Biloxi mayor announces inmate litter program to begin March 9

Mayor Andrew Folke Gillich announced March 3 that Biloxi will launch an inmate litter program on March 9 to expand public-works capacity while giving nonviolent offenders an opportunity for community service.

Gillich described the plan as a partnership between Biloxi Parks and Recreation, the city public-works department and the Harrison County adult detention center: “The city will work with the Harrison County adult detention center to obtain a crew . . . of nonviolent offenders to perform public service work,” he said. The city will provide high-visibility vests, bags and transportation; Harrison County will provide meals and clothing, and the Biloxi Police Department will schedule weekly contraband checks, he added.

Councilmember Creel asked how staffing and supervision would work; a public-works representative said the program will start small and expand. “We’ll start this out March 9 . . . two inmates per two employees,” the staff member said, explaining an initial structure of one city employee supervising roughly three inmates as the program grows.

Supporters framed the program as a way to extend existing maintenance capacity while reducing payroll costs for temporary contracts. Gillich said the city will use existing employees to oversee crews and adjust operations if needed.

The council did not take a separate formal vote on the announcement itself; staff said operational details and scheduling will be finalized by the engineering and parks departments and coordinated with the detention center.