SB 2357 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Delta Correctional Facility; authorize work release program for eligible inmates at.

SB 2357 establishes a work-release program at Mississippi's Delta Correctional Facility, allowing eligible inmates to work in private-sector jobs in surrounding communities while serving their sentences. It limits participation to 100 inmates at a time and excludes those with sex offenses, multiple violent felonies in the past decade, or over one year remaining on their sentence. The bill requires inmates to pay 25% of wages toward dependents or court-ordered obligations, save 50% for post-release use, and cover 15% of facility costs, with 10% available for incidental expenses. It mandates annual data reporting to the legislature on participant demographics, program outcomes, and wage distributions, and expires on July 1, 2029.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Signed Apr 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the upper → Current version · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was modified to shift from authorizing a contract with an external economic development foundation to establishing an internal work-release program at Delta Correctional Facility. The changes include new eligibility criteria, detailed statistical reporting requirements, and specific wage distribution rules for inmates.

Scope change

The program scope changed from a foundation-managed initiative to a facility-managed pilot program with a 100-person limit and a sunset date of July 1, 2029.

SCOPE

Program administrator changed from Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Development Foundation to the corporation defined under Section 47-5-539.

ELIGIBILITY

New eligibility criteria added: inmates must have less than one year remaining on sentence and cannot have sex crimes or multiple violent felonies in the past ten years.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for annual statistical reporting to the Legislature including participant demographics, completion rates, new offenses, and wage distribution.

FISCAL

Wage distribution rules modified: 25% for dependents/fines/restitution, 50% for savings, 15% for facility administrative expenses, and 10% for incidental expenses.

TIMELINE

Added sunset provision requiring the section to be repealed on July 1, 2029.

ENFORCEMENT

Added escape penalties for inmates who leave assigned work areas or routes without proper authority.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2025 · House Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 11, 2025

D Democratic16

16 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican35

35 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 10, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Adopted

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Filed

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed As Amended

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred To Corrections;Workforce Development

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed As Amended

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Corrections;Economic and Workforce Development

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor