Advocacy orgs demand changes to parole release guidelines
The groups argue that the guidelines should only punish instigators of prison violence, among other changes.
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The killing of Tony Mitchell wasn't an anomaly. It's a product of our callous and cruel corrections system.
Proposed 2021 General Fund budget has $167 million increase
The Alabama legislature returns to Montgomery Monday to finish the 2020 regular legislative session and work on the state General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets. The first item to be considered will be the SGF. The 2020 SGF budget was $2,222 million. The proposed 2021 budget is $2,389 million — a $167.3 million increase … Continued
Jim Purcell steps down as acting information technology secretary
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Wednesday that Jim Purcell is stepping down as acting Secretary of the Alabama Office of Information Technology. Ivey appointed Purcell to the position in July 2017. “Jim brought a great deal of experience to the table, and his leadership has been a tremendous benefit to OIT and the state,” Ivey … Continued
Alabama House Judiciary Chairman Jim Hill says a “multi-prong” approach needed on prisons
There is a general belief among lawmakers that Gov. Kay Ivey will call a Special Legislative Session sometime in the fall to address the state’s failed prisons. The real need, as many see, is not just building new facilities but also enacting sweeping justice reforms that impact the front end of the prison system. House … Continued
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
Senate committee approves supplemental funding bill to give Corrections $30 million
By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter A Senate committee passed a supplement to the General Fund Wednesday that appropriates an additional $30 million for the Department of Correction in their ongoing dilemma to raise standards of mental health and prisoner health care. The Senate Committee on Taxation General Fund approved the measure yesterday after chairman … Continued
Alabama proposes doubling prison mental health staff, doesn’t have money to do it
By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Department of Corrections has proposed nearly doubling its mental health staff as one of the corrective actions to satisfy a federal lawsuit. Federal Judge Myron Thompson, earlier this year, ruled the state had run afoul of the law by failing to provide adequate care for prisoners with … Continued
2018 Legislative Session just 92 days away
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Halloween is not here yet, and most people are just beginning their Christmas shopping list. That said, it is time to begin preparing for the 2018 Legislative Session. The 2018 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature begins early this year so that the members can go out and campaign … Continued
Takeaways from 2017 Legislative Session
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The 2017 Alabama Legislative Session is over, and these are some key points to take away. The biggest loser, by far, was former Governor Robert Bentley. The Legislature got an awful lot of help from this newer, stronger, bolder version of the Alabama Ethics Commission. But, it was evident … Continued