A White County judge who is accused of offering a voluntary sterilization program to county jail inmates has been rebuked by officials. The Tennessean says that Judge Sam Benningfield received a letter of reprimand from the state Board of Judicial Conduct on Nov. 15. The letter says that Benningfield acted “in a way that threatened public confidence in the judicial system.” Earlier this year, Benningfield signed a standing order offering those that inmates entering the program, both men and women, 30 days off of the time they were serving. Men would receive free vasectomies with women receiving free Nexplanon implants. Although Benningfield was reported as saying that the state Health Dept. had success with such a program in the past, officials with the organization denied that they had connections with the White County program. Because of the criticisms the program received, Benningfield rescinded the order in July. Both Benningfield and Sheriff Odie Shoupe have been named in lawsuits filed in connection with the program.