47-7-2 - Definitions. - Mississippi Statutes

§ 47-7-2. Definitions.
 

For purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the meaning ascribed herein unless the context shall otherwise require: 
 

(a) "Adult" means a person who is seventeen (17) years of age or older, or any person convicted of any crime not subject to the provisions of the youth court law, or any person "certified" to be tried as an adult by any youth court in the state. 

(b) "Board" means the State Parole Board. 

(c) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Corrections. 

(d) "Correctional system" means the facilities, institutions, programs and personnel of the department utilized for adult offenders who are committed to the custody of the department. 

(e) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Corrections. 

(f) "Detention" means the temporary care of juveniles and adults who require secure custody for their own or the community's protection in a physically restricting facility prior to adjudication, or retention in a physically restricting facility upon being taken into custody after an alleged parole or probation violation. 

(g) "Facility" or "institution" means any facility for the custody, care, treatment and study of offenders which is under the supervision and control of the department. 

(h) "Juvenile," "minor" or "youthful" means a person less than seventeen (17) years of age. 

(i) "Offender" means any person convicted of a crime or offense under the laws and ordinances of the state and its political subdivisions. 

(j) "Special meetings" means those meetings called by the chairman with at least twenty-four (24) hours' notice or a unanimous waiver of notice. 

(k) "Unit of local government" means a county, city, town, village or other general purpose political subdivision of the state. 
 

Sources: Laws,  1976, ch. 440, § 3; reenacted, 1981, ch. 465, § 91; reenacted, 1984, ch. 471, § 101; reenacted, 1986, ch. 413, § 101; Laws,  1994 Ex Sess, ch. 25, § 2, eff from and after passage (approved August 23, 1994).