Alabama Shifts Inmates to Ease Jail Crowding

State officials said Tuesday they have eased jampacked conditions in several county jails by moving more than 1,000 inmates to state prisons, an effort prompted by a judge’s threat of stiff fines.

Circuit Judge William Shashy had set a Monday deadline for the state to end overcrowded conditions or be fined $26 per day for each state inmate still in a county jail 30 days after being sentenced.

Because Monday was a holiday, the state informed the court Tuesday of the progress made. Shashy did not immediately schedule any hearing in the case.

In June, the state reported 2,000 inmates were backlogged in county jails because of a lack of space in state prisons. Prisons spokesman John Hamm said the backlog was down to 392 Tuesday.

The backlog dwindled over the summer as the state added beds to existing prisons. In some cases, it also increased paroles and put more inmates into community work programs.

Prison officials and Gov. Donald Siegelman were hopeful there would be no fines because the judge had indicated he would consider not penalizing the state if the backlog fell below 459.

“We have met the goal that was imposed,” said Carrie Kurlander, the governor’s press secretary.

Added Siegelman in a statement: “Our prison plan is working to reduce overcrowding so that violent criminals are kept locked up and our families remain safe.”

Sheriffs and county commissioners took state officials to court because the state was not complying with a 1992 court order to remove inmates from county jails within 30 days after they are sentenced to state prisons.

The crowding became so bad that a federal judge compared one county jail to a slave ship.