Staff Writer

Pike County’s sheriff knows all too well the problems of a crowded jail.

On Thursday, the Pike County Jail housed 33 state inmates with criminal court still in session, meaning the likelihood of more to come.

Right now, the Pike County Jail is at a 2-1 ratio of inmates to bed space.

"I know we’re overcrowded," Sheriff Russell Thomas said. "We need some relief."

But, unlike his counterparts in other counties, he will not be pressing the issue with the state by loading up state inmates and dropping them off at state prisons.

On Tuesday, Jefferson County officials arrived at Kilby Correctional Facility with three busloads ­ 137 inmates ­ and delivered 28 female inmates to Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women.

The day before, Houston County authorities delivered four vans full of inmates to Kilby and returned on Tuesday with even more.

Those officials and others have indicated distress over the Alabama Department of Corrections’ failure to obey a three-year-old court order that is supposed to remove state inmates from county jails after they have been there 30 days.

According to Thomas, there are approximately 3,000 state inmates being housed in county jails across the state.

The Department of Corrections maintains they have nowhere to put these inmates.

Thomas understands their frustration, but does not agree with their tactics.

"You won’t see me loading up any inmates and showing up unannounced," Thomas said. "Whatever we’re confronted with, we’ll handle it."

Thomas said the Department of Corrections has worked with him and he will work with the state to find a solution to the problem.

As a matter of fact, Thomas was in Montgomery on Wednesday to discuss the issue with legislators.

His answer is to use inmate labor and add bed space to the existing prisons, rather than spending million of dollars to build new ones.

"It’s a simple solution," Thomas said. "We already have enough prisons. We just need to add to what we have."

One thing Thomas is adamant about is not releasing inmates to alleviate the problem.

"I’m not in favor of the state releasing non-violent offenders onto the streets," Thomas said. "The answer is not to turn them out."

Those classified as "non-violent," such as burglars and drug offenders, make up the majority of the population in county jails and state prisons.

"They are a threat," Thomas said of those individuals who create "more headaches" for law enforcement than many realize. "They are a tremendous threat."

But, the overcrowding is also a threat. Having an overcrowded jail is "not as secure" and increases the risk for escape, Thomas said.