By eliminating a portion of its problematic jail, Hinds County, the largest county in Mississippi, has made a major step towards addressing security concerns. A part of the Raymond Detention Centre will be closed as a result of persistent issues, including as fights, escapes, and security-related worries. 200 prisoners were moved from Pod A at the Raymond Detention Centre to the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility, according to a Monday announcement made by Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones. The Tallahatchie County facility, run by the private prison operator CoreCivic, is situated about 150 miles to the north.
Less than 400 people are currently housed in the remaining pods at the Raymond Detention Centre, according to Sheriff Jones, who also stated that the shift had decreased the number of inmates there. It is anticipated that this relocation will improve public safety within the institution and alleviate understaffing problems.
“That is one of our worst pods at the detention centre, and I think that it’s pretty much on record that that particular pod was not secure, and it was one of our most unsafe areas within the facility,” Jones told news outlets, underscoring the importance of this step.
Numerous security issues kept the Raymond Detention Centre under close observation. In July 2022, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves issued an unusual order for the takeover of the facility, citing inadequate staffing and oversight as the cause of “a stunning array of assaults, as well as deaths.”
However, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals postponed the appointed receiver’s takeover until after it made a decision about the county’s request for reconsideration. According to court documents, the appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments in December.
Hinds County has signed a one-year contract with CoreCivic to keep 200 prisoners at the Tallahatchie facility in order to address these concerns. For court hearings, inmates will either be driven the two hours back to Hinds County, or they can appear virtually.
Hinds County has made a major effort to improve the safety and security of both its prisoners and the general public with the decision to shut the troublesome area of the Raymond Detention Centre. It draws attention to the difficulties that correctional institutions confront as well as the continuous initiatives to enhance living circumstances and functioning within the criminal justice system.
