Alabama Department of Corrections

State prisons to began accepting county jail inmates, under conditions

The Alabama Department of Corrections on Thursday announced it would begin accepting inmates from county jails once the 30-day moratorium is over on the week of April 20, but will do so gradually, in limited numbers and won’t accept inmates who have COVID-19 symptoms. “Additionally, the Department will not accept intakes from any jail facility … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

April 16, 2020

Deadline extended for Alabama prison bids due to coronavirus

Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced that because of the COVID-19, she’s giving a two-week deadline extension for submission of proposals to build then lease three new prisons to the state. Those proposals had been due by April 30 but the two developer teams – Alabama Prison Transformation Partners and CoreCivic – will have until … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

April 7, 2020

Public defender working to free some inmates in Birmingham jail amid COVID-19 crisis

At least five people in the Jefferson County Jail had their paroles revoked after serving time in state prisons for non-violent crimes, and as the threat of COVID-19 inside jails and prisons increases, some are working to get them out before it’s too late. The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles told APR on Tuesday, … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

April 7, 2020

Alabama Dept. of Corrections has tested 17 inmates for COVID-19

The Alabama Department of Corrections has tested 17 inmates in nine of the state’s prisons for the novel coronavirus. All tests so far have been negative. Five more inmates have been tested, but their results are pending. ADOC began publishing test data on its website Thursday. It says it will update the information twice a … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 2, 2020

Alabama inmate killed by another inmate at Ventress Correctional

A Birmingham man serving at Ventress Correctional Facility in Clayton was killed by another inmate, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. Dennis Benson, 40, who was serving a 36-month sentence for possession of a controlled substance and receiving stolen property, died March 30 after being attacked by another inmate, ADOC said in a statement. … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 31, 2020

Alabama legal experts urge state to release vulnerable inmates amid COVID-19 outbreak

More than two dozen legal academics and former law enforcement officials in Alabama are asking the state to resume parole hearings and release very ill and older inmates who are at greater risk of serious sickness and death from COVID-19. In a letter to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, professors from the University of Alabama School … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 30, 2020

Families, advocates ask Alabama to release at-risk inmates amid COVID-19 outbreak

When Amber Faircloth learned Thursday of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in an Alabama prison, she worried that her husband, who has cancer, could be in jeopardy. Her husband, who’s serving time at Limestone prison, is one of more than 1,000 inmates most at risk of serious complications or death if the virus spreads … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 21, 2020

Alabama prisons halt intakes from county jails during COVID-19 outbreak

The Alabama Department of Corrections on Friday announced a 30-day moratorium on taking in inmates from the county jails amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ADOC on Thursday said an administrative employee in a prison tested positive for the virus, and that all staff who came into contact with the person are under a 14-day quarantine. It … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 20, 2020

First positive COVID-19 case confirmed in a state prison

An administrative employee at a state prison has tested positive for COVID-19, and all staff who came into contact with the person are under a 14-day quarantine, the Alabama Department of Corrections announced Thursday. ADOC said in a statement that there are no positive COVID-19 cases “reported within the inmate population” but the statement did … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 19, 2020

Alabama prisons suspend visitations, start screening staff for COVID-19

The Alabama Department of Corrections has suspended visitations and begun screening staff for fever at state prisons due to concerns of COVID-19 entering the facilities. “We are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19, and will be making additional operational and preventative decisions as this situation continues to evolve while keeping our primary directive – maintaining … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 19, 2020