Calhoun County, AL – During the 2022 Regular Session, the Legislature enacted laws that weakened the safety of our communities. The premature release of inmates from the Department of Corrections has placed every community in Alabama in danger.
From the list of inmates released into Calhoun County, the first person had been incarcerated for Robbery 1st Degree, a Class A Felony — the same class as Murder. Further research found this individual was released by the Department of Corrections (DOC) in error because Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office had outstanding warrants on him, which were verified to be in the DOC system. The individual was released anyway. Several days later, this inmate was re-arrested, placed in the Calhoun County Jail, drug screened and tested positive for methamphetamines and cocaine. This inmate will spend an average of two years in the Calhoun County Jail before he returns to the state prison system.
This law effectively shifts these inmates from the state prisons back into the communities where they offended and eventually on the financial backs of county government. The attempt to lower inmate populations in Alabama prisons and avoid fixing the humanitarian issues and dangerous conditions for the inmates and the faithful corrections officers manning their posts puts our citizens in danger and places a hardship on county government.
As the Sheriff of Calhoun County, it is the responsibility of my office to protect our citizens from criminal activity. This includes dangerous criminals being allowed back on the streets from early release.
As a Board member of the Alabama Sheriffs Association, I pledge to work with our Association in helping our state leaders in this next legislative session to hopefully make changes to the existing law.
Sheriff Matthew Wade
