Greene County Sheriff Stanley McLeod says county jail staff followed procedure when an inmate’s infant died during childbirth in 2006.

“As soon as my office became aware of the situation, we followed all procedures and made sure that Ms. Miller got to the hospital and received the medical help that she needed,” McLeod said Thursday.

“It is unfortunate that this happened, and I hate that it happened. This office, my staff, we try to help people, not hurt people.”

The attorney for Amber Miller, 26, alleges in a lawsuit, expected to be filed Friday, that county officials were negligent in providing medical care for Miller and her baby while she was incarcerated.

Miller is serving a five-year sentence at the state prison in Rankin County for uttering forgery.

“I cannot comment on the specifics of this case out of respect for the privacy of Ms. Miller and because of the pending lawsuit,” McLeod said. “I will say that in regard to the allegations that are being made, some are erroneous and some are incomplete.”

Miller’s attorney, Malcolm N. Murphy, had notified the county late last year that a lawsuit would be filed, according to a www.hattiesburgamerican.com article.