Change in sentencing guidelines resulting in fewer inmates to clean up trash on roadways

Officials say a change in Alabamas sentencing guidelines last year has left cities and counties with fewer inmates to help keep the counties roads trash free.  Sheriff Todd Entrekin told Etowah county commissioners Tuesday that Under the new sentencing guidelines approved last year by the Legislature, fewer inmates who typically have been approved to work on the Influence program cleanup crew are in jail.  The sentencing guidelines which went into effect Oct. 1^st  are “presumptive” for property and drug possession offenses, meaning fewer people actually are sentenced to jail time. There are more inmates in jail for more serious crimes, and those inmates are ineligible for outside work programs because of public safety.  From 1993 to 2003, inmates through the Influence program in Etowah County have picked up about 400 million pounds of trash from Etowah County roadways.