Former Tutwiler inmate’s legacy of compassion, advocacy for prisoners remembered
Mary Kay Beard, who died in 2016, at 71, was honored at an event at Tutwiler on Sept. 25 organized by Prison Fellowship.
Kim Thomas
The Voices of Faux Outrage Increase Their Volume
By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter As anticipated, the scandalmongers, and political bloodsuckers have opened their first volley against Gov. Robert Bentley. On cue, the talk radio parasites began to feed rumors without facts, surrounding Gov. Bentley’s impending divorce. And, just as rapidly, self-serving politicos feigned outrage over allegations with evidence, most notably, State Rep. … Continued
Thomas Pushed Out Of Corrections
By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—On Tuesday, Gov. Robert Bentley announced a shake-up at the State’s Department of Corrections, in which political forces have pushed Commissioner Kim Thomas to resign his post. Officials close to Corrections and State government say, that Rep. Allen Farley (R-McCalla) orchestrated a vicious campaign against Thomas, which led to … Continued
England Says Prison Task Force Likely to Be Presenting Ideas to Federal Judge
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter State Representative Christopher John England (D) from Tuscaloosa warns that he expects the State to be sued over its prison conditions and fears that the State could be forced to spend more money for new prisons and/or release numerous potentially dangerous inmates in to Alabama communities by federal authorities. … Continued
Governor Bentley Addresses Prison Reform
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Tuesday, June 10, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) announced in a press conference that he was launching the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), a comprehensive study of the State’s criminal justice system that the State hopes will identify ways to implement more cost effective criminal justice policies. The Council … Continued
DOJ Report on Tutwiler Does Not Include Improvements
By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—A year ago last week, the Alabama Department of Corrections’ Commissioner Kim Thomas stood before a group of journalists, legislators, government officials and concerned citizens to release the findings from a study by the National Institute of Corrections, (NIC) into conditions at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in … Continued
Tutwiler Conditions Ruled Unconstitutional by DOJ
By Brandon Moseley and Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter On Friday, January 17 the U.S. Department of Justice announced that their investigation into the state of Alabama’s Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women found that the State of Alabama prison system has been acting in an unconstitutional manner and that management of the State’s prison system … Continued
Alabama prisons chief orders review of Tutwiler
Staff Report MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Department of Corrections Commissioner Kim Thomas told lawmakers today he is requesting a review of operations in response to a complaint alleging sexual abuse of inmates at Tutwiler Prison for Women. “Of the nearly 4,000 correctional employees, overall a small number have violated their oath of office and the public. … Continued
June 21, 2012