Mississippi (MS) — State Brief
Juvenile Justice (2015–2025)
Context
Mississippi jurisdictions have pursued detention decision reforms and alternatives with technical assistance in several sites. Local practice varies by county resources and policy alignment.
Pipeline Snapshot
- Intake & Screening: County Youth Courts; no universal risk tool; some use CANS or checklists.
- Detention: By rule, detention for safety/flight risk only; reforms limited detention of status offenders; 48-hr hearings.
- Adjudication & Disposition: Youth Courts; dispositions include probation (DHS DYS) or commitment to training school; historic overuse of incarceration addressed by DOJ settlements.
- Commitment & Placement: DHS DYS operates Oakley YDC (secure) + limited group homes; misdemeanant commitments discouraged by policy.
- Reentry & Aftercare: Community counselors supervise aftercare ~6 months; typical LOS 6–9 months; referrals to CMHCs, Job Corps.
- Authority: State–county mix; Youth Courts (judicial) + DHS-DYS (executive); county funds detention, state funds placements.
- Policies: Miss. Code §43-21 (Youth Court Law); DOJ consent decrees drove reforms; Walnut Grove closure.
- Data Handoff: No unified Youth Court CMS; education records lag; small committed pop enables manual tracking.
Notes & Sources
- MS DYS reports; DOJ/ACLU filings; Youth Court rules.