The Hinds County Board of Supervisors has allocated nearly 900 thousand dollars to upgrade security at the county's detention center. MPB's Kobee Vance reports the money will go towards repairing long-standing issues.
73 doors at the Raymond Detention Center will soon be replaced. Supervisors say the current doors pose a security risk to prisoners, guards and citizens. District 1 Supervisor Robert Graham is Board President.
"It may sound very simple, but it's really not, but we have to do it, and that we're gonna make sure the doors lock."
Hinds County is under a federal Consent Decree dating back to 2015 because of needed improvements to its detention centers. Hinds County Sheriff Lee Vance says these changes are a step in the right direction.
"This represents movement on an issue that lacked movement. Getting in compliance with the Justice Department Consent Decree wasn't going anywhere fast. This board decided that it was time to move on that issue, and we are ready to move forward."
In a time where the state's prison system is rocked by violence, supervisors say they want to make sure safety is a top priority.
