It has been seven months since county leaders implemented a rate increase at the local juvenile detention center for housing out-of-county offenders. And Judge Betsy Cotton said the county has already collected close to $450,000.
“Since January, we have collected $447,100 from out-of-county kids since we increased our rate to the $200 a day,” Cotton said, during the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors meeting last week. “From right next door in Madison County, we get all their kids as long as we have the room. Of that total number, almost half of that at $253,275 is just from Madison County.”
The county board approved the rate increase of $200 per juvenile, per day, last December to see what revenue increase it could produce in holding out-of-county offenders.
While at last week’s open board meeting, Cotton also asked for an update on the possibility of constructing a new juvenile detention center. She and her staff prepared and presented a detailed proposal last December.
“Where are we on the proposal we submitted about the new building back in December,” Cotton asked. “We presented it in December, and it’s July.”
Supervisor Lee Moore said he sent Cotton’s proposal to an outside advisor but has not heard back yet. But he also added that the county board had not officially endorsed the proposal in its entirety.
“I just don’t know if the board is sold on the idea or not,” Moore said.
During the meeting last December, officials with the local juvenile detention center said a recent proposal to construct a new facility would not only improve the operations with juvenile offenders, but it could also bring in more revenue for Yazoo County. But some county leaders remained cautious of the project, stating that if a new facility could generate more funds, why aren’t other counties following suit.
Cotton said the current juvenile facility, located at 217 S. Washington St., is an older facility with several issues. She said the last renovations were made in 1960. Presenting a very detailed, well-prepared proposal to the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors, she suggested to the county board last December to consider the construction of a more modern facility.
The proposal of a new facility included a control tower in the middle, raised three feet higher than the floors. There would be no blind spots in the zones other than where the offenders sleep. The layout would allow for more visibility.
The proposal would include a larger zone that could house at least 84 juveniles, along with two isolation wards. The separate zone could hold about 24 juveniles, along with its own two isolation wards. The proposal included additional teacher offices and classrooms.
Cotton said the current facility only has 26 beds available. The newer facility proposal could accommodate about 105.
Following the December presentation, some county leaders were reluctant to jump onboard with the idea, stating that they were concerned over the costs associated with the construction and operational costs.
“Somewhere down the road, we are hoping and praying for some things to happen,” said Supervisor Willie Wright, during last week’s meeting. “I believe in my heart this is going to happen. I might be wrong. But it’s just tight right now. Judge, just hold on. It’s coming.”
“I think it will be an awesome thing,” Cotton replied. “But I will keep coming back to check.”
