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mega-prisons

Dramatic clouds behind barbed wire fence on a prison wall
Legislature

Senate approves new prison funding

The increased borrowing ability brings the total cost of two new prisons to nearly $2 billion.
February 19, 2025

Protestors will caravan to the Governor’s Mansion to protest $2 billion prison proposal

Alabamians Who Care will be leading a protest caravan to the Governor’s Mansion to protest Gov. Kay Ivey’s controversial plan for the Alabama Department of Corrections to sign a lease agreement to build four massive new prisons, the group said Thursday. The groups said in a statement that Alabamians who care about people incarcerated in … Continued
July 31, 2020

State senators briefed on prison construction plans

Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn told members of the Senate budget committees Thursday that the department is moving forward with the process of seeking bids on three new state prisons. Among other topics addressed was the status of the Alabama Prison Program. Dunn said that because of the long neglected maintenance of the … Continued
July 13, 2020

Legislation to abolish office of the auditor to go before committee

The Alabama State Senate Governmental Affairs Committee will consider a proposed state constitutional amendment Tuesday that would abolish the office of state auditor. Senate Bill 83 is sponsored by State Sen. Andrew Jones, a Republican from Centre. State Auditor Jim Zeigler told the Alabama Political Reporter that he has requested a 14-day postponement to give … Continued
February 11, 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

McCutcheon announces emergency task force in response to DOJ prison report

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said the state is creating an emergency task force to address the U.S. Department of Justice’s report alleging violence and a callous acceptance of prisoner-on-prisoner violence by the Alabama Department of Corrections. The U.S. Department of Justice is threatening to sue the state if it does not address the findings … Continued
April 5, 2019

Zeigler opposes $800 million no-bid contract to build prisons

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Politcal Reporter Thursday, November 17, 2016, Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler (R) said that he opposes Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s (R) plan to borrow $800 million or more to build new prisons in an anticipated January special session. Auditor Zeigler said, “Gov. Bentley is threatening a $400,000 special session to push … Continued
November 21, 2016