SB126 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Lowell Barron

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Corrections Department, contract with a county commission to establish regional detention facility to house state and county offenders, authorized, design, construction, maintenance, operation, contract period and fee, sheriff to manage and provide work for offenders

Summary

SB126 would let the Department of Corrections contract with a county to create a regional detention facility that houses state and county offenders, with the sheriff overseeing operations and offender labor programs.

What This Bill Does

The bill would authorize a regional detention facility created by a county to house up to 300 state offenders and up to 50 county offenders, designed and operated under American Correctional Association standards. It would set a contract term of up to 20 years with a per-day fee paid by the Department of Corrections for each state offender, plus an inflation increase option. The sheriff of the hosting county would manage the facility and the inmates, receive compensation for duties, and may run work programs where offenders can perform labor, with offender compensation placed in a county fund and canteen profits deposited for offender welfare; cash payments to offenders are prohibited. The state would retain responsibility for medical care of state offenders, and the bill allows a disaster-related extension of the contract term up to five years. It also authorizes housing of pretrial detainees and other offenders under ACA standards and provides rules for offender labor arrangements and funding through dedicated county funds.

Who It Affects

• State offenders: would be housed in the regional facility and the state would pay a daily fee for each offender; the state would continue to provide medical care as required by law.
• County and sheriff: would own and manage the facility, receive compensation for duties, oversee offender work programs, and fund operation through financing proceeds and special funds; may house additional detainees and oversee labor arrangements with political subdivisions.
• Offenders: could participate in work programs, receive compensation if allowed by agreements, and have funds managed in the Offender Compensation Fund and canteen-related accounts; cash payments to offenders are not allowed.
• Political subdivisions of Alabama: could use offender labor from the facility for free but must reimburse the facility for costs such as transportation, guards, and meals.

Key Provisions

• Establishes a regional detention facility housing up to 300 state male offenders and up to 50 county male offenders, to be designed, constructed, operated, and maintained to ACA standards.
• Allows the Department of Corrections to contract with a county for up to 20 years, with a per-day fee for each state offender and a possible 3% annual inflation increase.
• States that the state retains responsibility for medical care of state offenders, and that the sheriff is responsible for facility management and offender care, with compensation to the sheriff.
• Permits the sheriff to provide work for offenders and sets up offender compensation mechanisms, including the Offender Compensation Fund and canteen funds, with restrictions on cash payments and requirements to use funds for offender welfare.
• Allows offender labor to be used by political subdivisions free of charge, but requires reimbursement of costs for transportation, guards, meals, etc., when used for those subdivisions.
• Authorizes the sheriff to hire counsel for the facility and outlines related staffing and funding arrangements tied to construction indebtedness.
• Provides for extension of contract terms during declared emergencies for up to five additional years beyond the standard limit.
• Includes provisions ensuring compliance with ACA standards and other constitutional requirements, and allows housing of pretrial detainees and other legally incarcerated individuals under the sheriff.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Corrections Department