JACKSON, Miss. — Central Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons joined City of Jackson officials this afternoon to announce another partnership between the city, Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department that aims to utilize inmate labor to remove litter from Jackson highways.
City of Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba hosted the press conference to inform the public of the new partnership. “I’d like to thank both Commissioner Willie Simmons and Sheriff Tyree Jones, along with several members of our solid waste team and constituent services, for bringing forward an agreement that now allows MDOC inmates to help clean up our city streets,” said Mayor Lumumba. “We’re grateful because it helps with the aesthetic appeal and makes our city welcoming to those that visit.”
“As commissioner of the central district, I am elated to see this kind of coordination and teamwork. We’ve been able to pull together a program that will truly move towards keeping Jackson beautiful and keep trash off our state highway system,” said Simmons. “MDOT will provide a grant to the City of Jackson and Sheriff’s Department, have offenders come out of the MDOC and pay individuals working with the city and the county to supervise those removing the litter. So, we’ll have two teams on our interstate system and state highways. This is going to make a difference.”
The announcement comes three weeks after kicking off a similar initiative between MDOT and the Hinds County Board of Supervisors to clear litter of highways and interstates in the Jackson metro. Sheriff Tyree Jones notes since making the first announcement, progress is being made cleaning highways throughout Hinds County.
“I’m very proud of this operation and partnership that we’ve been able to put together to once again keep the City of Jackson and Mississippi beautiful,” said Sheriff Jones. “We have covered the I-55 frontage road corridor, the Highway 80 near I-220 corridor, and we’ve also done Highway 18. We will have a new location that we will be covering this week in the City of Jackson. I’m very excited about this partnership with the City of Jackson and look forward to continuing it.”
Sheriff Jones also reminded the public that law enforcement will continue holding drivers accountable if caught littering. Put trash where it belongs and remember to recycle when possible. It’s not just a can or food wrapper you’re throwing away — it’s taxpayer dollars.
MDOT partners with local counties to use inmate labor to remove litter from the state’s right-of-ways. MDOT assists in securing transportation mileage reimbursement, an hourly supervisor reimbursement and a vehicle when available. For more information on MDOT’s Inmate Litter Program, visit GoMDOT.com/DontTrashMS.
