The Autauga County Sheriff, Mark Harrell, made the decision to evacuate the county’s jail in order to prevent health and safety issues that were not specified. On June 6, deputies began transporting the 164 inmates currently listed on the jail’s roster to other facilities. Sheriff Harrell arranged with several agencies to ensure that the inmates were housed in a safe environment, but did not disclose which agencies were involved or for how long they would house the inmates.
Sheriff Harrell emphasized his moral obligation for the safety, health, and security of everyone who entered the Autauga County Metro Jail, including his staff, law enforcement officers, and inmates. He stressed that before putting anyone else in the lockup, the County Commission needed to address the health and safety issues that prompted the evacuation. Although details were not provided on the specific issues at the jail, County Administrator Scott Kramer expressed that they were working with the Sheriff’s office to address these concerns.
During the week, workers from the County Commission were present at the facility conducting inspections with experts present. Kramer assured that they would continue to make improvements within