The Alabama Department of Corrections, which faces criticism from families of inmates, says it’s working to address ongoing challenges in the state prison system.
Family members of people incarcerated in Alabama prisons packed a public hearing held by the Joint Legislative Prison Committee, a panel of lawmakers focused on prison oversight.
The special session of the Alabama Legislature on prisons is now over, with lawmakers approving a $1.3 billion construction plan, which Gov. Kay Ivey has signed.
Alabama House of Representatives Forwards Prison Construction Bill
As Alabama lawmakers address the state’s prison problems in a special session, critics argue the problems go much deeper and won’t be remedied with brick, mortar and bars.
Alabama is considering whether to use $400 million in pandemic relief funds to build new prisons.
Sentencing was the topic of the Governor’s Study Group on Criminal Justice Policy meeting Thursday. Lawmakers were presented with pages and pages of data outlining Alabama’s booming prison population and complex sentencing guidelines. “There is no easy , simple, or free fix, and as hard as that is to swallow it’s just the truth,” said Bennet Wright, Executive Director of…
In April, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a report stating that conditions inside Alabama’s prisons are unconstitutional. The report sites horrible conditions, sexual abuse, violence, and under staffing. DOJ gave Alabama lawmakers 50 days to take positive steps to correct the issues or face a lawsuit and a possible federal takeover. Since then the Department of Corrections has issued…
State Legislatures have until next week to comply with federal demands to improve Alabama’s prison system. A bi-partisan group of lawmakers from the House and the Senate met Thursday to give an update on what they are doing to improve conditions of Alabama prisons. They said they are taking a deliberate approach, and it is likely that there will be…
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s $800 million prison construction plan is headed to a conference committee as the clock winds down on the legislative session. State senators voted 28-5 Tuesday night to send the bill to a conference committee. Bentley is trying to win approval of the plan before the session ends Wednesday. Bentley is seeking to borrow $800 million to…
