Alabama jail food policy changed

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says the state will no longer give jail food funds to “sheriffs personally” in the wake of criticism that some sheriffs profited large sums by skimping on meals.

In a Tuesday memo to the state comptroller, Ivey rescinded the state’s 2008 policy of “paying prisoner food service allowances directly to sheriffs in their personal capacities.” The directive said the money must go to government accounts.

A Depression-era law gives sheriffs $1.75 a day to feed each prisoner and allowed sheriffs to retain leftovers. Critics argued for decades that gives incentive to feed inmates poorly

Ivey’s legal office cited a 2011 attorney general’s opinion that funds can only be used for “feeding prisoners.” The office said that trumped a 2008 opinion that set up the previous policy.