Monday, March 2, 2015

Malone was nuts about Walnut

A review of bills proposed by Former Representative Bennett Malone reveals a rather interesting pattern: A consistent effort to increase the number of beds and maximum ages allowed at the Walnut Grove facility.  His attempts to help the private prison on this score occurred from 1998 to 2007. Walnut Grove was the subject of many illegal dealings between Chris Epps and Cecil McCrory. 


HB 1239 (1998): SENT TO GOVERNOR
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO CONTRACT WITH THE WALNUT GROVE CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITY OR THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF WALNUT GROVE, LEAKE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, FOR INCARCERATION OF STATE JUVENILE OFFENDERS AT A MUNICIPALLY OWNED OR LEASED MAXIMUM SECURITY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MAXIMUM AGE OF AN OFFENDER HOUSED IN THE FACILITY WILL BE NINETEEN YEARS;

SECTION 1. The Mississippi Department of Corrections shall contract with the Walnut Grove Correctional Authority or the governing authorities of the Municipality of Walnut Grove, Leake County, Mississippi, to provide for the private housing, care and control up to five hundred (500) juvenile offenders who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections at a maximum security facility in Walnut Grove. The maximum age of any offender housed in this facility shall be nineteen (19) years.


HOUSE BILL NO. 531 (2001): DIED IN COMMITTEE
 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-943, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS THAT MAY BE HOUSED BY THE WALNUT GROVE CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 47-5-943, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

7 47-5-943. The Mississippi Department of Corrections shall contract with the Walnut Grove Correctional Authority or the governing authorities of the Municipality of Walnut Grove, Leake County, Mississippi, to provide for the private housing, care and control of up to one thousand (1,000) juvenile offenders who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections at a maximum security facility in Walnut Grove. The maximum age of any offender housed in this facility shall be nineteen (19) years.

 

HB 1012 (2001): DIED IN COMMITTEE
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-4-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INMATES THAT MAY BE INCARCERATED AT THE DELTA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN LEFLORE COUNTY; TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-941, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INMATES THAT MAY BE INCARCERATED AT THE WILKINSON COUNTY FACILITY; TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-943, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS THAT MAY BE HOUSED BY THE WALNUT GROVE CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITY; TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-1207, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INMATES THAT MAY BE HOUSED IN MARSHALL COUNTY OR WILKINSON COUNTY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.


HB 1555 (2002): APPROVED By GOVERNOR
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-943, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER AND MAXIMUM AGE OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS THAT MAY BE HOUSED BY THE WALNUT GROVE CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-943, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
47-5-943. The Mississippi Department of Corrections shall contract with the Walnut Grove Correctional Authority or the governing authorities of the Municipality of Walnut Grove, Leake County, Mississippi, to provide for the private housing, care and control of five hundred (500) juvenile offenders who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections at a maximum security facility in Walnut Grove; the department also may contract with such authority or governing authorities for the housing at the Walnut Grove facility of an additional two hundred fifty (250) 17 juvenile offenders in the department's custody. The maximum age of any offender housed in this facility shall be twenty (20) 19 years.
 

HB 1138 (2003): DIED IN COMMITTEE
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-943, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE FROM 500 TO 700 THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR WHOM THE DEPARTMENT CAN CONTRACT WITH THE WALNUT GROVE CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR HOUSING, CARE AND CONTROL IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-943, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 10 amended as follows:
47-5-943. The Mississippi Department of Corrections shall contract with the Walnut Grove Correctional Authority or the governing authorities of the Municipality of Walnut Grove, Leake County, Mississippi, to provide for the private housing, care and control of seven hundred (700) juvenile offenders who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections at a maximum security facility in Walnut Grove; the department also may contract with such authority or governing authorities for the housing at the Walnut Grove facility of an additional two hundred fifty (250) juvenile offenders in the department's custody. The maximum age of any offender housed in this facility shall be twenty (20)22 years.

 HB 653 (2004): DIED IN COMMITTEE
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-943, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS FOR WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MAY CONTRACT WITH THE WALNUT GROVE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY FOR THE HOUSING OF YOUTH OFFENDERS; TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM AGE OF YOUTH OFFENDERS WHO MAY BE HOUSED AT THE FACILITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES

 SECTION 1. Section 47-5-943, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
47-5-943. The Mississippi Department of Corrections shall contract with the Walnut Grove Correctional Authority or the governing authorities of the Municipality of Walnut Grove, Leake County, Mississippi, to provide for the private housing, care and control of five hundred (500) juvenile offenders who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections at a maximum security facility in Walnut Grove; the department also may contract with such authority or governing authorities for the housing at the Walnut Grove facility of an additional five hundred (500) juvenile
offenders in the department's custody. The maximum age of any offender housed in this facility shall be twenty-one (21) years of age, and upon reaching his or her twenty-first birthday, the offender must be removed from the facility speedily and within a reasonable amount of time.

HB 780 (2004): SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-931, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STATE OFFENDERS FROM 250 TO 300 FOR WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MAY CONTRACT FOR THE HOUSING OF STATE OFFENDERS AT COUNTY REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

HB 1794 (2005): DIED IN COMMITTEE
SECTION 1. Section 47-5-943, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
47-5-943. The Mississippi Department of Corrections may contract with the Walnut Grove Correctional Authority or the governing authorities of the Municipality of Walnut Grove, Leake County, Mississippi, to provide for the private housing, care and control of not more than one thousand (1,000) juvenile offenders who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections at a maximum security facility in Walnut Grove. The maximum age of any offender housed in this facility shall be twenty-two (22) years of age,

 HB 436 (2007): DIED IN COMMITTEE
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO HOUSE ANY CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENDERS AT ANY PRIVATE PRISON; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

HB 806 (2007): DIED IN COMMITTEE
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-943, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS FROM 1,000 TO 1,500 FOR WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MAY CONTRACT WITH THE WALNUT GROVE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY FOR THE HOUSING OF YOUTH OFFENDERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Kingfish note: A little bird said that when MDOC would negotiate with the operators of Walnut Grove, the esteemed and virtuous Representative would enter the room, sit on the side of Walnut Grove, and proceed to negotiate on the company's behalf.   That is what I cal some damn fine constituent service.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are you saying he is next in the Epps' house to fall?

Anonymous said...

Regarding any possible corruption charges, if Malone's involvement ended in 2007, it is likely that the statute of limitations has run on any corrupt criminal activity- if in fact he was involved in any such activity. See 18 USC 3282 (providing a five year statute of limitations). However, that doesn't count any conspiracy tie-ins or the possibility that continued to benefit from his involvement, if any.

Anonymous said...

When is the next election? This is gonna be fun to watch?

Anonymous said...

>>if Malone's involvement ended in 2007<<

Why would you think that?



HB 1375 in 2008

"2008 Regular Session

To: Corrections; Appropriations

By: Representative Malone
House Bill 1375

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-931, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO CONTRACT WITH ONE OR MORE COUNTIES FOR THE HOUSING OF NO MORE THAN 500 OFFENDERS IN A REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONS SHALL DETERMINE THE SITE FOR SUCH FACILITY; TO REQUIRE THAT SUCH FACILITY MUST HOUSE STATE OFFENDERS AT A RATE OF AT LEAST 20% LESS THAN THE INMATE COST PER DAY FOR HOUSING STATE INMATES AT A STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES."

Anonymous said...

@2:23 PM

Because the post says " His attempts to help the private prison on this score went from 1998 to 2007."

Still five year SOL so the time bar would apply to any criminal activity that occurred prior to March 2010. But again, there are always ways around the time bar in cases like this one such as a continued criminal conspiracy.

Just $Saying said...

Most of the people in Leake county who were not on the take figured Malone was to be trusted about as far as you could throw an elephant, so not surprised if he goes down with the Epps ship.

Anonymous said...

"Mississippi Hustle" indeed

Anonymous said...

Malone hustled prison jobs just as other Democrats statewide hustle education jobs. Screw the children and screw 'em when they are incarcerated.

Anonymous said...

Follow the money! Campaign contributions.

So GEO Group a was a donor to Bennett?

Anonymous said...

One other thing I noticed.

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2013 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Jackson (32nd), Horhn, Jordan, Jackson (11th), Butler (38th), Dawkins, Simmons (12th), Butler (36th), Turner, Browning, Clarke, Fillingane, Frazier, Gollott, Jones, Kirby, Lee, Longwitz, Montgomery, Moran, Stone, Watson, Wilemon, Carmichael
Senate Concurrent Resolution 552

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING MISSISSIPPI CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER CHRISTOPHER EPPS AS THE LONGEST-SERVING COMMISSIONER IN THE STATE'S HISTORY ON THE OCCASION OF HIS INVESTITURE AS THE 102ND PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION.

WHEREAS, as the state celebrates Black History Month, we acknowledge Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps as the longest-serving Commissioner in the state's history. Commissioner Christopher B. Epps was recently honored when he was sworn in on January 28, 2013, as the 102nd President of the American Correctional Association (ACA). Epps, who will lead the organization for two years, took the oath at the ACA Winter Conference at the George R. Brown Convention Center; and

WHEREAS, after being sworn in, Epps stated he will seek to get more agencies ACA accredited and to increase the number of agencies receiving the ACA Golden Eagle Award. Currently, Mississippi is one of 18 recipients of the Golden Eagle. The award is presented to those who have accredited every facet of their agency. Mississippi Department of Corrections is the 14th state correctional system in the nation to achieve this accomplishment. According to Commissioner Epps, getting fully accredited in Mississippi saved the state millions of dollars and led to the dismissal of one of the lengthiest lawsuits in the country. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant said, "This is an honor for Commissioner Epps and brings distinction to our state." He also said he wants to continue focusing on health care issues, more rehabilitation and less administrative segregation. He also plans to push for more reentry programs; and

WHEREAS, Commissioner Epps, in his 11th year as Mississippi's Corrections Chief, is uniquely qualified to assume the helm of this premier corrections organization. During his watch, the department has become number one in

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2013/html/SC/SC0552IN.htm

Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia!

Anonymous said...

Top donors are affiliated with private prisons: MS Assoc for Justice, GEO Group, Cornell and Wackenhut Corrections.

Anonymous said...

Oh sweet irony. Check out this HB he sponsored.

A Concurrent Resolution Commending The Distinguished Career And Meritorious Leadership And Service Of Mr. Louwill E. Davis, Iii, Provided As Mississippi's Corrections Auditor Upon The Occasion Of His Retirement.

Anonymous said...

Well Republican Kiddies if you don't put up with Legislators who sacrificed their bodies and reputations in front Malone's moves then you've got nothing. ZILCH.

Say What? said...

7:46....Interpretation please.

Anonymous said...

The Mississippi Association for Justice is a lawyers organization, not a private prisons group.



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