Alabama Department of Corrections

News

Inmate at Ventress prison tests positive for Tuberculosis

An inmate at the Ventress Correctional Facility in Clayton has tested positive for Tuberculosis, prompting the Alabama Department of Corrections to stop transfers of inmates into and out of the prison and test the remaining prison population and staff. APR confirmed on Friday that ADOC was responding to the positive test for TB at the … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 14, 2020

Bills could improve access to diversion programs, report notes high fees and roadblocks

Bills recently introduced in the Alabama House and Senate aim to improve access to specialized courts and diversion programs, meant to get people the help they need and keep them from behind bars. Even with more access to those programs and courts, however, many can’t afford the exorbitant fees to remain free, according to a … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 13, 2020

Private prison company eyes Elmore County land for one of state’s new prisons

Editor’s note: The story was updated Feb. 12, 2020, to reflect that the private company Corvias has also pulled out of the procurement process. The private prison company CoreCivic for more than two years has been eying land just outside the city of Tallassee in Elmore county to build one of Alabama’s planned three new … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 11, 2020

Alabama pastors, faith leaders call on state to enact meaningful criminal justice reform

A group of Alabama pastors urged state lawmakers in a letter Wednesday to work on meaningful criminal justice reform to fix Alabama’s broken prison system and to help prevent young people from entering it. Joining the 40 pastors who signed the letter was Craig DeRoche, senior vice president of advocacy and public policy with Prison … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 6, 2020

The Alabama 2020 Legislative Session begins today

The Alabama Legislature returns to Montgomery today for the 2020 legislative session. Both Houses of the Legislature will meet this afternoon for organizational sessions at the Statehouse. Tonight, Governor Kay Ivey (R) will deliver the annual State of the State Address to a Joint Session of the Alabama Legislature at 6:30 p.m. in the Old … Continued

Brandon Moseley

February 4, 2020

Ivey’s prison study group recommends spending, anti-recidivism efforts, goes light on sentencing reform

On Thursday the long-awaited policy recommendations of Gov Kay Ivey’s bi-partisan Study Group on Criminal Justice Policy were released, which include suggestions on spending, sentencing reform and recidivism reduction. The group, formed in July and required to release its recommendations before the Legislative session begins Tuesday, didn’t always agree on every topic up for consideration, … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

January 31, 2020

Opinion

Governor’s Study Group on Criminal Justice Policy yields positive recommendations

It should come as no surprise, that our state is in need of serious criminal justice reform. In July, Governor Kay Ivey established a Study Group on Criminal Justice Policy, and it has been an honor to serve as chair and her representative on her behalf as we seek solutions for the complex issues facing … Continued

Champ Lyons Jr.

January 31, 2020

Opinion

Open letter Governor Ivey, Commissioner Dunn and the Alabama Legislature

The State of Alabama continues to pursue shortsighted, counterproductive solutions to the unprecedented crisis in Alabama prisons. Today the Alabama Department of Corrections announced the partial closure of Holman Correctional Facility and the abrupt transfer of over 600 people who had been housed there. Neither their families nor their lawyers were notified ahead of ADOC’s … Continued

Alabamians for Fair Justice Coalition

January 30, 2020

State closing large part of Holman prison

Montgomery – A large portion of Holman Correctional Facility outside of Atmore is closing because of maintenance problems in a tunnel that carries utilities to those sections, the Alabama Department of Corrections announced Wednesday. It’s a decision that concerns a U.S. Department of Justice attorney, who is working with state officials to prevent a possible … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

January 29, 2020

Bureau of Pardons and Paroles increases hearings

After months of a reduction in parole hearings for Alabama’s incarcerated, the state Bureau of Pardons and Paroles is ramping up the numbers of those hearings. In a response to ARP’s questions Monday about how those hearings are set, Bureau spokesman Terry Abbott said that the agency has a target goal of 540 hearings during … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

January 28, 2020