Federal court ends oversight of Julia Tutwiler women’s prison in Wetumpka

Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka – Photo from WAKA Action 8 News

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Attorney General Steve Marshall has announced the end of federal oversight of the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka.

A final judgment has ended the case of U.S. v. State of Alabama and Alabama Department of Corrections, closing out more than a decade of federal oversight of the prison. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson’s order dismissed the case and the consent decree, following an agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice and the State of Alabama to terminate the remaining terms of the consent decree that had governed operations at Tutwiler since 2015.

Alabama entered the consent decree, agreeing to reforms of staff training, policies, oversight and how allegations of abuse are reported and investigated. Over the following years, a monitor found Tutwiler in compliance with all 44 requirements of the decree, leading the Justice Department and the state to jointly ask the court to lift most of the remaining oversight.

With this ruling, any outstanding requirements have been terminated, and the case is closed for good, Marshall said.

“This judgment marks an important milestone for Alabama. Over the past decade, the Alabama Department of Corrections has made real, measurable progress in strengthening oversight and safety at Tutwiler, and this judgment reflects that work,” he said.

Because the case was dismissed with prejudice, it cannot be reopened or refiled. Both sides will cover their own legal costs, and neither party carries any ongoing financial obligations tied to the litigation, Marshall said.

— Information from the Office of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall