Decatur, Alabama – In north Alabama, Morgan County Sheriff Greg Barlett is in the county lockup for failing to adequately feed inmates.
Federal Judge U.W. Clemon ordered Bartlett's arrest after the sheriff testified Wednesday that he legally kept about 212 thousand dollars over the past three years with surplus meal money for inmates, but the sheriff testified the inmates were properly fed.
Judge Clemon, however, said the sheriff would be held until he comes up with a plan to provide the 300 jail inmates with nutritionally adequate meals, as required by an earlier court order.
Alabama's unusual practice of letting sheriffs profit from feeding inmates dates back to the Depression.