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MS: Senate OKs Bill for 3000 more cages

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

Senate OKs bill for more prisons By Leah Rupp ?\ February 28, 2008 Clarion-Ledger Ten more counties could eventually see regional prisons go up within their boundaries under a bill that cleared the Senate this afternoon. Senate Bill 2642 would create 3,000 new beds if all of the counties opened up jails with 300 beds a piece for state inmates. Corrections Committee Chairman Willie Simmons, D-Cleveland, said planning for the future is essential with projected state prisoner numbers at about 28,000. But several critics spoke out against the bill on the floor, saying more money for jails means less for other essential issues such as education and health care. The bill passed by a vote of 37 in favor and 14 against. "With all of the enhanced penalties we are passing, we are going to need these beds," said Simmons, adding that even if lawmakers approve the counties to build one of the jails, the commissioner of the Corrections Department would still have to sign off...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on February 29, 2008 (boomark / email).