Hinds County Leaders Seek Funding for Inmate HousingHinds County Leaders Seek Funding for Inmate Housing Hinds County officials are planning to reach out to various agencies to request financial assistance for housing their inmates. According to a report by WLBT, the county’s current detention center is facing overcrowding issues. The facility, which has a capacity of 1,200 inmates, is currently housing over 1,350 individuals. To address this overcrowding, Hinds County leaders intend to ask state and federal agencies for funding to construct a new detention facility or expand the existing one. The county is reportedly considering requesting funds from the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance. The overcrowding at the Hinds County detention center has raised concerns about the safety of both inmates and staff. In the past year, there have been several violent incidents reported at the facility, including two inmate deaths. Hinds County Board of Supervisors President Credell Calhoun emphasized the need to improve inmate housing conditions. “We’re not going to tolerate the overcrowding and the violence that’s going on in our jail,” Calhoun said. “We’re going to do everything we can to address this problem.” The county’s request for funding comes amidst a broader effort to address inmate overcrowding and improve conditions in correctional facilities across the United States. In recent years, several states and counties have enacted reforms aimed at reducing prison populations and providing better care for inmates. It remains to be seen whether Hinds County will be successful in securing the necessary funding for a new or expanded detention facility. However, the county’s efforts highlight the ongoing challenges faced by correctional systems across the country in providing safe and humane housing for inmates.
Hinds County leaders plan to ask agencies for money to house their inmatesWLBT
