On Thursday morning, the Autauga County Metro Jail was evacuated by Sheriff Mark Harrell to prevent potential health and safety issues. The specific reasons for the evacuation were not disclosed. The following day, the Blount County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook that they would be taking in 24 inmates from Autauga County due to the evacuation.
When we spoke with Blount County Sheriff Mark Moon, he explained that the length of stay for the inmates is uncertain at this time and could range from weeks to months or even a year depending on the issues that need to be addressed. The Autauga County Sheriff deferred responsibility for addressing these issues to the county commission.
A total of 164 inmates were evacuated from the Autauga County jail. Blount County agreed to house 45 inmates but ultimately received 24, bringing their total to 175 inmates. Sheriff Moon stated that they had released 14 inmates prior to accommodating the Autauga inmates, so they were not overcrowded.
There was concern among some inmates in Blount County about who would pay for the additional inmates. Sheriff Moon clarified that Autauga County has an agreement to continue covering the costs of food and medical expenses for these inmates. When Autauga County reached out to surrounding counties for assistance, Blount County was quick to offer help, but it is unclear if other counties in the area also took in Autauga inmates.
Upon reviewing the charges of the 24 transferred inmates, it was discovered that most were facing drug possession charges while two individuals were charged with trafficking. The situation surrounding the evacuation of the Autauga County Metro Jail remains ongoing as the county commission works to address
