Jackson Free Press logo

This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A federal judge has ordered Hinds County leaders to implement several changes at the Raymond Detention Center.

The ruling this week comes nearly a month after U.S. District Court Judge Carlton Reeves said the jail will remain in civil contempt for the second time, WJTV-TV reported.

The new requirements include developing and implementing policies and procedures in areas where the jail has failed to provide proper conditions for prisoners, the TV station reported.

The judge also ordered Hinds County leaders to ensure the jail is overseen by a qualified jail administrator and a leadership team with substantial education, training and experience in the management of a large jail.

The county must also develop a training program that includes instruction on what constitutes excessive force, de-escalation tactics, methods of managing prisoners with mental illness to ways to avoid the use of force and defensive tactics.

The judge said the jail also must work on policies for sexual misconduct, investigations, and prisoners’ grievances.

The new injunction must be monitored by an individual approved by the court.

Since 1846, The Associated Press has been breaking news and covering the world's biggest stories, always committed to the highest standards of accurate, unbiased journalism. The Associated Press was founded as an independent news cooperative, whose members are U.S. newspapers and broadcasters, steadfast in our mission to inform the world.