An Alabama judge ordered jails in his district to release inmates with bonds of $5,000 or less to relieve crowding because of the coronavirus pandemic but revised the order to leave that up to the discretion of sheriffs and wardens.

Circuit Judge Ben Fuller, presiding judge of the circuit that includes Autauga, Chilton, and Elmore counties, issued the order and the revision on Wednesday.

Autauga County Sheriff Joe Sedinger said this morning he was compiling a list of inmates who fit the criteria for release and would consult with the judges handling each case before any inmates are released. Sedinger said it was possible a total of about 10 or 12 inmates could be released under the order.

Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said this morning that in light of the judge’s amendment to the order, he does not plan to release any inmates except those who show symptoms of possible infection of the coronavirus. Franklin said one inmate was released for that reason before the judge’s order.

Franklin said he immediately called the judge after receiving the initial order.

Franklin said it would be poor public policy to release some inmates with bonds as low as $5,000. He said examples would be sex offenders who don’t have an approved residence and people waiting on a probate court hearing for mental health issues.

Franklin said the jail vacated one of its pods for a deep cleaning and is bringing new inmates into that pod to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

One group was glad the action to remove inmates was being taken.

Shay Farley, interim deputy policy officer for the Southeast at the Southern Poverty Law Center Action issued a statement.

“Circuit Judge Ben Fuller of Autauga County and Sheriff Sam Cochran deserve praise for ordering these releases. COVID-19 poses a serious threat to incarcerated populations throughout Alabama and the United States," Farley said. "All local and state governments, along with the federal government, should be doing everything possible right now to release people held unnecessarily pre-trial, where they’re locked up in close quarters with potential carriers of COVID-19. It is the humane thing to do, and it’s also in the best interest of public health.”

Alabamians for Fair Justice had urged the Alabama Department of Corrections and jail administrators across Alabama to immediately develop evidence-based protocols and proactively plan the prevention and management of a COVID-19 outbreak in jails and prisons, according to Farley’s statement. The coalition also called for the release of those people most at risk of suffering serious complications or death while incarcerated, according to the statement.

Related: Clorox and gloves: Rural Alabama sheriffs, jails still in early stages of coronavirus preparation

This story will be updated.