February 5th 2025.
New developments have come to light that could potentially impact the plans of Hinds County, home to the capital city of Mississippi, to charge Jackson for housing detainees at the Raymond Detention Center. According to reports from WLBT, six mayors have recently signed an open letter expressing their concerns about the Board of Supervisors' decision to impose charges for housing detainees. One mayor in particular has raised doubts about the legality of these charges and whether or not they can actually be paid.
This open letter comes after Jackson City Attorney Drew Martin uncovered some crucial findings that could significantly affect Hinds County's proposed plan to charge the capital city for housing detainees. It was issued in response to the Board's decision to implement the charges in October of last year. Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba of Jackson explained that in order to fully understand this issue, one must delve into its history and examine the relationships between the city and county. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that there may not have been a formal agreement in place between the two entities, which could ultimately determine the outcome of this situation.
The City leaders are also claiming that they were not properly informed of the Board's decision until after their current fiscal year budgets had already been put into effect. They are also stating that they are unable to legally pay the county, as no agreements have been officially approved. The Board of Supervisors had initially approved a charge of $50 per day to house detainees at the Raymond Detention Center back in August, and this measure went into effect on October 1st. However, District One Supervisor Robert Graham revealed that while the first set of invoices had been sent out, some mayors have not yet received them.
Mayor Lumumba also raised another valid concern about the responsibilities of Jackson in regards to all city residents, even those who may be arrested by other agencies such as the Hinds County Sheriff's Department or the Jackson State University Police. He is unsure if this issue will need to be resolved in court, stating that it is still too early to tell. However, he did mention that the research conducted by the City Attorney's Office may ultimately supersede these concerns when it comes to the city of Jackson.
On a related note, Representative Ayanna Pressley has introduced a bill that aims to protect prison workers and inmates from potential environmental hazards. This bill could have significant implications for the operation of detention centers, including the Raymond Detention Center in Hinds County. As this situation continues to unfold, it is clear that there are many factors at play and it may take some time before a resolution is reached.
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