Sheriff Held in his Own Jail After Underfeeding Inmates

A Northern Alabama Sheriff was today in Federal Custody in his own jail after underfeeding inmates and keeping the money that the jail saved.

Sheriff Greg Bartlett admitted to making over $212,000 over a 3 year period by not using the full budget assigned to buying food for inmates. Doing this was completely legal, but U.S. District Judge ordered federal marshals to arrest Bartlett after he heard from a number of prisoners that a typical daily meal was "paper thin bologna" or "bloody chicken". Ten prisoners testified that they were so hungry after meals they are forced to spend hundreds of dollars at a for-profit store inside the jail for junk food like oatmeal pies and chips. The Christmas Day meal consisted of a mere apple, claimed inmate Clifton Goodwin. Relatives often had to give the inmates large amounts of money to pay for food from a profit making store in the jail. This store sold such 'delights' as oatmeal pies and chips. The store also sold salt, pepper, ketchup and various other spices, which inmates would use to spice up bland meals. Ironically, the sheriff will be held in his own jail in custody until a plan to provide adequate, balanced meals for inmates is gathered. Bartlett testified he made a $212,000 profit over the last three years to supplement his annual salary of about $64,000. Bartlett said last year's profit was $95,000 - almost half of the total jail feeding budget of about $203,000 for about 300 prisoners. Bartlett said profits from the jail store are used to pay for equipment and training and don't go into his pocket.