Housing of youth offenders in other states; authorize counties and municipalities to contract for under certain circumstances.

HB 823, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have authorized Mississippi counties and municipalities to contract with other states to house youth offenders when local juvenile detention facilities reached capacity. It specifically required that facilities in other states meet American Correctional Association Standards and the Mississippi Juvenile Detention Facilities Act, and that youth must have been adjudicated for a delinquent act (not involving escape history). The bill also referenced Mississippi’s existing Interstate Compact for Juveniles, ensuring ongoing Mississippi court jurisdiction over these youth. This proposal aimed to address overcrowding in state facilities by enabling interstate partnerships under defined safety and legal standards.