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The Chambers County Jeff Nelson presented a proposal for safety monitors in the jail to the Commission during Monday’s work session.

The system would monitor inmates’ health while in cells.

“It monitors their breathing, it monitors their heart rate, it monitors all kinds of different things. So if we had an individual in there that was under the influence of an opioid and he was going through an overdose scenario…This will notify the COs, me, the warden and everybody,” Nelson said.

The jail has medical cells for individuals going through withdrawal. Nelson said it would also help respond to suicide attempts, heart attacks and other medical emergencies. On Jan. 5, Leanna Washington, an inmate at the jail was found dead in a cell.

Nelson suggested using some of the funds from the class action opioid settlements the county has been involved in.

The total cost for the system would be $62,500, according to Nelson. He said this would pay for 10 monitors throughout the jail. Nelson added that Randolph County recently installed this system in their jails for $49,200 for eight monitors.

“Anything to make it safer down there and help with possible lawsuits and anything else that we have, and it could save a lot in the long run,” Nelson said.