NATCHEZ, Miss. – County supervisors have agreed to divert funds to the Adams County Youth Court in place of state money the Mississippi Legislature failed to authorize be spent even though appropriated.
Meeting Monday with the Adams County Board of Supervisors, Judge Walt Brown said state lawmakers didn’t extend a law set to expire July 1 that lets Mississippi Youth Courts expend about $2.5 million that was actually allocated.
While Gov. Tate Reeves has been asked to call a special legislative session to rectify this failure, it’s uncertain if he’ll do so, Brown said.
At the judge’s request, the county board agreed to transfer about $10,000 from the Adams County Youth Detention Center to pay court personnel.
Mississippi’s youth courts handle child abuse and neglect cases as well as juveniles charged with crimes. In the final days of the state Legislature’s annual session that ended in April, lawmakers killed a youth court reform bill that had passed the Senate and House. Brown noted the comprehensive bill to “totally revamp youth courts” also contained authorization to spend funds approved in a separate appropriation.
Comments