Sheriff defends using state's prison food money to buy beach house

[Peter1469]

I wonder what the prisoners were forced to eat in order for that sheriff to skim off $750K? I'm not naive, these things are on the books because the prison system has been corrupt for a very long time. It has expanded into a prison industrial complex, making prisons an actual private industry. It's pretty disgusting, because it's all intended to funnel profits to others, rob the taxpayer and create a reason to imprison as many people as possible. Meanwhile, it is ensuring poverty.

Solution: change the law.

[MisterVeritis]

Yes the people over paid for prisoner food and the money was stolen . And it happened before and the law wasn't changed. Government sponsored theft

Do you believe the Sheriff somehow changed the budget?

The money was not stolen. The law, as written gave the money to the Sheriff. If it was not enough money the Sheriff had to buy out of his own personal funds. If there was money left over it was already the Sheriff's money once the state gave it to him.

You do great damage to the language.

[MisterVeritis]

How is this even remotely acceptable. What a bad bad thing. If the law permitted it, change the law -- or feed the inmates better.

It is an old law. We should sunset every law so the legislatures must take them back up from time to time.

[MisterVeritis]

There is no defense for an elected official to "KEEP" taxpayer funds and use them for personal purchases.

Are you on social security? Is the money the government gives you yours to do with as you choose? If you have any social security money left at the end of the month do you return it to the treasury?

[donttread]

How is this even remotely acceptable. What a bad bad thing. If the law permitted it, change the law -- or feed the inmates better.

Especially when a case called the law to their attention in 2009. I'm gonna bet this is more widespread than we yet know

[MisterVeritis]

Thank you. At times like this, I feel there is hope when we can all agree on something.

I was honestly afraid that people would defend this sheriff, just because he is technically "following the law."
There is more to justice than just the law. There is also common sense.

The issue is the law, not the sheriff. Change one or both.

[Common]

Thank you. At times like this, I feel there is hope when we can all agree on something.

I was honestly afraid that people would defend this sheriff, just because he is technically "following the law."
There is more to justice than just the law. There is also common sense.

There is always middleground, the problem is not many want to go there, they stick to the extremes

[donttread]

Do you believe the Sheriff somehow changed the budget?

The money was not stolen. The law, as written gave the money to the Sheriff. If it was not enough money the Sheriff had to buy out of his own personal funds. If there was money left over it was already the Sheriff's money once the state gave it to him.

You do great damage to the language.

I use the word "stole" in a moral not legal sense. But seriously how can you defend this?
Do you have no morality outside of law? I'd like to see this law checked against the state constiution

[MisterVeritis]

I use the word "stole" in a moral not legal sense. But seriously how can you defend this?
Do you have no morality outside of law? I'd like to see this law checked against the state constiution

In what way do you see my responses as a defense? I defend neither the law nor the Sheriff's actions. I do object to lazy, sloppy thinking.

What do you believe you will find in Alabama's Constitution?

[spunkloaf]

Do you believe the Sheriff somehow changed the budget?

The money was not stolen. The law, as written gave the money to the Sheriff. If it was not enough money the Sheriff had to buy out of his own personal funds. If there was money left over it was already the Sheriff's money once the state gave it to him.

You do great damage to the language.

It's an inadequate and shady law, because it gives the sheriff an incentive to be cheap on nutrition so they can pocket the money. The money is not meant to line the sheriff's pockets and buy him houses. It is meant to feed inmates.