Protest About Possible New Jail Site

[fuzzis]

Supervisors hear protest of possible jail site (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080110/NEWS01/80110021)

...Residents of Irene Chapel and Palmer’s Crossing neighborhoods were joined by members of the Forrest County Environmental Support Team to urge supervisors to reconsider the possibility of constructing the new jail in their neighborhood.

The neighborhood is currently home to the county’s Work Center, causing residents to believe another jail would only hurt the area.

“This community is suffering from years of neglect,” resident David Rankin told supervisors...

So...my questions are:


Why was this site chosen? Does the County already own this land?
What does neglect of the community have to do with this?
What would be a better site for the new jail?


I know we talked about the possibility of a new jail before, but I don't quite feel like going back and looking for it.

[Maggie-Doodle]

It is not going to matter WHERE they decide to put the jail...someone will bitch about it being in "their neighborhood!" We gotta face it..they gonna bitch when the thugs are running the roads for lack of a place to house them and they gonna bitch when they want to put it in someone's backyard. Some people will bitch to hear themselves talk!

I would think they would go out into the county where there are fewer residences and pick a nice large place and build it there. The need to have room to spare. Sooner or later we know it will again be out of space. If they get enuf land now it would be a easier task to enlarge at a later date. I am sure there are places that would fit the bill either in the south end or the north end of the county. East and west get a little more complicated with Petal and Oak Grove being right there.

[Fish-Bait]

Ain't the drive in for sale?

[Fire Extinguisher]

This is the same neighborhood where the "Community Activist" complained about people driving bad, running stops signs and things and wanted a "Police Presence". Then whe HE got a ticket for running a stop sign HE tried to get the man in charge of the PD at the time to tear it up!

Chronic GIRL DOGGING

[IGID]

There will be a new jail and it looks like it's going to be behind the MultiPurpose center on land the county already owns. No matter where it's at, somebody is going to complain. Nobody is complaining about it being downtown where hundreds work everyday. There's not a problem of escapes from the jail now and the new jail will be modern and more secure.

[Fish-Bait]

WWAMD?

What would Afro Man Do?

[Conveyor Belt]

Everyone I know that is in jail lives in that neighborhood anyhow... they'll be closer to home.

[Blockhead]

Forrest County really needs a new jail. 2 bunks and 4 prisoners per cell? Ridiculous.

Or, maybe we can just stop arresting people for misdemeanor marijuana possession and other victimless crimes. Either/or.

[Maggie-Doodle]

Ain't the drive in for sale?

YEP, same basic neighborhood though...however, the cost of the land at the Beverly would be prohibitive...it is a historical landmark and it will go for a premium...the powers that be are trying to get someone to buy the place and market the facilites to include the screen/house portion of the drive-in and they could possibly get large grants to restore that part and they could build on the parking lot part...seems there are all kinds of incentives for the purchaser IF they leave the drive-in screen/house in tact and use it as part of the new facilities.

There will be a new jail and it looks like it's going to be behind the MultiPurpose center on land the county already owns. No matter where it's at, somebody is going to complain. Nobody is complaining about it being downtown where hundreds work everyday. There's not a problem of escapes from the jail now and the new jail will be modern and more secure.

I think that would be a great place for it...not that many homes down that way but the people down in Dixie are sure to raise hell.

Forrest County really needs a new jail. 2 bunks and 4 prisoners per cell? Ridiculous.

Or, maybe we can just stop arresting people for misdemeanor marijuana possession and other victimless crimes. Either/or.

ALL crimes have victims one way or the other, somewhere down the line.

[Blockhead]

If we're going to split hairs that deeply, then literally everything should be illegal.

[HadItUpToHere]

The county started out wanting to put the jail at the city industrial air port but they raised hell about that. Make that triple D made a stink and cousin rod stood with her on the issue.

Now if it's back to the same area the multi purpose center then it's gonna meet with the same fight I guess.

For the record the county could make due with what it has that is if the city built a jail for their inmates. I say let the city settle the issue and build their own jail. Then they can pick a location for it.

As far as putting the jail out in the county there's issues with transport of prisinors to and from trial (down town).

In either case the county or city is about to spend about 20 million of forrest county tax payer money. A location must be found and all of forrest county will likely pay for it.

[wilebill]

It only makes sense financially and socially to put it in an industrial type area. Everything has to go somewhere, and unfortunately there's always going to be people who live near an industrial area who won't like living there, simply because it's industrial. But that's life. Hell, they should probably be more worried about industrial accidents and the like instead of a properly constructed jail.

[walking tall]

I think that if they put chain gangs back into the jail and prision system there would not be so many people in jails and prisions costing us money.Most of the people in jail and prison like it there better than they did at home because there they have 3 hots and a cot plus satelite tv at no cost to them nothing but time and they get to sleep all day if they want to..while i am out working 2 jobs with a 100 hour work week

[Tully Mars]

If I am not mistaken, State law requires that a county jail be located within the county seat, i.e. Hattiesburg City Limits. To go outside the city limits would require special legislation to be passed. Finding an area within the city that would be a suitable site for the jail is not necessarily an easy task considering the amount of land required and other factors that would influence the placement.

[Conveyor Belt]

Isn't that area within the city limits?

[Tully Mars]

Sorry, I should have quoted. I was responding to Maggie's suggestion that it be sited out in the county.

[Maggie-Doodle]

If I am not mistaken, State law requires that a county jail be located within the county seat, i.e. Hattiesburg City Limits. To go outside the city limits would require special legislation to be passed. Finding an area within the city that would be a suitable site for the jail is not necessarily an easy task considering the amount of land required and other factors that would influence the placement.

Sorry, I should have quoted. I was responding to Maggie's suggestion that it be sited out in the county.

Tully I don't know about the county seat thing... I am sure you are probably right though...kindda makes sense..when I made my statement I was thinking of the area down Hwy 49 S./airport area or either up Hwy 49 N. towards the auto auction area...both are much less populated and has more open area on which to build. Both places would also have easy access for not only jail personnel but for visitors on visiting day, as well as space to grow. It would make little sense to put the jail in a congested area and then in a few years have to look for some place else because they have once again outgrown the facilities and have no expansion space.

Like I said in a previous post, no matter where they put it somebodys going to get p.o.'ed about the location.

[Tully Mars]

Tully I don't know about the county seat thing... I am sure you are probably right though...kindda makes sense..when I made my statement I was thinking of the area down Hwy 49 S./airport area or either up Hwy 49 N. towards the auto auction area...both are much less populated and has more open area on which to build. Both places would also have easy access for not only jail personnel but for visitors on visiting day, as well as space to grow. It would make little sense to put the jail in a congested area and then in a few years have to look for some place else because they have once again outgrown the facilities and have no expansion space.

Like I said in a previous post, no matter where they put it somebodys going to get p.o.'ed about the location.

Logic would certainly hold that it be placed out in the county in much less populated areas. But then again, I have never equated MS State law with logic.

You are right, someone is not gonna be happy no matter where the put it.

[Fish-Bait]

Tully is right. Jackson County is/has or was going through this battle. It has to be located in Pascagoula which is the county seat there. Same as New Augusta, Purvis, Lucedale, Leakesville, etc....

[Maggie-Doodle]

Logic would certainly hold that it be placed out in the county in much less populated areas. But then again, I have never equated MS State law with logic.

You are right, someone is not gonna be happy no matter where the put it.

Yep, you got that right and for that matter no other state either..OR the federal govmt. Both usually go 190 degrees from anything "logical" that is why this country is in the mess it is in!


Tully is right. Jackson County is/has or was going through this battle. It has to be located in Pascagoula which is the county seat there. Same as New Augusta, Purvis, Lucedale, Leakesville, etc....

IF I am not mistaken both the areas I am talking about ARE in the city limits however. I know Palmers is.. and alot of the land on 98 E. just below the truck stop area...I believe the city limits N. goes nearly to where you would turn to go to Sumrall.

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

Logic would certainly hold that it be placed out in the county in much less populated areas. But then again, I have never equated MS State law with logic.

You are right, someone is not gonna be happy no matter where the put it.Don't forget the state law may be in effect since the time MS became a state... and then there weren't too many structures crowding the city limits at the time and space was not an issue....

[Tully Mars]

Don't forget the state law may be in effect since the time MS became a state... and then there weren't too many structures crowding the city limits at the time and space was not an issue....

That is quite possibly true. If so, it just shows how outdated our state statutes and our state constitution are.

[Bahlk]

I haven't seen it mentioned yet but is the plans to move just the jail facility there, or is the whole sheriff's department (investigators, dispatch, various offices) moving. Im curious about that since several co-workers got into a discussion about this.

[CrzyHrseOwnr]

Harrison County has a nice jail near the industial park

[Blockhead]

Well, with all the people wanting to rebuild Downtown, why not just put the new jail there? There's still no shortage of busted up, broken down buildings there in need of leveling. Sure would make transferring people from one jail to the other simple.

[tomray1]

Fish bait - is the picture in the avatar you or your girl (wife/girlfriend)??

[IGID]

Well, with all the people wanting to rebuild Downtown, why not just put the new jail there? There's still no shortage of busted up, broken down buildings there in need of leveling. Sure would make transferring people from one jail to the other simple.Because the Feds say they need 25-30 acres for future growth.

[Ted]

Fish bait - is the picture in the avatar you or your girl (wife/girlfriend)??:clap::laugh:Weeeeeell - itdamnsureain't FishBait.

[Maggie-Doodle]

Well, with all the people wanting to rebuild Downtown, why not just put the new jail there? There's still no shortage of busted up, broken down buildings there in need of leveling. Sure would make transferring people from one jail to the other simple.

There is not enuf room downtown...besides that most of the really decrepid buildings have already been torn down...the ones that are left are in decent shape...most are either being worked on or have been worked on to get them in good shape. I would imagine they will not be torn down because of their historical significance...I am pretty sure the state would have to agree to them being torn down and I really do not see that happening since the area has been declared "historical." Anyone with one of the old buildings can get low interest grants to fix them up...

[HadItUpToHere]

Some of the area to the north may be in a flood zone as was the case with at least one of the sites the BOS wanted to use (close to the old cock of the walk).

[Maggie-Doodle]

Some of the area to the north may be in a flood zone as was the case with at least one of the sites the BOS wanted to use (close to the old cock of the walk).

I am pretty sure the areas I am talking about on Hwy 49 N. would not be in a flood zone...I am speaking of north of all the trailer sale places and towards the Auto Auction area...if that area floods we better have one heck of an ark! :)

[XC9]

To bad the county didn't buy the old USM Golf Course. That would have been plenty of land to build on. I wouldn't have said a word-but I bet the country club people would have had a fit. They have cleared so much of Golf Course Rd. that you can hear every sound on the highway. They have taken away the natural habitat of many of our animals and it makes me sick. We saw a deceased baby bob cat on the side of the road this morning. I hope their new technological park is worth it to them. They are killing the wild animals and taking away our oxygen. I can not believe the trees they have cut down on both sides of the road. I would just as soon a jail go in there than what they are doing.

[Fish-Bait]

Fish bait - is the picture in the avatar you or your girl (wife/girlfriend)??

She's my deckhand..lol..:-D

[IGID]

The jail will be somewhere around the Multipurpose center/industrial park area. Mark it down.

[Maggie-Doodle]

The jail will be somewhere around the Multipurpose center/industrial park area. Mark it down.

Sounds like a good place to me....I hope so!

[HadItUpToHere]

There was some talk about putting it in the down town area where the old co-op was. That area is just leveled now. And the county picked up that bulk fuel plant a year or two ago. The area is low and may be subject to flooding.