corrections officers Archives • Alabama Political Reporter

Commissioner praises prison employees for putting lives on the line during pandemic

Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn on Thursday praised the department’s employees for “literally putting their lives on the line” coming into work during the COVID-19 crisis. Dunn was speaking to the Alabama State Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee, which is holding budget hearings in Montgomery. “I cannot praise them enough,” Dunn … Continued

July 10, 2020

Prisons ask for $42 million budget increase in 2021

Thursday the House and Senate General Fund budget committees were in Montgomery for a rare joint session as all of the State General Fund (SGF) department heads made their 2021 budget requests. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeffrey S. Dunn requested $563 million in FY2021 – a $42 million increase from the 2020 budget. Dunn … Continued

January 24, 2020

Prisons are one of the top issues to watch in 2020

A new decade has begun and the Legislature returns to Montgomery in just 29 days. As the Alabama Legislature begins a new session there are many issues that will confront the state politically in the upcoming year. Nothing is more serious than the issues facing the state and its much maligned prison system. Governor Kay … Continued

January 6, 2020

McClendon does not think there will be a special session on prisons

Monday, State Senator Jim McClendon, R-Springville, said that presently he thinks that there will not be a special session this fall on prisons. Sen. McClendon said that during the session it was the general understanding that the legislature would come back in a special session in the fall to address the prison situation; but now … Continued

July 9, 2019

Takeaways from 2019 Legislative Session

The 2019 Alabama regular Legislative Session is over, and a lot happened that could substantially change how Alabama is governed. While hundreds of bills passed, here are the 11 biggest takeaways from the regular session that just ended and the special session. The state has more money for education. Following the Great Recession payments to … Continued

June 3, 2019

House Democrats respond to prisons, corrections plan

Alabama House Democrats released a statement in response to the Alabama Department of Corrections release of the strategic plan to comply with Department of Justice Regulations related to the state’s failed prison system. “Alabama’s plan to address the humanitarian crisis in our prisons must include more than simply building new facilities and hiring staff,” the … Continued

May 24, 2019

Senate Committee approves pay raises for corrections officers

The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee gave a favorable report Wednesday to a bill to raise pay for Alabama Corrections officers. House Bill 468 is sponsored by State Rep. Christopher John England, D-Tuscaloosa. “We have already paid for this one,” England said. “This is the compensation package for corrections officers.” The money is … Continued

May 9, 2019

House Committee approves pay raises for corrections officers

On Wednesday, April 24 the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee gave a favorable report to a bill giving a substantial pay raise to Alabama Department of Corrections officers. House Bill 468 is sponsored by State Rep. Christopher John England, D-Tuscaloosa. England said the increase in pay has already been included in the state … Continued

April 29, 2019

Ivey submits $7.1 billion education budget, $2.1 billion state general fund budget

Wednesday, state Finance Director Kelly Butler briefed the Alabama Capital Press Corps on the state budgets. The economy has been doing really well and this means that Gov. Kay Ivey is anticipating substantially larger state revenues in the coming fiscal year. The legislature passes two budgets each year. One is for schools, the Education Trust … Continued

March 21, 2019