Tuscaloosa Group Collects Masks For County Jail Inmates

Tuscaloosa AL

06 January, 2021

3:18 PM

Description

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A Tuscaloosa church and a group of local activists are collecting masks for those incarcerated in the Tuscaloosa County Jail amid claims from organizers that the jail lacks sufficient personal protective equipment for its inmates. Tuscaloosa resident Emily Altman helped organize the protest on Dec. 19 against Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy at the county courthouse, alleging a lack of transparency with respect to coronavirus data from a jail they claim is over its capacity, thus proving a public health risk. Click here to subscribe to our daily email newsletters and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices for free. You can also support local journalism by donating as little as $5 a month to become a supporting member or by downloading our free Patch mobile app. While the sheriff has yet to respond to the Southern Poverty Law Center's requests for data, which resulted in a civil lawsuit, Patch in December also filed its own set of public records requests relating to a range of operational and administrative issues within the jail and sheriff's office. Jay Stuck, general counsel for the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office, responded on Dec. 21, 2020, saying to not "expect anything from my end until at least after the new year." Organizers said a few weeks ago residents learned that the jail had recently changed its mask policy from giving incarcerated people one disposable mask when booked into the jail to a new policy that gives all incarcerated people a new mask every Tuesday and Friday. This prompted the group to gather as many disposable masks as possible for the people in the jail. "We really hope that if we get enough masks together and give them to the jail then the Sheriff and jail administration will expand their mask policy even more," Altman said. TCSO Public Information Officer Jessica McDaniel told Patch on Wednesday that inmates are given masks at their initial intake, are given one any time they move and if they ask for a new one. Organizers are asking for donations of disposable masks to be dropped off at the office of Grace Presbyterian Church at 113 Hargrove Road in Tuscaloosa during business hours. More information can also be found on the Mask Drive Facebook event page, in addition to an Amazon wish list where masks can be purchased and shipped to the collection site at the church. Follow Patch here for updates or on Facebook and Twitter.