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| Miss. Gov. Signs Bill Allowing County to Utilize Closed Facility |
| By Greenwood Commonwealth |
| Published: 03/17/2003 |
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Gov. Ronnie Musgrove signed a bill March 5 officially allowing Leflore County to move its jail and Sheriff's Department into a portion of Delta Correctional Facility. As county officials and legislators looked on, Musgrove called House Bill 1415 an epitome of 'cooperating and working together from the local level to the state.' 'The solution we have today was reached with the best interest of everyone involved,' he said. The legislation frees the county from the scrutiny of a court-imposed inmate limit, which the existing jail has violated for years. The jail population has exceeded 100 at times, and the aging structure on the second floor of the courthouse has periodically leaked on offices below. The bill also saves $5 million that would be spent on building a new facility. Musgrove estimated long-term savings would be closer to $8 million, factoring debt service. For the state of Mississippi, the deal finds a use for the empty private prison, which it closed in September in an effort to scale back the state corrections system. It also leaves open the possibility of a swap that would give the state the Leflore County Restitution Center in exchange for the prison. State Rep. Willie Perkins, D-Greenwood, who authored the bill and led it through the House, said as far as he can tell event was a first for Leflore County. Sheriff Ricky Banks, who will move his prisoners into Pod F at the prison once renovations are complete, said the day marked a first for him as well. 'I've been here 30 years, and this is the first Board of Supervisors that has ever considered building a jail,' said Banks. 'I thank you.' |
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Police department was facing troubles due to lack of space but Gov. I was astonished to read Joo casino review because it was such an amazing thing. Ronnie Musgrove took a better decision and provided them a portion at Delta Correctional facility. It was a revolutionary step.