Walnut Grove is home to a one-of-a-kind facility in the state of Mississippi.

 

This 376,000 square foot private maximum-security facility is the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility.

 

Cornell Companies Inc. operates the 1000 bed facility. Cornell Companies Inc. is a leading private provider of corrections, treatment and educational services outsourced by federal, state and local governmental agencies. Cornell provides a diversified portfolio of services for adults and juveniles, including incarceration and detention, transition from incarceration, drug and alcohol treatment programs, behavioral rehabilitation and treatment, and grades 3-12 alternative education in an environment of dignity and respect, emphasizing community safety and rehabilitation in support of public policy.

Cornell (http://www.cornellcompanies.com) has 65 facilities in 14 states and the District of Columbia and five facilities under development or construction, including a facility in one additional state. Cornell has a total service capacity of 16,644, including capacity for 2,726 individuals that will be available upon completion of facilities under development or construction.

 

The Walnut Grove Correctional Authority appointed by the Town of Walnut Grove has a contract With the State of Mississippi to house 750 male juveniles from ages 12-21. The Authority then contracts with Cornell to operate the facility.    The facility includes its own school and vocational instruction.

 

Legislation was approve in the 1998 Legislature to establish the Authority.

 

The title of the law is as follows:

Title: AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF THE CITY OF WALNUT GROVE, MISSISSIPPI, TO CREATE THE WALNUT GROVE CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS OF OFFICE FOR THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE AUTHORITY; TO AUTHORIZE THE AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY LOCATED IN WALNUT GROVE, MISSISSIPPI; TO AUTHORIZE THE AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT WITH THE UNITED STATES OR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, FOR THE HOUSING OF OFFENDERS IN THE CUSTODY OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS; TO AUTHORIZE THE AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT WITH A PRIVATE ENTITY FOR THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; TO PRESCRIBE OTHER POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE AUTHORITY; TO PRESCRIBE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE FACILITY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS BE REIMBURSED FOR CERTAIN EXPENSES; TO REQUIRE THE RETURN OF A RELEASED OFFENDER TO THE STATE FROM WHICH HE WAS SENT; TO REQUIRE A DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COMPLIANCE OFFICER TO BE PLACED AT THE FACILITY; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS IN THE FACILITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES