.(WCBI) – Some local sheriffs want to create a more powerful voice in Jackson.

It will be called the Regional Jails Association. This is in response to state funding cuts.

“We bought into a concept to help the state of Mississippi as well as help our county,”said Chickasaw County Sheriff James Meyers.

There are 15 regional jail facilities throughout the state of Mississippi, in counties looking to help.

“Back years ago we bought into the regional jail concept and built a very large facility for strictly state inmates,”said Meyers.

Originally the state agreed to pay $29.74 per inmate.

Chickasaw County Regional facility houses 340 state inmates but in 2017 the state cut the number to 240.

“They are easing us back up to 300 but the catch is the minimum on our contracts is 240 they say they will only pay $20 per inmate, per day,” said Meyers.

Meyers says just because they cut the funding doesn’t mean they cut the inmates needs.

“When we are planning our weekly meals if we are feeding 240 today and they call me and say they will bring 30 Monday. I’ve got to hustle around and pick up extra stuff to feed make sure I’ve got enough mattresses,” said Meyers.

In response to the cuts, Chickasaw County, along with other regional jails, have opted to organized.

“There’s power in numbers. Legislatures tend to listen to associations because they have a larger voice. We’re hoping to accomplish not only putting inmates into the regional jail but we are looking at standards, training part of it. We push all that forward to the department of correction that we are running a very professional organization here and all our staff is trained,” said Meyers.

Meyers says they hope to encourage the department of corrections to get back to the concept they had a few years ago

“Regional jails are cost effective, we take out of their hands and house cheaper. It’s a win win for both the state and the county,” said Meyers.

The association hasn’t been officially assembled but has been approved through the secretary of state’s office. They are working toward the first meeting date.