Alabama Prison Officials “Deliberately Indifferent” to Mental Health Needs
A federal judge ruled Monday the Alabama prison system has failed to monitor the mental health of prisoners isolated in segregation cells, a failure to which the Alabama Department of Corrections is “deliberately indifferent,” according to the order.
“[I]n light of the significant number of wholly unanticipated suicides in ADOC segregation units, by individuals who were not on the mental-health caseload, defendants’ contention that ‘the system works’ is astonishing,” the order from U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson reads. The 66-page decision follows calls last week from the Southern Poverty Law Center asking Gov. Kay Ivey and state lawmakers to address the crisis in state prisons.
“We are only sorry ADOC didn’t do anything to remedy the situation during the last year and a half, as hundreds or thousands of men and women suffered in ADOC segregation units, and ultimately as 13 people took their own lives,” a statement from the SPLC says.
ADOC in 2017 was found to have violated the Constitution’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of the Eighth Amendment. That ruling said “persistent and severe shortages” of mental health care staff contributed to the prison system’s failings, calling the mental health care system there “horrendously inadequate.” A 2014 lawsuit filed by the SPLC notes several examples where prison staff failed to give adequate health and medical care to inmates. In addition, according to the lawsuit, prisoners were placed under “do not resuscitate” or “allow natural death” orders without their consent or knowledge. Prisoners with serious mental health issues were routinely kept in solitary confinement and given little or no mental health care.
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor
Jones announced his campaign Monday afternoon, hours after filing campaign paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office. His gubernatorial bid could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor.
Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums
Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.
Construction on Meta’s largest data center brings 600% crash spike, chaos to rural Louisiana
An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge.
Bessemer City Council approves rezoning for a massive data center, dividing a community
After the Bessemer City Council voted 5-2 to rezone nearly 700 acres of agricultural land for the “hyperscale” server farm, a dissenting council member said city officials who signed non-disclosure agreements weren’t being transparent with citizens.
