Montgomery, AL – The director of the Alabama Sheriffs Association has sent a letter to sheriffs recommending they not respond to requests from the Southern Center for Human Rights about how much money they have left after feeding inmates.
The letter comes after a federal court hearing last month showed Morgan County Sheriff Greg Bartlett amassed $316,000 over six years.
Association director Bobby Timmons says Alabama's open records law does not cover the center's request. But center attorney Melanie Velez disagrees.
The state provides sheriffs with $1.75 per day to feed each inmate. Sheriffs are allowed to keep any leftover money, but a bill has been introduced in the Legislature to change that.
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