Chambers Commission To Purchase Jail Sensors

LaFayette – During Monday’s County Commission meeting, Chambers County Sheriff Jeff Nelson addressed the installation of sensors at the jail.

“This concerns the system I brought to the commission’s attention recently. As I mentioned before, installing sensors in the holding cells and isolation cells at the jail will help monitor the health of inmates. These sensors track inmates’ heart rates and breath rates. If an inmate has a medical emergency, the sensors will alert us, allowing us to respond in a timely manner.

Additionally, one of the systems we’re considering includes AI technology that can detect if an individual has fallen or may be attempting suicide in their cell.

Obviously, this does not replace regular checks by the nursing staff, but it provides an extra layer of monitoring to better care for the inmates. Our goal is to ensure they receive the treatment and care they need while in jail,” said Nelson.

Currently, the Chambers County Jail holds approximately 157 inmates, some of whom may be high-risk. The implementation of these sensors would offer a more advanced method of monitoring and maintaining the health of the inmates. The current bid for the sensor system is estimated at $37,800.

“This proactive approach could potentially save a life, which is our number one goal. It will also help reduce liability and medical costs,” added Nelson.

The bid covers the installation and setup of the system in the county jail. The competing bid was substantially higher at $48,195. We are requesting that the commission consider using some of the opioid funds available in the county to help finance the installation of these sensors in the jail. While there will be an annual service fee, we will manage that on our end.”

The commissioners unanimously voted in favor of purchasing the sensors.