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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

Prison reform, construction package expected before end of session

A wide-ranging package of bills aimed at prison reform is expected to drop in the Alabama Legislature in the next few weeks, the chairman of the Senate’s judiciary committee tells the Alabama Political Reporter. The legislative package includes sentencing reforms, oversight legislation, reporting requirements and a new prison construction plan. The package, when it is … Continued
April 29, 2019

Report explores “crisis” in Alabama’s prisons

The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama recently released a series of briefs outlining the problems within Alabama’s correctional facilities including overcrowding, unsafe and inadequate environments and an absurdly high incarceration rate compared to other states. In February, APR reported that Gov. Kay Ivey was poised to move forward with her plan to build three new prisons … Continued
March 7, 2019

Ivey to build prisons come hell or legislative high water

Gov. Kay Ivey is going to build three new high-level security prisons to house the state’s most violent offenders and those inmates who are plagued by infirmities and mental illness. Ivey will build these three new correctional facilities come hell or legislative high water because it is right, not because it’s popular. It’s about time … Continued
February 13, 2019

The most important decision our government will make: Who will be our next state superintendent of education

The Legislative Session has come to an end, but legislators won’t be the ones making the most important decision our government will make this year. The State Board of Education will make that decision in April when they choose our next State Superintendent of Education. For all of the high-profile issues that have been raised … Continued
March 30, 2018

In shift from Bentley plan, Ivey calls for new investment in prisons, correctional officers

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey shifted further away from former Gov. Robert Bentley’s plan to build new mega-prison as a solution for overcrowding and prison conditions federal courts have repeatedly ruled as unconstitutional. In her State of the State Tuesday, Ivey pushed for new investment in prisons and the Department … Continued
January 10, 2018

Prison healthcare plan proposed

By Staff  Alabama Political Reporter On Thursday, Quality Correctional Health Care and the University of Alabama at Birmingham will present to the Alabama Department of Corrections a comprehensive plan to provide enhanced healthcare services for the 21,000 inmates housed in the state prison system. In June 2017, a federal judge ruled that the mental health … Continued
October 10, 2017

Prison Bill to be on floor of House today

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Tuesday, May 16, 2017, it was announced that the controversial prison construction plan as well as Senate redistricting will be before the House today as time runs out on the 2017, Legislative Session. The prison plan, SB59, is sponsored by state Senator Cam Ward (R-Alabaster). Sen. Ward insists that … Continued
May 17, 2017

2017 Legislative Session preview

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Tuesday, February 7, the Alabama 2017 regular legislative session begins. Almost anything can happen when the Alabama legislature is in session and this session is no different. Here are a few of the issues facing our State Legislators. 1) Medicaid needs more money. Anybody who has been paying … Continued
February 2, 2017

Zeigler Promotes Alternative to Enormously Expensive Bentley Prison Plan

By Brandon Moseley Monday, January 30, 2017 Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler (R) will present his alternative to solve Alabama’s prison overcrowding to the Prison Reform Committee Monday. The committee meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. in room 325 of the Statehouse. State Auditor Jim Zeigler is promoting his ‘Plan Z’ as “a cheaper and … Continued
January 30, 2017