HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —
There have been scandals surrounding the use of money intended to provide food for inmates in Alabama jails.
We’ve been following a story in Marshall County as a Sheriff pushed for change on the way the county jail can put extra funds to use.
Marshall County had an amendment on the 2020 ballot that would change the way jails handled money for inmates’ food, and that amendment passed. Now, the sheriff tells our reporter, this could bring some big changes.
We spoke to Marshall County Sheriff, Phil Sims. He says, “There have been issues across the state with food bill money, how the food bill money was spent and who kept what.”
The Marshall County Jail food amendment establishes that the sheriff cannot take any leftover jail food money for him or herself, and won’t be responsible for paying the remaining balance if a jail goes over-budget when feeding its inmates.
Previously sheriff’s used to be able to legally pocket the funds leftover from feeding inmates. Sheriff Phil Sims explains, “If they made any money, had any profits or had any money left over-- that money was considered the sheriff’s salary.”
This could leave room for some unethical decisions to be made, and impacts on inmates' health. Governor Kay Ivey passed legislation in May of 2019, that changed that policy across the state.
Sheriff Phil Sims tells us, “The state did pass a bill that allowed for 25 percent of any excess money left over to be used as a discretionary account. And what I mean by that is other operations of this office.”
But, Sheriff Sims says he has been pushing for changes that would make sure "all" the money ends up where it needs to go. He adds, “Now it’s a 100 discretionary account. First, inmates have to be fed, first and foremost. And the Sheriff can no longer profit from it, from here on out in Morgan County.”
Voters passed the amendment with at least 80 percent in favor. This amendment also localizes the law and makes it to where it can’t change unless the people of Marshall County vote on it again.
Sheriff Sims tells us, “The people in the county wanted change.”
Sheriff Sims says nutrition is still his top priority, and tells our reporter that he's added a dietician to his staff.
The Marshall County Jail is currently under re-construction. But, we’re told there are big plans for these funds once that’s completed.
The sheriff also told our reporter that Marshall County Jail can now use these funds to create new programs for inmates. Including, "hopefully, a parenting class". But, all of this will have to wait until the renovations are finished at the end of 2020.