March 30, 2009

Officials OK with sheriff feeding county prisoners

By Scott Wright

CENTRE — Despite problems in other parts of Alabama, local officials said last week they are happy with the current arrangement for feeding inmates in Cherokee County.

Laws passed by the Alabama Legislature in the 1930's give sheriffs in many Alabama counties personal responsibility for jail food. Typically, the state provides $1.75 per day per inmate. The sheriff must then stretch the money as far as he can, but the law allows him to keep whatever is left over.

Earlier this year, CNN.com reported that meals served by Morgan County Sheriff Greg Bartlett typically consisted of undercooked chicken, unsweetened tea or fruit drink, and lunchtime sandwiches “with a small amount of peanut butter or an exceedingly thin” slice of bologna. A federal judge temporarily jailed Bartlett until he promised to provide better meals and return $210,000 he pocketed over a two-year period.

Cherokee County Probate Judge Melvyn Salter said whatever small amount Sheriff Jeff Shaver might have left at the end of each month is “immaterial” because the county is grateful to Shaver for accepting the responsibility.

“This is not an issue in Cherokee County,” Salter said. “We have had no complaints about food quality, to my knowledge, since I've been here.”

County Administrator Tim Burgess said state lawmakers are considering legislation that would return responsibility for feeding inmates to county governments. As the overseer of county finances, Burgess said he hopes the law does not come to pass.

“If that happens, then the burden of feeding the prisoners would shift to the County Commission and that would fall under bid laws,” Burgess said. “We would have to bid out food products, whereas now the sheriff can go out and shop around or buy what's on sale.”

Burgess said there are obvious reasons why it would be significantly harder for the County Commission to provide adequate meals on $1.75 per day, the amount the state currently provides for each prisoner.

“We would have to bid over a certain period of time and that would increase the cost of the items,” he said. “That would increase the cost because of the higher food prices the Commission would have to pay. As it stands, Sheriff Shaver is doing an excellent job with the food program.”

Salter said the fact that sheriffs don't have to follow bid laws also allows for creative solutions.

“Last year, the sheriff planted a tomato garden” to offer inmates some variety, Salter said. “Whatever Jeff does, he does it to try and take care of the prisoners as the law requires. He sees that health issues, sanitary issues and dietary needs are taken care of.”

Burgess echoed Salter's gratitude for the extra work Shaver has taken on.
“When first he took office, Jeff wanted the County Commission to take over the feeding of inmates,” Burgess said. “But after I told him I'd appreciate if he did it and he saw the increased costs we'd have, he came back and said he'd do it.”

Burgess said he doesn't believe being responsible for inmate food service was one of the reasons why Shaver, a former Alabama state trooper, had for running for sheriff in the first place.

“If the County Commission told him they wanted the responsibility, I think the sheriff would gladly give it back,” Burgess said. “I don't know if he's making in money or not, but I don't think he's in it for the money.”