Fired Mississippi Jail Guard Sues for Wrongful Arrest

by David Reutter

A former guard at Mississippi’s Hinds County Jail (HCJ) has sued the Hinds County Sheriff Department after being fired and arrested for bringing contraband into HCJ.

The arrest followed the escape of two female prisoners on August 31, 2013. Guard Jackie Jenkins was fired, arrested, and charged with aiding the escape. Guard Jackie Jenkins, who had worked at HCJ for three months, was fired and arrested “for introduction of contraband into a correctional facility,” said sheriff’s spokesperson Othor Cain. “Tobacco products of any kind are not allowed in our facility at all.”

Jenkins’ attorney, Dale Danks, Jr. said Jenkins was following a supervisor’s instructions and that tobacco is not defined as contraband under Mississippi law. He stated that Jenkins “was told to keep them in the box.”

He was referring to the ammunition box that deputies place firearms in before entering HCJ, which is outside the facility under the sally port. Cain said the investigation following the escape revealed Jenkins “was not in her assigned area and that contributed to these inmates leaving.” Jenkins claimed she had a supervisors’ permission to be outside to smoke a cigarette at the time in question.

The arrest of Jenkins was “wrong, improper, and immoral,” said Danks. “To charge this lady with a criminal offense is a total travesty of justice. “We’re going to make sure when all is said and done that this young lady is not and was not instrumental in the escape of the two escapee ladies.”

He said the escapees got out of their cells due to a faulty door. They were later caught.

Sources: www.wapt.com, www.clarionledger.com