JACKSON - Hawaii officials say they are just in the beginning stages of negotiations to house hundreds of their inmates in Mississippi.
"We've had discussions, but we haven't come to any decisions or conclusions yet," state Department of Public Safety director John Peyton said.
The Mississippi Department of Corrections said that Hawaii could send at least 500 maximum-security inmates now housed in Arizona facilities to a private prison in Tutwiler. The prison, which employs about 300 people, is now limited to minimum and medium security.
The state Senate has sent the governor a bill that seeks to keep open the Tallahatchie prison. The bill would allow Corrections Corporation of America, which runs the prison, to house maximum security inmates in the facility.
Department of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps said CCA and Hawaii corrections officials have talked about the transfer and Hawaii officials are expected to tour the Tutwiler facility next week. Officials will have to negotiate a contract and train prison staff before the inmates are transported to Mississippi, he said.
If the first 500 Hawaii inmates come to Tutwiler, there's been talk of 500 more prisoners coming from Hawaii, Epps said.
Mississippi lawmakers wanted to act quickly because the facility could close March 11 after Alabama pulls out its inmates.
Lawmakers said 282 people work at the prison.
The annual payroll is $6.3 million, and about $572,000 is paid annually in property taxes.
Steven Owen, a spokesman for Corrections Corporation of America, said the Mississippi facility is being marketed to several potential customers, including Hawaii.
CCA is operating the prison on a temporary emergency contract to house the prisoners from Alabama, he said.
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