Public safety

News / Public safety

Tuscaloosa police officer killed in the line of duty

Tuscaloosa police officer Dornell Cousette was killed in the line of duty while attempting to arrest a wanted felon on Monday. “Heroes come in many different forms…in our community, our heroes wear the uniform of the Tuscaloosa Police Department,” Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter “Walt” Maddox said in a statement. “Tonight one of our heroes has died … Continued

Brandon Moseley

September 17, 2019

Private prison, detention companies spending on Alabama politicians

Geo Group, the nation’s largest private prison and detention center company, is investing in Alabama’s lawmakers just as the company hopes to land a portion of the state’s nearly $1 billion contract to build three new prisons. Other players are also investing in lobbyists and lawmakers to compete for a share of the prize. Geo … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 16, 2019

Correction’s spokesman returns to state Department of Veterans Affairs

Robert Horton, the spokesman for the Alabama Department of Corrections, has been hired as the Assistant Commissioner of Outreach and Engagement at the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. Horton has held the public information manager position at the Alabama Department of Corrections since February 2015. Prior to that position, he worked for eight years as … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 13, 2019

Alabama’s secretive prison project same as 2018 Kansas deal

The secrecy behind Alabama’s plan to build three new prisons using private prison companies mirrors a project in Kansas that left some lawmakers there feeling that the state got “hoodwinked.” The Kansas governor has since said her state was “hoodwinked” by one of the same private prison companies now vying for a piece of Alabama … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 12, 2019

Graddick expects parole hearing to resume on November 1

Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles Director Charlie Graddick, on Wednesday, announced that parole hearings are expected to resume on or about November 1. Graddick shut down parole hearings because the previous administration failed to bring the bureau into compliance with the law enacted June 6 by Gov. Kay Ivey. On Friday, Director Graddick postponed … Continued

Brandon Moseley

September 12, 2019

State Bureau of Pardons and Paroles: Could take “weeks” to resume hearings

Alabama’s Bureau of Pardons and Paroles announced Monday that it could take weeks until parole hearings resume, meaning many hundreds will be impacted by the interruption of those hearings. Skip Tucker, news director at the bureau, told APR on Monday that it’s not clear when those parole hearings would resume. A press release from the … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 10, 2019

Graddick orders all pardons and parole hearings scheduled for next week cancelled

Friday, the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles has cancelled more than 100 hearings set for next week because new Director Charlie Graddick says that the prior administration failed to perform due diligence to meet requirements set forth under a new state law passed in May regarding notifications to victims and witnesses. Director Charlie Graddick, … Continued

Brandon Moseley

September 6, 2019

Key man behind bid for Alabama prisons tied to controversial private prison operations, lawsuits

One of the companies vying for millions in taxpayer dollars to build Alabama’s new prisons is owned by the ousted former CEO of one of the other four companies in the running. That man, Tennessee businessman Doctor Robert Crants Jr., was also involved in a recent lawsuit connected to a privately owned and operated prison … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 4, 2019

Police: Alabama teen confesses to killing five family members

A 14-year-old Alabama boy has confessed to shooting and killing five family members in their home in North Alabama, the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office said early Tuesday morning. The sheriff’s office said they responded to a shooting Monday night at about 10:30 p.m. on Ridge Road in Elkmont, Alabama, a small town of less than … Continued

Chip Brownlee

September 3, 2019

Arrests over contraband at Bibb Correctional Facility follow sweeps at others

Four people are charged in connection with illegal contraband at the Bibb Correctional Facility. The four were arrested on Aug. 21 after correctional officers at the medium-custody facility found three packages with contraband. Alabama Department of Corrections officers used police dogs to track the route the suspects took, and found an additional suitcase, duffle bag … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

August 29, 2019