BARTOW, Fla. — Polk County's sheriff has a new way to get tough on criminals. He says jail is no place for fun and games. So he's getting rid of the jail's basketball hoops.
Inmates at the Polk County jail in Bartow played one last game of basketball Thursday before they were forced to dig the goals out of the ground and donate them to churches.
"Bothered me that people were working hard and these inmates were playing basketball. Well, they will play basketball no more," Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Judd says he wants to make the jail less comfortable, but under state law he's still required to provide the inmates an opportunity to exercise for three hours a day.
"They can jog, do push ups or sit ups, they can do jumping jacks, but we are not going to waste taxpayer money to give these inmates luxury of basketball," Judd said.
Inmate James Thomas is serving time for a misdemeanor battery charge.
"Basketball meant a lot to me," he said. "It's their rules. They make 'em and we have to follow them."
After removing the posts, the inmates installed them at the Turning Point Worship Center. Pastor Thomas Presley is grateful; the goal at his church rotted three weeks ago.
"It will be used daily," he said.
This isn't the first time Judd has worked to make life harsher for Polk County inmates. In 2008, he switched the jails menu to offer less expensive food. Judd took away coffee, tea, juice, and fresh milk, giving inmates the option of drinking water or powdered milk.
"It's all about creating an experience, one they don't want to repeat," Judd said.
Judd recently reduced the inmates' TV time and says he is going to continue looking for ways to make life more difficult for inmates.
A total of eight Polk County churches received the jail's basketball goals and equipment Thursday.