Mississippi has officially accepted 1,200 prisoners from Puerto Rico that were displaced by Hurricane Maria. The prisoners are now being housed at the federal correctional facility in Yazoo.
Public Information Officer Marcia Arp confirmed this morning that the first group of prisoners arrived in Mississippi on September 23rd and the remainder followed shortly thereafter.
The prisoners were transferred from MDC Guaynabo in Puerto Rico. The prisoners were transferred from MDC Guaynabo in Puerto Rico after the category 4 storm ravaged the island in September. The Federal Bureau of Prisoners posted a statement on their website explaining the situation.
“As conditions on the island of Puerto Rico continued to deteriorate, creating difficulties in securing supplies and maintaining power, the Bureau felt it prudent to reduce the inmate population at MDC Guaynabo. Staff and inmates who are at the institution are safe. While conditions are challenging, the situation is stable.”
Arp said that at this time, she couldn’t provide a timeline for the length of time that the inmates will be housed in Yazoo.
Governor Bryant had stated in the past that he would not support accepting dangerous prisoners, but Arp could not comment on whether the prison had been in contact with the Governor’s office.
