Cutting the jail budget isn't so hard after all
Filed under: Ripoffs and Scams
Sheriff Greg Bartlett who was in charge of the Morgan County, Alabama jail found a creative way to cut the facility's budget: Stop feeding the inmates.
The jail had a budget of $1.75 a day to feed each prisoner, but the sheriff decided cost-cutting measures were in order. He decided to feed them even less than what that budget provided, and he kept the savings for himself. It is estimated that he pocketed $212,000 over the last three years this way. An Alabama law apparently allows the sheriff to keep the savings from the food budget, but obviously it's ridiculous for the sheriff to purposely underfeed the inmates in order to line his own pockets.
And while I don't think jail inmates deserve to live in the lap of luxury and be entertained at taxpayer expense, I'm all in favor of actually feeding them. The prisoners have apparently lost a lot of weight, and they're saying that they were constantly hungry.
Contrast this with the story of the Montague County, Texas jail, where the sheriff and deputies were letting inmates run things themselves. They could lock their own cells from the inside, had disabled security measures like surveillance cameras, and appear to have had access to contraband.
Can't we find a happy medium? Aren't jails supposed to be a place which is secure, with adequate rules, where inmates can be safely detained (and possibly taught a lesson or two)? Why must the sheriffs go to such extremes?
The inmate-starving sheriff was thrown in jail for a day, but was released when he gave a judge a plan for feeding the inmates more. Sheriff Bartlett now promises that he'll spend all the food money on food instead of pocketing it. Frankly, that's not good enough for me. The first step should have been to keep the sheriff in jail for a month or two, and feed him exactly what he was giving his inmates.
And he should lose his job. The guy has stolen from taxpayers by abusing the law, and he has mistreated those under his control, who have no way out. I have no confidence that he will do the right thing.
Further, what type of message does this send to the prisoners, the very people we're hoping will learn a lesson and not commit crimes in the future? They're being taught that crime pays.... You get to keep your job and have little in the way of consequences. I think it's time for a little tough love for Sheriff Bartlett.
Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE performs fraud examinations and financial investigations for her company Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting, and is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud.
And while I don't think jail inmates deserve to live in the lap of luxury and be entertained at taxpayer expense, I'm all in favor of actually feeding them. The prisoners have apparently lost a lot of weight, and they're saying that they were constantly hungry.
Contrast this with the story of the Montague County, Texas jail, where the sheriff and deputies were letting inmates run things themselves. They could lock their own cells from the inside, had disabled security measures like surveillance cameras, and appear to have had access to contraband.
Can't we find a happy medium? Aren't jails supposed to be a place which is secure, with adequate rules, where inmates can be safely detained (and possibly taught a lesson or two)? Why must the sheriffs go to such extremes?
The inmate-starving sheriff was thrown in jail for a day, but was released when he gave a judge a plan for feeding the inmates more. Sheriff Bartlett now promises that he'll spend all the food money on food instead of pocketing it. Frankly, that's not good enough for me. The first step should have been to keep the sheriff in jail for a month or two, and feed him exactly what he was giving his inmates.
And he should lose his job. The guy has stolen from taxpayers by abusing the law, and he has mistreated those under his control, who have no way out. I have no confidence that he will do the right thing.
Further, what type of message does this send to the prisoners, the very people we're hoping will learn a lesson and not commit crimes in the future? They're being taught that crime pays.... You get to keep your job and have little in the way of consequences. I think it's time for a little tough love for Sheriff Bartlett.
Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE performs fraud examinations and financial investigations for her company Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting, and is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
1-09-2009 @ 3:49PM
missy said...
i wonder what he would have to do to actually get fired?
Reply
1-11-2009 @ 9:46PM
Acts 4:12(Jesus) said...
Amen
1-11-2009 @ 10:48PM
sieben13 said...
not uncommon in the south Check mississippi what you find might surprise you
1-12-2009 @ 5:40AM
Anna said...
This leaves his employer in a bad predicament. They actually could be liable for firing him because if you read the article again, it says it is LEGAL for him to keep the excess money. That law needs changed and he need put on another job until he screws that up and finally gets what is coming to him !!!! What a jerk he is !!!!!
1-12-2009 @ 7:00AM
Concerend said...
This happens all the time in Alabama. I can't stand to see this corruption!
1-12-2009 @ 9:47AM
junior299 said...
If you look at the way the law reads, it states that he gets to keep the money saved from the food budget. It was only a matter of time before someone realized this and took advantage. The problem isn't that this guy broke the law, it isn't even that the prisoners were starving(because technically just being hungry and starving are 2 WAY DIFFERENT things). The problem is the law. Do I think the guy is crooked, obviously. I do not however believe he broke any laws, I don't believe his prisoners were starving, besides if they were THAT hungry why not buy some food items from the jail's commisary?? They sell cookies, drinks, candy, all kinds of things. I also don't hear anyone complaining about that sheriff in Phoenix who feeds his guys only bologna sandwiches, while making them live in "tent city". This sheriff is crooked of course but unfortunately really didn't break any laws. Change the law then you can have this guy behind bars if he does it again.
1-11-2009 @ 8:13PM
RonP said...
Well this is in line with the Corp fraud that has been going on in this country and they will all get off with scott free. All this will continue until the law abiding citizens stand up, speakup, and take action......A guy can steal a TV and get 5 years of jail time in a over crowded jail but another jerkoff or was it Madoff can steal over 50 billion and continue to live like a King. It's all sickning. I'm sure he want have to serve much time and if so, it will be in your white collar Ritz,
The Sheriff should serv time juwt like any other criminal and in his own jail,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Reply
1-12-2009 @ 3:40AM
rubics cube said...
Elected officials work their whole lives building trust and getting elected till they find their way to taxpayer wallets. Cheney holds majority stock in the major contractor sent over to iraq. The Bush family is a major oil family, and when the price of gas skyrocketed a few months back, only to plummet during the election, I bet you a dollar to a donut the bush family purse ain't hurting. America is a country of political hostages where the ransom isn't demanded it's just taken. Hostages in our own homes!
1-11-2009 @ 8:16PM
tmc said...
He should be punished. come on. You know the weaker inmates were getting next to nothing to eat because the stronger ones were stealing there food. If a family member of mine were in that jail during that time I would sue his ass!!!
Reply
1-11-2009 @ 9:36PM
Kay said...
Uh, they can't steal food since it is given to them on trays passed from the CO to the inmate via a small opening in their cell.
1-12-2009 @ 2:45AM
Master Shake said...
Indeed. One day in jail for stealing over $200,000. Wow, I'm sure he learned not to do that again. The police in the US are completely out of control. They can do anything with impunity, but the rest of the population gets years in jail for things that aren't even crimes in any other country in the world. The US has less than 5% of the world's population, but more than 25% of the world's prisoners. Most of them were convicted for "crimes" that did not involve ANY victim.
1-12-2009 @ 6:17AM
dj said...
you go, I don't blame you. the people in that town/county should protest, boycott or something till the sheriff is replaced. and work on the garbage truck for free till the money is paid back then let him go from that job for him to find a job on his own.no one wants to hire a theif just llike no one want to hire someone who has spent time in jail and or prison.
Let a black person steal a can of vienna sauages and they will do time in jail for it.and then have an arrest record for life for it. and this man still $212,000 and spend less than 24 hours in jail.
My God what is this world coming too?
all races should be in the streets demanding his job.
But guess what he still have to get past God on judgement day. That is what give me consolation when I hear of things like this happening.
1-11-2009 @ 8:18PM
Rollando said...
I wonder if the Sheriff paid any income taxes to the IRS? IRS, are you listening? Check out this Sheriff. He should have also paid federal taxes on his ill gotten gains.
Reply
1-11-2009 @ 10:47PM
sieben13 said...
4 get it its already been swept under the rug Its called the good old boys network
1-11-2009 @ 8:21PM
tmc said...
rollando---good idea.
Reply
1-11-2009 @ 8:25PM
Rich said...
Reminds me of the movie BRUBAKER. They need to be looking for graves.
Reply
1-11-2009 @ 8:31PM
Marina said...
Okay, so the Alabama law allows the sheriff to keep the savings from the food budget. Hello! I don't think he broke the law did he? Maybe he should not have been starving the prisoners but with that sort of law are you not asking for this sort of thing to happen? Why would they have this kind of law anyway?
Reply
1-11-2009 @ 8:28PM
Marcus said...
That chunky butt sheriff llike he's been eating all the food that he kept from the inmates.
Reply
1-11-2009 @ 8:48PM
Christy Jo said...
Commenting here does nothing..
Tell the Gov of Alabama how disgusted you are..
http://www.governor.alabama.gov/contact.aspx
Reply
1-11-2009 @ 8:53PM
WIDEOVAL said...
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE A LIFE OF CRIME IN AMERICA YOU HAD BETTER GET IN LAW INFORCEMENT FIRST.
THAT WAY YOUR BUDDIES WILL INVESTIGATE YOUR CRIME . MONE FOUND PICK UP YOUR CHECK FOR THE TIME YOU WERE OFF WHILE WE INVESTIGATED YOU
Reply