State of Mississippi Judiciary

Hinds County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council formed

June 11, 2018

The Hinds County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has begun work to bring about improvements in the criminal justice system.

The mission of the CJCC is to enhance public safety and heighten public trust by improving the Hinds County adult and juvenile justice systems through interagency collaboration and the coordination of cohesive policies and programs driven by research, innovation and fiscal responsibility, according to Bylaws adopted March 1.

The CJCC is made up of judges, prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement and city and county government officials. The CJCC was formed by criminal justice leaders in Hinds County to make recommendations to elected and appointed officials. The Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted to formally recognize the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council on May 21.

“It leverages the resources and expertise from participating agencies and departments to address systemic public safety challenges that no one agency can do alone. CJCC members commit themselves to identifying issues and their solutions, proposing actions, and facilitating cooperation that will improve public safety, align resources, and coordinate delivery of justice-related services,” CJCC Bylaws state.

The formation of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council was mandated in the July 2016 settlement agreement in a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against Hinds County, the Hinds County Board of Supervisors and the Hinds County Sheriff. The case is 3:16cv489 WHB-JCG, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Five work groups have been formed to address behavioral health, case processing, jail population management, prisoner reentry and juvenile justice.

The Council, which meets bi-monthly, selected Senior Circuit Judge Tomie Green and Hinds County Administrator Carmen Davis as co-chairpersons. The Council is made up of 19 voting members. Voting members are:

• Hinds County Circuit Court Senior Judge;
• Hinds County Chancery Court Senior Judge;
• Hinds County Court Senior Criminal Judge;
• Hinds County Youth Court Judge;
• Hinds County Justice Court Senior Judge;
• Jackson Municipal Court Senior Judge;
• Hinds County District Attorney;
• Hinds County Attorney;
• Hinds County Sheriff;
• Hinds County Administrator;
• Jackson Mayor;
• Jackson Police Chief;
• Jackson City Prosecutor;
• Hinds County Public Defender;
• Hinds County Detention Center Warden;
• Hinds County Juvenile Justice Center Director;
• Hinds County Behavioral Health Director;
• a representative of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors;
• a representative of the Jackson City Council.

Associate members who may participate but not vote include:

• Mississippi Department of Community Corrections Director, Region II;
• Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Youth Services Director;
• Hinds County Circuit Clerk;
• Attorney to the Board of Supervisors;
• a representative of the Hinds County private defense bar;
• a representative of the Hinds County community;
• any Circuit, Chancery, County, Justice, Municipal or Drug Court Judge from Hinds County;
• any Hinds County Court Administrator;
• any mayor from within Hinds County;
• any municipal police chief from within Hinds County;
• any municipal prosecutor from within Hinds County;
• any municipal public defender from within Hinds County.

For more information, contact Hinds County Administrator Carmen Davis at cdavis@co.hinds.ms.us or Board Attorney Pieter Teeuwissen at pteeuwissen@co.hinds.ms.us.

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