Autauga Metro Jail Nears Reopening After Yearlong Closure

Autauga County officials said the Autauga Metro Jail was on track to reopen at the end of the month after more than a year of closure for mold remediation and safety upgrades. The County Commission scheduled two independent environmental companies to perform final mold testing on December 19, and a facility walkthrough is planned for December 29. If those steps and required inspections proceed on schedule the jail is expected to resume operations on or around December 31.

County leaders reported that major systems inside the facility have been repaired or replaced. The fire alarm system has been returned to service and certified, the HVAC system has been redesigned and replaced, and the jail’s security control system has been fully replaced. Interior cleaning and testing took place throughout the renovation phase which followed the June 6, 2024 evacuation ordered after moisture mold and other health and safety concerns forced relocation of all inmates.

Autauga County Commission President Jay Thompson toured the jail recently and praised the work completed. “I walked through the jail a few days ago, and everything is looking good,” Thompson said. “I appreciate everything that has been done and all of those involved who have brought this project to near completion.”

Sheriff Mark Harrell emphasized that several operational and safety conditions must be met before inmates can return. Staff must be trained on the new security control panels and the Health Department must complete required inspections. “No one wants to be back at the jail more than I do,” Harrell said. “We will try to have our own tester there on Thursday. It is short notice. We have a court date on Jan. 12, and hopefully we can move back in there.” He warned that reopening will be gradual. “It’s not an overnight thing,” Harrell said. “We’re going to have to make sure everything is done right, make sure we’re doing things safely, and make sure we have all the equipment we need back in the jail. There are cameras that are still not working, which are required for a jail facility.” He added, “I think it’s time.”

The county previously approved a $575,516 contract for phase one of cleaning and remediation and retained PH&J Architects to develop and oversee the renovation plan. While the jail was closed the sheriff’s office has been housing roughly 179 inmates in other facilities, a load the department says placed it more than 40 inmates over capacity. Restoring the local jail will affect county spending logistics and restore capacity for local court operations, but officials caution that safety certifications and staff readiness will determine the timing of a complete return to service.