Issaquena County jail to stay open

The Issaquena County Board of Supervisors changed course Thursday, voting to keep the county’s jail open.

Ten days after voting to close the Issaquena County Correctional Facility based on financial concerns, supervisors and the Issaquena County Sheriff’s Office reached an agreement to keep it open.

Chief Deputy Willie Peterson told WJTV that the county’s financial situation is being reviewed to see whether funds can be shifted from elsewhere to cover the jail’s costs.

“I can tell you right now, I’m just happy as I can be because I’m more optimistic today that I’ve been in a while, that I’m sure we’ll be able to keep the facility here,” Peterson said.

The jail is the county’s largest employer, according the WJTV.

In response to the Supervisor’s Dec. 2 vote to close the facility, the Mississippi Department of Corrections told county officials that doing so would violate the terms of its contract with MDOC. In a letter dated Dec. 4, MDOC said it “will exercise any available remedies under the law” to address the violation.

Peterson said the county would reach out to MDOC for financial assistance.