May 28, 2001 WAPT Hinds County Sheriff McMillin reports that the detention center in Raymond County is in a crisis situation. 

July 5, 2003 Clarion Ledger reports that Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin proposes adding 132 beds to the county jail as a cost effecting alternative to building another facility. McMillin makes an official proposal at the July 7, 2003 Board of Supervisors Meeting (see July 7, 2003 Board Minutes) and the Board decides to review the matter again in two weeks. (Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 7/03/03 here). 

September 11, 2003 At a public hearing at the Hinds County Board of Supervisors meeting,  Sheriff McMillin addresses the Board of Supervisors regarding jail overcrowding, citing that 574 of the 594 inmates at the facility were pretrial detainees. (Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 9/11/03 here). 

February 17, 2004 Sheriff McMillin addresses the Board of Supervisors to voice concern that the Board seems not to be making the jail expansion and jail overcrowding priorities in the agenda, pointing out that no commitments have been made regarding this project. Doug Anderson suggests that the County Administrator contact the Mayor of Jackson to see if they have any proposals towards the project. (Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 2/17/04 here). 

March 1, 2004 Joe Lauderdale, on behalf of SafeCity Initiative, addresses the Board. Stating that crime is pervasive in the county due to lack of jail space, he criticizes the Board for having not moved forward on the jail expansion project. No action was taken at this meeting, (Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 3/01/04 here). 

July 19, 2004 Sheriff McMillin explains to Board why he is over budget, citing personnel expenditures and materials in anticipation of a jail expansion. (Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 7/19/04 here). 

August, 2006 SafeCity leads the effort for the 132-bed expansion. Board of Supervisors votes to put $481k toward the construction of recreation yards to meet national standards, necessary before expansion can take place. Then Board President Doug Anderson was the only dissenting vote. (Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 8/07/06 here). Funds for the expansion came from a $3.8 million 2005 bond issue that had not been spent. (See Clarion Ledger, August 8, 2006 – Jail gets $481k for expansion). 

September 6, 2005 Sheriff McMillin reminds the Board of Supervisors of his original proposal in 2003. He explains revisions made since then to staffing, etc.(Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 9/06/05 here). 

May 1 2006 After witnessing the state of disrepair at the Raymond Detention Facility, the Board approves to add $500,000 to the Detention Center budget to make necessary repairs. (Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 5/01/06 here). 

November 11, 2006 The Board of Supervisors votes and resolves to advertise bids for the Detention Center Expansion. (Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 11/06/06 here). 

January 16, 2007 The Board of Supervisors resolves to send a letter to the Jackson city Council requesting assistance to defray the cost of the jail expansion project. (Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 1/16/07 here). 

January 29, 2007 The Board approves a vote to allocate $175,000 from the 2005 Bond Issue towards the Jail Expansion project. (Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 1/29/07 here). 

July 2, 2007 Clarion Ledger article reports that Hinds County is still short on jailers and that although the recreation yards are on schedule to be completed, the Board of Supervisors has yet to issue funding to the Sheriff’s Dept. to begin hiring guards to man the additional detainees. Sheriff McMillin has stated that he will not begin the hiring process until the money is approved for his department. Hiring and training new jailers could take up to 12 weeks. 

July 9, 2007 SafeCity begins mobilizing citizens to contact Supervisors to fund the Sheriff’s Dept. so he can begin hiring process. 

July 10, 2007 The Board of Supervisors has discussion with Jackson City Councilman Marshand Crisler who feels the Jackson City Council will support partial funding of the jail expansion project. Ron Welch reminds the Board that the previous two conditions needed to approve the project have yet to be met - fixing the broken locks at the facility and staffing shortages. (Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 7/10/07 here). 

July 12, 2007 SafeCity hosts meeting with Ron Welch, Supervisor Peggy Calhoun and other community leaders to learn more about the jail issue. 

July 16, 2007 SafeCity supporters gather at Board of Supervisor’s meeting to observe the vote and to defend the public’s desire to have the 132 beds “up and running” immediately upon completion of recreation yards, expected by mid-October, 2007. Supervisors vote unanimously to fund the Sheriff so he can begin hiring process, but after SafeCity supporters leave the Board meeting, Doug Anderson makes an amended motion to have the previous motion approved by Board Attorney Azande Williams who was out of town at the time. The Board also voted to discuss funding the full operating expenses of the expansion during budget hearings, to begin the second week of August.(Read the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for 7/16/07 here). 

July 24, 2007 Charles Barbour sends a memo to Ronnie Chappell challenging why he, Doug Anderson and George Smith took action to “ … delay transfer for funds to the Sheriff …” (See entire Memo, 7/24/07) 

Azande Williams issues memo saying the issue was placed on the agenda properly, but there was not a motion made “…authorizing a budget amendment for that purpose. Therefore, legally, no money can be transferred until the Board approves the budget amendment.” (See Interoffice Memorandum, 7/24/07) 

July 25, 2007  Sheriff: Supervisors using ‘delaying tactic’ with jailer money 

July 26, 2007 Clarion Ledger reports, (courtesy of the Clarion Ledger), “Supes agree on more money for jailers but not on quick transfer”   

August 16, 2007  Supervisor’s voted today to send $112,730 to the Sheriff so he can begin hiring guards for the soon-to-open 132 beds at the Raymond Detention Center.  After much discussion about the process of the same vote two weeks ago, the Board voted unanimously to amend the budget and dispense the necessary funds to the Sheriff.  The larger issue of a strategic crime-fighting plan that addresses critical jail shortages was put off for another meeting. 

August 22, 2007 Sheriff McMillin has received the funds to begin the hiring process for additional guards. Medical personnel are also needed, but are not included in the original budget for ongoing expenses. This, plus other one-time costs, raise the price of the jail expansion to a reported $1.1 million. The recreation yard is on schedule. (See rec yard budget here) SafeCity calls its support list to attend the upcoming Board meeting on September 4, 2007 @ 9:00 a.m., 316 S. President St. 

September 4, 2007  - Nearly 60 Hinds County residents came out to support SafeCity’s message – “Open the 132 beds AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!”.  SafeCity supporters also wanted the Hinds County Board of Supervisors to get the message to prioritize public safety, especially during this time of budget crunch. See Clarion Ledger Article here. 

September 6, 2007 Clarion Ledger reports that the bulk of the money appropriated to correct the locks at the detention center were spent on other purchases. Ron Welch makes clear that the expansion cannot move forward until the lock problem and the staffing shortages are rectified. 

September 14, 2007 -  Board of Supervisors approve the Sheriff’s request for $1,057,337.00 to add 132 beds to the Raymond Detention Center.  (See Sheriff’s Budget by clicking here) 

October 23, 2007 - New recreation yards and bunk space to house an additional 132 inmates at the Hinds County Detention Center were finished at least a week ago, but on Monday the beds remained empty.   (see pdf of Original Jail Staffing)  View the related Clarion Ledger article here. 

November 6 2007 Robert Graham won Supervisor seat for District 1 and Phil Fisher in District 4. All other Supervisors retained their seats. 

December 12, 2007 Clarion Ledger article highlights newly elected Supervisors Robert Graham's and Phil Fisher's commitment to making a motion on January 2, 2008 (the first day of their office) to start the necessary improvements at the Jail - improvements  necessary for the opening of the 132-bed expansion.