Committee debates four-year phase-down of Parchman prison; bill ultimately tabled after divided votes

Lawmakers debated Senate Bill 2047 on a proposal to phase down the Mississippi State Penitentiary, commonly called Parchman, over a four-year period while preserving medical services and death-row functions there.

Supporters said the bill would reduce long-term maintenance and overtime costs by transferring many operations to the Tutwiler facility and converting Tutwiler from private to state-operated status. “My plan … is to phase down the facility known as Parchman over a 4 year period,” the chairman said, describing projected savings and a target of better staffing ratios under American Correctional Association standards.

The bill directs the commissioner of corrections to develop a detailed phase-down plan and submit recommendations to the legislature by Jan. 1, 2026. The draft language in the bill exempts Unit 29 (death row) and medical and infirmary operations from the phase-down, and authorizes management of Parchman assets by the…