Public safety

Prison worker: Officer exposed to COVID-19 was forced to work before inmate tests positive

After the Alabama Department of Corrections announced Wednesday that an inmate at the Hamilton Aged and Infirmed facility tested positive for COVID-19, the staff at Hamilton already had a pretty good idea about how the virus entered the building. One worker at Hamilton Aged and Infirmed told APR on Thursday that a correctional officer at … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 8, 2020

Alabama prisons investigating third inmate death in less than two weeks

An older inmate serving a life sentence at St. Clair Correctional Facility died Wednesday, the Alabama Department of Corrections said in a statement — the third inmate to die in an Alabama prison of an unstated cause in less than two weeks. Arthur Ahmed, 69, died May 6 while serving out his sentence for first-degree … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 7, 2020

Inmate at Alabama prison for aged and infirmed tests positive for COVID-19

An inmate at the Hamilton Aged & Infirmed facility has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the 8th Alabama inmate to have tested positive for the virus, and a staff member at Holman Correctional Facility has also tested positive for the virus. The man, who has preexisting medical conditions, was taken to a local hospital after … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 6, 2020

ACLU of Alabama: Test Mobile County Jail inmates, not just workers

The ACLU of Alabama on Tuesday expressed concern that, while Mobile County Jail staff will be tested for COVID-19 following an outbreak of the virus there, inmates will not. Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran and Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson on Tuesday announced that after 38 inmates and 30 staff tested positive for COVID-19 a decision … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 5, 2020

Seventh Alabama inmate tests positive for COVID-19

An inmate at the St. Clair Correctional Facility has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the seventh state inmate to test positive for the virus, the Alabama Department of Corrections announced late Monday. The man tested positive “while he was at a local hospital where he received care for a non-COVID-19 related preexisting medical condition,” ADOC’s … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 4, 2020

Inmate who died at Bullock prison showed no COVID-19 symptoms, ADOC says

An inmate at the Bullock Correctional Facility died Saturday, and while the cause of his death is under investigation, “foul play” isn’t suspected, and he was not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, the Alabama Department of Corrections said Monday. Richard Jason Reed, 35, of Etowah County died at the Bullock County prison on Saturday, ADOC confirmed … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 4, 2020

Sixth Alabama inmate, 16th prison worker tests positive for COVID-19

A sixth inmate in Alabama prisons has tested positive for COVID-19, and three more prison workers as well, the Alabama Department of Corrections said Friday evening. A man serving at Easterling Correctional Facility in Clio tested positive at a local hospital where he was being treated for “advanced, non-COVID-19 related medical conditions that were considered … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 2, 2020

Fifth inmate, two more workers test positive for COVID-19 in crowded Alabama prisons

An inmate at the Bibb Correctional Institution and two prison workers at other facilities have tested positive for COVID-19, the Alabama Department of Corrections said in a late-evening press release at 8:58 p.m. Thursday. The man tested positive for coronavirus at a local hospital, where he is being treated for a separate medical condition, ADOC … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

April 30, 2020

Alabama Supreme Court extends suspension of in-person hearings amid COVID-19

The Alabama Supreme Court on Thursday issued an order extending a suspension of all in-person court proceedings through May 15 in response to COVID-19. The state Supreme Court previously issued an order March 13 suspending all in-person court hearings for a month. Thursday’s order from the court extends the suspension to match Gov. Kay Ivey’s … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

April 30, 2020

Former officer at Alabama federal prison pleads guilty to sexually assaulting two inmates

A former federal prison correctional officer in Alabama pleaded guilty today to sexually assaulting two female inmates and lying to investigators about the assaults, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Adrian Stargell, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the rights of two women who he sexually assaulted multiple times and one count … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

April 30, 2020