Morgan County Inmates

Non-Violent inmates released from jail

We do have team coverage for you this morning on how the coronavirus is affecting north alabama.

Waay 31's rodneya ross has more on new guidelines buisnesses could be seeing when it comes to personal protective equipment.

But first, we start with waay 31's sierra phillips.

She is live outside of the morgan county jail -- where around 100 non violent offenders were released to reduce their risk of exposure to coronavirus, sierra?

Deputies say most of those offenders being released either failed to pay child support, a ticket, or a fine.

They aren't completely off the hook, but they won't be inside the jail.

The courts and judges decide who can be released based on the charges, the person's history, any medical issues, and their flight risk.

They've been re-evaluating inmates since alabama's first confirmed case on march 13th and around 100 inmates were released since then.

Mike swafford - morgan county sheriff's office "that monday, we pulled together a list and data that we had, got it to the judges, asked them to review their caseload, and on that tuesday, they began going over that and determined who could be released and who couldn't" the jail can house 1000 inmates, but right now they have around 600.

Last week, a person arrested tested positive for coronaviurs.

They were quarantined immediately, and later released from the jail.

So right now, there are no positive cases here at the sheriff's office reporting live in morgan county sierra