Mississippi Budget Crunch Forces End To Contracts With All Private Prisons - Issue 29 - Corrections Digest

Sep 29, 2026

Corrections Digest issue dated July 19, 2002 reports how Mississippi’s budget crisis ends contracts with all private prison operators. The article describes the governor’s veto of private prison funding in April, the legislature’s decision not to override, and legal arguments by Attorney General Mike Moore. It details the affected companies and facility types, then explains MDOC plans for management and staffing to maintain custody and treatment while ensuring public safety after July 1, 2002.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

IN THIS ISSUE

MONTANA’S 5% CUT HITS TRAINING, DRUG ABUSE

IOWA WILL FURLOUGH OFFICERS, TRIM CARE

IN THE COURTS

ACROSS THE STATES

DEATH ROW

FUNDING

Corrections DIGEST

July 19,2002 Vol.33,No.29 # IN THIS ISSUE Montana's 5%Cut Hits DrugTreatment,Education………2lowa Will Furlough Officers,Reduce Health Care …………2Oregon Considers 20%CutFor Health Care………………2Texas Trains 136 InmatesTo Be Health Advisers…………3Alabama Begins DefiningEarly Release Standards……3U.S.Re-entry Grants WillTry To Curb Recidivism ……4NIC Sponsors Conferences..4OJP Outlines Program.……4BJS Releases Prison Data.…4Juvenile Gang Policies … 5Comment On Drug Abuse...5 # IN THE COURTS 7L Circuit Bars Ex-PrisonerFrom Grievance System……59th Circuit Applies StifferAlternative For Violation...5Conn.Revises Jury Rules….6Mass.Exempts Parole Board6 ACROSS THE STATES Ala.,Alaska,Ariz.,Conn.,Del..6Neb.,Penn.,Wash………………7 DEATH ROWMississipp……………………7 FUNDING Tribal Youth Traning………7Mental Health Courts…………7 # Corrections DIGEST EThe only independent news service for the corrections professional Mississippi canceled contractswith all private prison operators,us-ing an escape clause in the agree-ment that allows termination forlack of funding. CorrectionsCommissionerRobert Johnson notified the contrac-tors the governor's veto of the pri-vate prison budget in April barredthe state from any further paymentsto contractors in the new fiscal year. The contractors are CorrectionsCorp.of America,Tuscomoleta Inc.and Wackenhut Corrections Corp. CCA manages the 1,000-bed,medium-security Delta and Wilkin-son prisons.Wackenhut operatesthe 750-bed medium-security psy-chiatric East Mississippi prison andMarshall,a 1,000-bed medium cus-tody.Tuscomoleta operates WalnutGrove Youth,a 750-bed juvenilefacility that opened 15months ago. Attorney General Mike Mooreclouded the issue by declaring thegovernor's line-item veto was ille-gal and insisting $54 million forprivate prisons remains available. The legislature did not overridethe veto. "The Supreme Court says thegovernor cannot veto just the waymoney is to be spent,"said Moore. Moore said he was concernedabout security at the prisons be-cause Gov.Ron Musgrove's action # Mississippi Budget Crunch Forces EndTo Contracts With AlI Private Prisons would absolve the contractors. But the corrections commis-sioner said public safety would notbe affected. The MDOC is making plans tohave department management teamsin place to operate the private facili-ties,Johnson said. The department is also workingto ensure appropriate staff is inplace at each of the five privateprisons to continue to provide care,custody,control and treatment ofthe inmates housed in each facilityand ensure public safety. Johnson said he sent letters toeach of the five private prisons inthe state that their contracts are be-ing terminated due to a lack offunding for fiscal 2003. "It is MDOC's opinion thatsince no action was taken regardingthe veto,it is valid,"said Johnson."In that regard,there is no moneyavailable to continue payments toprivate prison operators after July 1,2002." Prison costs and a lack of fund-ing for other areas,such as educa-tion and Medicare,made for a con-troversial 2002 legislative session. Musgrove also vetoed the pri-vate prison budget last year,but thelegislature voted to override.Thelegislature this year adjourned be-fore taking up the veto. Page 2 ## MONTANA’S 5%CUT HITSTRAINING,DRUG ABUSE The Montana Corrections De-partment cut payments by 5 percentto operators of rented facilities forstate prisoners,which is expected toreduce the variety and quality ofvocational and rehabilitation ser-vices. The department is trimmingnearly $2 million for rents in thenew budget to avoid cost overruns. The reductions are aboutequally divided between adult andjuvenile programs. The reductions constitute theeasy part of the savings the depart-ment must make this budget year.The toughest assignment is to saveanother $7 million through early re-lease or community assignment ofabout 400 inmates. The department is increasing itscaseload for local intensive supervi-sion programs,tr

FAQs

Why did Mississippi end contracts with private prison operators?

Mississippi canceled contracts after a budget veto blocked further payments, and the legislature did not override the veto.

Which private prison operators and facilities are mentioned as affected?

The text names Corrections Corporation of America, Tuscomoleta Inc., and Wackenhut Corrections Corp., describing the Delta, Wilkinson, East Mississippi, Marshall, and Walnut Grove Youth facilities.

What actions did MDOC say it would take after terminating the contracts?

MDOC planned to place department management teams, ensure appropriate staffing at the private facilities, and continue providing care, custody, control, treatment, and public safety.

Sep 29, 2026

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