Sheriff Watson defends program taking inmates to church

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – Bradley county sheriff Eric Watson called a news conference this afternoon to respond to criticism of him by a political action group.

The complaint was leveled by “Christians for Accountable Leadership.”

The organization put together a video which is on its web site, showing prisoners in street clothes, participating in a church service.

CAL says it put residents in danger.

Watson says the inmates were trustees who frequently leave the jail.

Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson said “there was inmates and former inmates that spoke there and no one’s ever denied that.” “It’s very successful. We have people that has come out of the sheriff’s office ..past inmates and they have been reformed. They have jobs, they’re attending churches, they are back with their families,…its a program that has worked. And there’s always somebody that’s always against faith-based programs…and those people have been after me for the past 2 to 3 years.”

Watson says there were deputies at the church with the inmates.

He claims “Christians for Accountable leadership” is actually supporting his opponent in the republican primary, Steve Lawson.