The plan is to open Bessemer jail as a regional jail by June 30th. Sheriff Mike Hale says it would cost the city of Birmingham about 40 to 60 million dollars to build a new jail. So they figure why not just save the city the trouble and reopen Bessemer.
Here's how it will work: 400 inmates will be moved from the Jefferson county jail to the Bessemer jail.
Then 200 inmates from the Birmingham jail will be moved to the Jefferson county jail. Hale says this will help alleviate the "dangerous overcrowding" in the Jefferson County Jail.
Hale says he's pleased with the support from the delegation, and hopes he gets the same from the Birmingham City Council.
"I've thought about if I were on the city council. Do I want to save any money on the very expensive liability insurance to run a jail? Do I want to save any money on litigation? Do I want to get rid of the liability and responsibility and place it on the sheriff? I would say yeah I want to do that," said Hale.
Representative Paul Demarco says it's a win-win situation for the city and county.
"There's overcrowding at the county jail. The city of Birmingham has jail needs. So what we've done is said lets just all sit down and look for innovative solutions," said Demarco.
Sheriff Hale says he doesn't see why the Birmingham City Council wouldn't want this.
"Do they have 50 million dollars that they would spend on this jail that they would spend some place else? This is a win-win. They need a jail. Sheriffs, since 1819 have done jails. That's what we do. I think it's great regional cooperation. And I just can't believe anyone would oppose it," said Hale.
So what does all this mean when it comes to jobs?
"We will have to hire. It will take 79 deputies and some civilian support staff to run the Bessemer facility. That will have to be dealt with and that will have to be hired in a very fast manner," he said.
Hale said "financial people" from the city and county are ironing out the details. However, no papers have been signed concerning the agreement.
