By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Circuit Judge William Shashy has given the state prison commissioner an ultimatum -- remove state inmates from county jails or go to jail yourself. Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen must remove 185 inmates from backlogged county jails by May 31st. He must remove another 200 state inmates by June 27th and have the entire backlog cleared by September fifth. Judge Shashy said any violation of those deadlines would result in possible jail time. Commissioner Allen says the prison system does have space in work-release facilities, but they're not as secure as state prisons. He says he would not save himself from jail at the expense of public safety. The state prison system agreed years ago to remove state inmates from crowded county jails within 30 days of their sentencing. However, the state has consistently failed to live up to that agreement.