Public Safety Coordinating Council

The Public Safety Coordinating Council met on July 17, 2025, to discuss several key initiatives:

Drug Court Program: Judge Flowers presented an update on the DeSoto County Drug Court, which currently serves 28 clients, its highest number to date. The program, lasting 12-24 months across four phases, focuses on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. The council noted challenges with finding adequate space for AA/NA meetings for graduates, with 28 clients enrolled and 15 graduates since January 2024.

Jail Study Update: Mandy Hines provided findings from the Securitecture, LLC Jail Study. The proposed conceptual design, estimated at $92,669,598 (reduced from $108,382,464), is still considered an insurmountable cost for the county. The study aimed to address current deficiencies and accommodate future needs by consolidating facilities.

Courthouse Elevator Update: Developments on the 3rd-floor courtroom elevator installation were discussed, along with questions regarding improvements to the 2nd-floor courtroom and allocated funding from the 12th Judicial Circuit administration.

Next Meeting Agenda: Topics for the October 23, 2025 meeting include the Work Offender Probation Program, setting a fee schedule, and potentially acquiring a passenger van for probation and drug court participants.