Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith is proposing that the county implement 24/7 medical coverage at the Walker County Jail and create a county mental health officer position.
Smith made the proposals during a Tuesday meeting of the Walker County Commission. He told The Community Journal on Wednesday that both measures are necessary to improve the quality of care for inmates and to reduce the risk of further tragedies.
“In 1994, there was a federal consent decree that required 24/7 medical coverage in the jail,” Smith said in a phone interview. “That went away in 2006. But if it was necessary in ’94, it is necessary today in 2023, especially with Walker County being on the top of the list of unhealthiest counties in the state of Alabama and the drug problem that we have here.”
Smith said that QCHC, Inc., the current contracted private medical care provider for the jail, could do the job on a 24/7 basis. He said he has priced the 24/7 coverage in the past and it wouldn’t cost a great deal more than current pricing for 16/7 coverage.
Smith also said that the county needs a mental health officer. He said that the officer would assess people with reported mental health problems, even on the scene of a call. The officer would help be a solution in cases where mental health needs are raised.
“A mental health officer would help get someone committed faster, before it leading to arrest,” he said.
Smith said a mental health officer would get people to the proper place to get them the help they need, which isn’t jail most of the time.
“This is something the county needs,” Smith said. “It doesn’t need to be ran from my office. It can be run out of the Walker County Commission office or the Walker County Probate Judge’s office. It will help my office and the jail no matter where it’s based.”
Smith said he, the commission and Probate Judge A. Lee Tucker should meet in a work session to look at getting a mental health officer and how to fund the officer.
Smith said the commission did not take action or speak on his statements during the Tuesday meeting.
The sheriff said he wants to see action on these items, as well as seeing Walker County being more proactive on much more in the future.
“I’m tired of Walker County waiting for something to happen and then reacting,” Smith said. “This is something that I’ve talked about since 2019. We need to be proactive on a lot of issues, and medical care for inmates and mental health is just two of those.”
Jail administrator speaks on policies and procedures
Smith said Jail Administrator Justin White spoke to commissioners concerning a contract that would see an outside agency come to the Walker County Jail to address policies and procedures that would positively affect the facility. The cost is approximately $60,000, which can be paid over five years, but it would include a yearly evaluation on how policies and procedures are being followed.
