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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

Community member Robert R. Binion expressed concerns to the Clanton City Council about how inmates were being treated at the Chilton County Jail at the council’s March 13 meeting. He asked that the council repeal its current appointments for city judge and prosecutor. Specific reasons for this request were not listed. Binion listed conditions at the jail as overcrowded, and stated there had been “alleged beating (of) prisoners with handcuffs on and failing to get them proper doctor’s care.” Binion also alleged that prisoners were being held “and not (given) bonds, mostly blacks and poor whites.”

“We want to get to the bottom of this,” Binion said.

In an interview after the meeting, Binion said his grandson Keandre Binion had been in the local jail for over a year without the option of bond and has not had a trial. According to court documentation, Keandre Binion has been charged with domestic violence first degree from a Jan. 30, 2022 incident and receiving stolen property second degree from a May 2021 incident, and he has a trial date of May 8. According to jail records, Keandre Binion’s bond was revoked on Feb. 22, 2022, and he was charged with failure to appear/ comply/ pay.

Robert Binion said Keandre had told his mother about being mistreated by jail personnel. Binion said the city uses the jail and needs to know what is going on, and he is planning to discuss his concerns with the Chilton County Sheriff soon.

Binion stated he would be sending this list of concerns to the Department of Justice, FBI Civil Rights Division, the NAACP and the Southern Poverty Law Center.