IMPRISONMENT OF OFFENDERS

Meridian Code of Ordinances ch. 16, art. III

in effect

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-96 Place of confinement.

Sec. 16-96. - Place of confinement. Any person convicted in the municipal court and sentenced to a term of imprisonment shall be committed to the city jail. The city jail is the prison of the city, in which shall be imprisoned all persons required by law to be imprisoned by the city authorities. (Code 1962, § 17-92)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-97 Imprisonment until fine, costs paid.

Sec. 16-97. - Imprisonment until fine, costs paid. Any person convicted in the municipal court and sentenced to pay a fine and costs only shall be committed to the city jail until the fine and costs imposed are paid in money, or by labor at the rate of pay as prescribed by section 16-98. (Code 1962, § 17-93)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-98 Payment of fine, costs by labor.

Sec. 16-98. - Payment of fine, costs by labor. In any case where the penalty imposed is both a fine and imprisonment, and if the fines and costs are not paid in money, the person so sentenced shall be required to pay the same by labor at the rate of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per day before beginning the service of his term of imprisonment in the city jail. (Code 1962, § 17-94; Ord. No. 3470, § 1, 9-3-74)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-99 Prisoners to be jailed when not working.

Sec. 16-99. - Prisoners to be jailed when not working. Prisoners ordered to work on the streets in payment of fines and costs imposed against them, shall be lodged in the city jail at night, and on Sundays, and when not engaged in work, except that no prisoner shall be imprisoned beyond the maximum imprisonment prescribed by law, if such prisoner is found to be indigent. (Code 1962, § 17-95)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-100 Supervision, duties of jailor.

Sec. 16-100. - Supervision, duties of jailor. The jailor, under the supervision of the chief of police, shall be keeper of the city jail, and it shall be his duty to have it kept in proper repair and in good sanitary condition. He shall have charge of all prisoners while they are confined in the jail, and shall comply with all the laws governing and regulating the keeping of prisoners. (Code 1962, § 17-96)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-101 Separation of sexes, juveniles.

Sec. 16-101. - Separation of sexes, juveniles. In confining prisoners in the city jail, separate cells shall be used for persons of different sexes. No person under the age of eighteen (18) years shall be confined in a cell with other prisoners, but a separate and suitable room shall be provided for the detention of such minor prisoners. (Code 1962, § 17-97)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-102 Communicating with prisoners.

Sec. 16-102. - Communicating with prisoners. It shall be unlawful for any person to speak or to hold any communication with any prisoner while at work on the streets, except by permission and in the presence of the officer in charge; any person violating this section, after having been admonished by the officer having the prisoners in charge, to desist and abstain from such communication, shall be punished as provided in section 1-9 of this Code. (Code 1962, § 17-98)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-103 Medical care.

Sec. 16-103. - Medical care. It shall be the duty of the chief of police upon the claim of any prisoner of a need for medical attention to arrange for an examination by a reputable physician, the cost of which shall be borne by the city upon the certification of the chief. (Code 1962, § 17-99)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-104 Escape—Penalty.

Sec. 16-104. - Escape—Penalty. If any person confined in the city jail upon any conviction for a criminal offense shall break such jail and escape therefrom, or shall escape from custody before confinement therein, he shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided in section 1-9 of this Code. (Code 1962, § 17-100)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-105 Same—No credit for time at large.

Sec. 16-105. - Same—No credit for time at large. If any prisoner, confined in the city jail for a criminal offense, shall escape therefrom, he may be pursued, retaken, and imprisoned again, notwithstanding the term for which he was sentenced to be imprisoned may have expired at the time he shall be retaken, and shall remain so imprisoned until he shall have served as a prisoner the entire length of time which he would have been required to so serve had he not escaped, and until tried for such escape, or until discharged, on a failure to prosecute therefor. (Code 1962, § 17-101)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-106 Same—Aiding escape from officers.

Sec. 16-106. - Same—Aiding escape from officers. Every person in the city who shall aid or assist any prisoner in escaping or attempting to escape from the custody of any policeman or other officer or person who shall have the lawful charge of such prisoner upon any criminal charge, shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided in section 1-9 of this Code. (Code 1962, § 17-102)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-107 Same—Aiding escape from jail.

Sec. 16-107. - Same—Aiding escape from jail. Every person who shall, by any means whatever, aid or assist any prisoner lawfully detained in the city jail or other place of confinement in the city, in an attempt to escape therefrom, whether such escape be effective or not or who shall forcibly rescue any prisoner held in legal custody in the city upon any criminal charge, shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided in section 1-9 of this Code. (Code 1962, § 17-103)

Source: City of Meridian, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/meridian/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH16OFMIPR_ARTIIIIMOFFetched: 11/1/2026