State inmates will now be used throughout Yazoo County as part of a work program, particularly to handle road and clean-up work duties. County leaders ironed out the final details of the work program during the last Board of Supervisors meeting.
The county will be using the maximum number of state inmates for various work duties throughout the county. A total of sixteen state inmates, all considered non-violent trustees, will be used with two being placed at the Yazoo County Courthouse, two provided to each of the five county districts and the remaining being used with the county road crews. Supervisors will also be trained to coordinate the work crews.
“They, obviously, can’t work on private property,” said jail consultant Jerry Williams. “But if it is state or county highways, they are fine. If they happen to operate any kind of equipment, documentation must be provided that they are properly trained to do so.”
In relation to the state inmate work program, county leaders also approved the sale and use of tobacco products at the Yazoo County Regional Correctional Facility to serve as an incentive.
“With the offenders for the work program, we would like to have tobacco just to have it as an incentive for them since they are not getting paid,” said Warden Chaz White. “But if we open it up to them, as far as I know, it will have to applied for the whole facility based on the (American Civil Liberties Union).”
The tobacco, including cigarettes, loose tobacco and dipping tobacco, would be handled through the facility’s commissary. Prices would range from $9 a tobacco pack to $7 for dipping tobacco.
“The Department of Corrections approved smoking at their facilities,” Williams said. “They put it back for the county level if the sheriffs do not have a problem with it offering it at the canteen. Holmes County is doing it, and you have a couple of other regional facilities doing it as well.”
The local jail facility did allow tobacco use at one time but had since removed it.
“It would also eliminate the compromise of some of the contraband coming in as well,” Williams added.
The county board approved authorizing the sale and use of tobacco at the local facility through its commissary, but tobacco use can only be allowed during designated times and designated areas.
