Jackson Free Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Four community work centers scheduled to close July 15 will remain open, the Mississippi Department of Corrections says.

Corrections Commissioner Christopher B. Epps made the announcement Tuesday in a news release.

Epps had said closing the four centers will save the state about $2.3 million. He also said fewer inmates are eligible for the program.

Epps had planned to close Bolivar County Community Work Center in Rosedale, Yazoo County Community Work Center in Yazoo City, Jefferson County Community Work Center in Fayette and George County Community Work Center in Lucedale.

Since that April announcement, local community leaders have been lobbying to get Epps to reverse the decision.

"I never wanted to close these centers, and only made the call after exhausting MDOC's options," Epps said in a news release. "I never stopped thinking about the impact on staff, the communities and the public in general. MDOC has always wanted to maintain a good relationship with local communities."

The state has 17 community work centers where inmates do chores for local governments.