Smith one of 49 sheriffs named in suit

Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith was one of 49 sheriffs across the state named in a lawsuit claiming the sheriffs have refused to produce public records to see whether or not the sheriffs personally profited from funds they received to feed inmates in their county jails.

When contacted Wednesday, Sheriff Smith said he has not seen a copy of the lawsuit.

The suit was filed Jan. 5 by the Southern Center for Human Rights and the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice.

Smith said the suit was originally filed against the Hale County Sheriff and other sheriffs were soon added.

Smith said his office receives public record requests everyday, many from lawyers demanding information. He noted he has a small staff and does not have the manpower to run down every public records request in a timely manner.

"If they want to come to my office and look at the records they are more than welcome," Smith said. "I'm not going to be intimidated. They're condemning sheriffs all over the state claiming we feed inmates rotten food. If they have a case, sue me and take me to court."

Smith said the Alabama Legislature passed a bill in the 1970s to pay counties $1.75 per inmate, per day to feed them. He said that rate has not increased.

He said when he was first elected sheriff he couldn't feed the inmates on that amount and has borrowed money to provide food.

Smith said when he was president of the Alabama Sheriff's Association they tried to get a bill passed to get the states to provide the food for the inmates.

"These are not county inmates," Smith said. "They are state inmates and we receive a $1.75 per day to feed them while the county taxpayers provide clothes and medical care. It's not right."

Smith said he's tried to get a local bill passed for Escambia County to have the state provide food to inmates in the county detention center like they do to the prisons in Atmore.

"If they can't bring it here, we'll drive to Atmore and pick it up when they make their deliveries to the prisons," Smith said.

Smith noted the county receives $45 per day, per inmate to house federal inmates and the county commission provides $10 per day per inmate for food. The other funds are used for the operation of the jail.

Smith also said he has few complaints about the food being served at the county detention center.

"When I was kid in school we used to always complain about the food in the cafeteria," Smith said. "We work hard to provide nutritious meals to inmates."

He also said certain inmates in the county jail have special dietary needs due to health issues and federal law also requires him to provide special foods based on religious beliefs.

"The price of food goes up every day, but counties haven't seen an increase in the $1.75 to feed a state inmate since the 1970s," he said. "If anybody has any questions, they can call me or come by and talk to me. It's not a mater of hiding something, all they've done is file suit and accuse us of terrible things."

Smith also said those filing the suit are not concerned with the inmates, "All they are concerned about is making money."

"Maybe after I see the suit, I'll know more," Smith added.