CULLMAN —
Alabama legislators long ago created a strange law that allows sheriffs to pocket excess money from food accounts set up to feed inmates.
A lot of descriptions could be offered about this law, but one fits perfectly: it’s dumb.
The law allows money allocated for feeding prisoners to go directly into personal bank accounts of sheriffs. The sheriffs are responsible, by law, to feed inmates nutritious, adequate amounts of food. In essence, the situation is ripe for abuse and lawsuits. In fact, that’s what happened in 2009 in Morgan County when prisoners went to federal court over the former sheriff’s menu and quantity of food allowed for inmates. The federal judge largely sided with the prisoners, but not much has changed in Alabama.
Fifty-five of the state’s sheriffs still abide by the practice set up in the 1939 law. While many of the sheriffs may do a good job of providing adequate meals to inmates, the potential for bad things to happen is always lurking nearby.
Cullman County Sheriff Mike Rainey objects to the practice and wants to talk to county commissioners about adopting a new system that takes away any potential for a sheriff to profit from the meal money, or to shortchange inmates on the quantity and quality of food that the law specifies.
Rainey has a nutritionist available to the detention center and mandates that inmates receive three meals per day. As he stated recently, “It’s a moral issue.”
The Cullman County sheriff is right on the mark with his assessment. Incarceration is tough punishment for anyone. The loss of freedom, family, friends and potential income are all part of the consequences of an extended visit to the detention center. The idea that inmates should be half-starved as part of their punishment is barbaric and eventually would result in health issues that are even more costly to the county and state.
Money that feeds inmates comes from the taxpayers’ pockets. There is not a legitimate argument to support the current state law that allows the money to go into personal bank accounts of sheriffs.
State Sen. Paul Bussman said he trusts Rainey’s position regarding the meal money and would gladly hear his suggestions for changing how the money is handled. Commissioners should also be willing to sit with Rainey and review the state law and options for handling the money is a manner that is accountable to the public.
Rainey has opened his books in this matter. He now needs an open ear from local officials that will lead to changes in the here and across the state concerning the distribution and accountability of meal money for inmates.
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Changing a dumb law
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