The Walker County Jail will soon have 24-hour medical care

On October 24, 2024By Yukito

WALKER CO., Ala. (WBRC) – The Walker County Jail is getting an upgrade: 24-hour medical care. The The County Commission voted to adopt this change Monday.

We have shared several stories on Sheriff’s push for 24-hour medical care last few months.

Although he has been in the role for seven years, Sheriff Nick Smith says the prison should have done it 30 years ago.

“In the early 1990s, there was a consent decree in which a federal judge ordered the county jail to have 24-hour medical coverage, so I always say that if 24-hour medical care was needed in the 1990s, it’s needed even more today.” said Sheriff Smith.

In 2020, the county commission doubled prison medical care from 8 hours a day to 16 hours a day. While he had hoped for 24-hour care, Sheriff Smith says budget constraints at the time did not allow it.

Fortunately, he said, the auditor agreed several months ago that their 107 fund could cover the coverage gap.

Since most of their inmates are over 40 years old and addicted to drugs when they arrive, the sheriff says they’re not the healthiest, so 24/7 care is extremely important.

“We live in a world today where drug abuse is widespread,” he explained. “Our deputies are working every day to address this issue and obviously the place where these individuals go when they are arrested is the county jail, so having these resources available 24 hours a day at the facility is huge in my opinion.”

The sheriff said the contract with QCHC for 24/7 care is for three years. So in 2027, the district commission will decide to maintain 24-hour service.

He expects full-time classes to begin within the next few weeks.

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