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Sheriff warns FCC inmate‑phone order could cost county ~$100,000; seeks short‑term fixes and approval to bid 3‑D scanner
Summary
The sheriff's office told commissioners a recent FCC order may shift roughly $100,000 per year in inmate‑phone/tablet costs to counties; the sheriff also sought authorization to bid a $70,000 3‑D imaging system for investigations and support for a memorandum with a mental‑health provider to place a counselor in the jail.
St. Clair County's sheriff and law‑enforcement staff briefed the commission on several jail‑related items, including the financial implications of a recent Federal Communications Commission order and technology investments to support investigations.
Sheriff‑office staff said the FCC action changes how inmate phone, tablet and video visitation services are to be operated and funded; under the described interpretation the county could face roughly $99,000–$116,000 in annual costs the county currently recovers through provider fees. Commissioners asked staff to gather hard data and explore short‑term mitigation; one suggested a temporary cost‑sharing insertion from commission reserves to 'stop the bleeding' while county leaders seek relief at the federal or trade‑association level.
Separately, the sheriff requested permission to advertise/bid a 3‑D imaging and scanning system (roughly $70,000) used for forensic documentation and simulation. Deputies demonstrated a pilot scan and documented it took minutes to map a building; staff said training and maintenance (~$1,400/year) would follow and that the tool could support school and active‑shooter training as well as crime‑scene documentation.
Finally, the commission reviewed a memorandum of agreement with Jefferson‑Blount Saint Clair mental health (JBS) to place a counselor in the jail; JBS would contribute funds toward the position (up to about $60,000), and commissioners asked to have input on candidate selection and scope so the placement supports operations.
