By By Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
The Alabama Sheriff’s Association is calling on County Commissions across the state to assume responsibility for feeding inmates in its jails.
The association passed a resolution calling on the county’s to assume control of the food program. Sheriff Greg Bartlett, a member of the association, was briefly jailed after a judge said he was in contempt of an order to provide adequate food for inmates.
The association voted to turn the fund over to the county commissions, a process that’s already taking place in 12 counties.
Current Alabama law allows sheriffs to keep an overages from the state-mandated rate of $1.75 a day per inmate. However, Bartlett said, it also makes them responsible for extra costs.
The association’s recommendation was presented to the State Senate in the form of a bill to be enacted last week.