The sheriff of Autauga County announced on Thursday that he was evacuating the county jail due to safety, health, and security concerns. In a statement posted on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page, Sheriff Mark Harrell explained that he had a moral obligation to ensure the well-being of all individuals at the Autauga County Metro Jail, including staff, law enforcement officers, and inmates.
Sheriff Harrell made it clear that he would not place another individual in the jail until the county commission addressed and resolved the issues that were threatening health and safety within the facility. While the statement did not specify the exact problems, arrangements had been made with various agencies to house inmates in a safe environment while the issues were being addressed.
County Administrator Scott Kramer acknowledged that the commission was aware of facility issues at the Autauga County Metro Jail and had been working diligently with Sheriff Harrell and his staff to address them. An assessment had been conducted by workers to identify and attempt to resolve the concerns, with multiple experts inspecting the facility to inform improvement efforts.
The commission expressed its commitment to making necessary improvements within the limits of the law and available resources to ensure the well-being of anyone who entered the jail, be it an inmate, staff member, law enforcement officer, or member of the public. Cooperation between all parties involved was key to resolving the issues and ensuring the safety of all individuals associated with the jail.