Judge Walter Williams said Friday the Hamilton County Jail would be a different place if he served as the warden.
He told a prisoner who he said was mouthing off to him that jail is too soft.
The former city judge who was filling in for General Sessions Court Judge Bob Moon, said, "I'd give you bread and water. There would be no air conditioning. I'd give you fans from Franklin-Strickland (Funeral Home)."
Judge Williams added, "If I was warden, I'd cut the budget. It would be $100 a year for food - month-old bread."
He said prisoners "need to bust some rocks."
The judge said prisoners "don't fear jail. It's home for them."
On the prisoner that he had to admonish, he said, "Tighten up the handcuffs. He'd get scared. Put him in with that female impersonator. He'd get scared."
When there was noise from the area where prisoners were awaiting their court appearances, Judge Williams told court officers, "Tell them to get quiet. They're just guests. They don't own anything. Guests just don't take over."