By Gary Lloyd
JEFFERSON COUNTY — Low-risk Jefferson County inmates would be required to clean roads and other areas in the county under a plan that has been discussed by some county officials.
The prisoners would fill a void left by county workers who were laid off in the Roads Department.
Jefferson County Commissioner Sandra Little Brown could bring up the topic at a commission meeting soon. Commissioner Joe Knight, who represents District 4, which covers Trussville, Clay, Pinson, Grayson Valley, Palmerdale, Gardendale, Morris, Kimberly, Warrior, County Line, Trafford, and parts of Center Point, Irondale, Tarrant and Birmingham, said he thinks the program would work if it involves people working off fines or performing community service.
“Is it feasible? I think so,” Knight said.
Knight said the potential program has not yet been discussed in a commission meeting. He said nothing is “imminent.”
“We’re looking at it,” he said. “It’s early stage.”
Knight said he would like to see litterers fined and have them clean up littered roadsides. He said he was behind a car one day and a box from Chick-fil-A was tossed out the window.
“It’s pretty frustrating when you see someone do it,” he said.
Knight said he has helped pick up litter in four areas in his district, including on Edwards Lake Road near Trussville, Grayson Valley Drive and Westridge Drive off Brewster Road in the Grayson Valley area.
“It’s just another one of those issues that coming out of bankruptcy that we’re going to try to address,” Knight said.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Randy Christian said the sheriff’s office “would be open to exploring” this possibility.
“Traditionally, that has been a state (Department of Corrections) function for sentenced inmates that were low risk and work release,” Christian said. “Our inmates are pre-trial.”
Christian said staffing would be needed to supervise the inmates who would be out picking up trash.
“Remember, we went through the same cuts everyone else went through,” he said. “Some funding was allocated this year to re-open the Bessemer jail but was limited to just that. Our guys are getting the job done by working 12-hour shifts to give us more coverage with less personnel. It’s a grind for them but they are doing a remarkable job. The sheriff’s office lives by being a can-do organization and we will be happy to come to the table with that kind of attitude. I do believe it would do some good for some of those inmates to earn their keep.”
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.