Jackson Free Press

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors walked out without a decision on the size of a new jail this morning. Supervisors are tossing around the idea of a proposed regional jail housing 200 state inmates, as opposed to a jail capable of housing 300 prisoners.

The state Legislature approved the construction of the jail during the 2006 legislative session, agreeing to pay the county for housing a percentage of its state inmates. It left Hinds County to iron out the details, such as location and size.

Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin said he would prefer a jail housing 300 state prisoners for the extra revenue it would provide. The county stands to make almost $30 a day, per state prisoner detained at the facility.

"Making state dollars go a little further will ultimately cut down on our county costs," McMillin said.

Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps warned supervisors, however, that building the facility will cost about twice the cost of building the same-sized facility prior to Katrina.

"Epps said we came late to the party, that construction costs after Katrina have doubled," said prisoner rights attorney Ron Welch. "It might have been around $6 million to build the thing before (the storm), but now it will cost about $12 million."