SPLC Calls on Court to Hold Alabama Prison System in Contempt

| September 18, 2018 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2018/09/1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1011;s:6:"height";i:570;s:4:"file";s:78:"2018/09/1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:78:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:78:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-771x435.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:435;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:78:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:78:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-768x433.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:433;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:76:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:78:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:78:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-600x570.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:570;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:78:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-552x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:552;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:78:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:78:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:78:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-600x570.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:570;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:78:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-e1537316441314-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Source: Rivers A. Langley
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:10:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:760;s:4:"file";s:55:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:63:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:63:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-336x249.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:249;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:10:"large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:63:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-771x572.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:572;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:61:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:63:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:63:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:63:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-419x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:419;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:63:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-357x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:357;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:63:"1024px-Kilby_Correctional_Facility_Mt_Meigs_Alabama-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:28:"The file could not be saved.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

)
1675763127 
1537300568

The Southern Poverty Law Center wants the state prison system held in contempt for failing to fill mental health positions. Contempt hearings began Tuesday in U.S. District Court involving the Alabama Department of Corrections and lawyers representing inmates.

The issue comes a year after a judge ruled mental health care in Alabama prisons was “horrendously inadequate.” A federal court ordered the Department of Corrections to have more than 260 mental health workers on staff by July 1. The state failed to meet that and previous deadlines.

Attorneys with the Southern Poverty Law Center say the goal is to keep pressure on the Department of Corrections until it meets the court’s requirements.

Earlier this year, prison officials signed a new contract with a mental health care vendor, Wexford Health Services. State officials say they have made good faith attempts to meet the staffing requirements, according to legal documents.

They also note the challenge of recruiting to rural areas and a statewide shortage of mental health professionals. The Department of Corrections did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The hearings are expected to last through Thursday.

 

 

Mariah Carey, coffee makers and other highlights from the Olympic opening ceremony

NPR reporters at the Milan opening ceremony layered up and took notes.

Trump’s harsh immigration tactics are taking a political hit

President Trump's popularity on one of his political strengths is in jeopardy.

A drop in CDC health alerts leaves doctors ‘flying blind’

Doctors and public health officials are concerned about the drop in health alerts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since President Trump returned for a second term.

Photos: Highlights from the Winter Olympics opening ceremony

Athletes from around the world attended the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan.

Alabama sets execution for man in auto parts store customer’s death

Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday set a March 12 execution using nitrogen gas for Charles “Sonny” Burton. Burton was convicted as an accomplice in the shooting death of Doug Battle, a customer who was killed during an 1991 robbery of an auto parts store in Talladega.

Trump posts racist meme of the Obamas — then deletes it

Trump's racist post came at the end of a minute-long video promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. 

More Front Page Coverage