The 18 members of the January term of the Warren County grand jury gave a list of 18 recommendations to the courts, the Warren County Board of Supervisors and the District Attorney’s office.

“We really appreciate the work that this grand jury put in,” Circuit Court Judge James Chaney said. “I could tell they were conscientious in their efforts and that’s what we need is citizens to be involved in the process.”

The top recommendation from this grand jury was to establish places, safe havens or orphanages, for the safety and mentoring of at-risk youth in the hopes of reducing criminal activity. A five-year plan was also purposed for the city and the county to collaborate to construct a recreational facility for youth.

The jury encouraged the board of supervisors to add personnel and make repairs to the jail that is overcapacity and unsafe. Later in the list they also request a new jail. It was also recommended that the city and the county work together to create facilities for mentally ill adults and minors.

“That’s a good one,” Chaney said of creating those facilities.

The jury encouraged the hiring of formally detained people by the city, county and businesses. Chaney found the emphasis on tax cuts to businesses that hired formerly incarcerated people and the recommendation for the city and county to hire formerly detained people to be interesting.

“I don’t recall that being a recommendation before,” Chaney said.

It was asked for additional law enforcement officers to be hired and their salary to be increased as well as having additional continuing education opportunities for the officers, which Chaney found important.

Other requests included having youth in the detention center tour the jail regularly, the addition of safety measures to the steps in the courthouse, repairs be made to the amplification system in the youth courtroom and increased funding to the DA’s office to name a few.

“The grand jury made some very good recommendations,” District Attorney Ricky Smith said. “The grand jury was very conscientious in their work as all grand juries are. I commend them for the work they do.”

During their time in the jury, jurors met with Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace, County Youth Court Prosecutor Ricky Johnson, Youth Court Judge Johnny Price, Mayor George Flaggs Jr., Vicksburg Police Chief Walter Armstrong and Truancy Officer Tommy Curtis. Jurors were also able to tour the Warren County Jail and the Juvenile Court during their week of service.

“As far as I can tell it was a good grand jury. They worked hard. Each one might have a little different emphasis on their report, but all of them are good and this one was no exception,” Chaney said.

The jury reviewed evidence in 86 cases against 126 individuals on 156 counts. They returned indictments on 76 of the cases, and four cases were reduced to a misdemeanor. The jury said not enough evidence was presented to indict on four cases, called no bills. Three cases were continued for the next grand jury in April. “We appreciate those citizens that honor their subpoenas and show up for grand jury and take seriously their requirements as citizens to serve on the grand jury,” Smith said.

Those indicted by the January grand jury and arraigned since the initial hearing on Feb. 1, including name, age, address, charge and arrest or offense date, are:

Malcolm Brown, 24, 216 Hillside Drive – possession of a controlled substance and possession of stolen firearm, Aug. 26.

Demetrica Harris, no age or address given – sale of controlled substance, Aug. 1, 2014.

Derrick McGee, 20, 320 Fisher Ferry Road #77 – attempted kidnapping, Dec. 16.

Nicholas Ringold, no age or address given – possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute, March 17.

Justin Williams, 30, 1325 Jackson St. – two counts of attempted assault-extreme indifference, two counts of shooting at a motor vehicle, possession of a weapon after felony conviction, May 2, 2014; four counts of shooting into a dwelling house, July 4, 2014.

Marcus Deshawn Wilson, 26, 1300 Harrison St. – three counts of shooting into a dwelling house, four counts of shooting at a motor vehicle, and aggravated assault, July 4, 2014.