Governor Announces Plan to Build Three Prisons for Men

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/02/Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:841;s:6:"height";i:561;s:4:"file";s:49:"2019/02/Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM.png";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-336x224.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-771x514.png";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:514;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-768x512.png";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-600x338.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-600x561.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:561;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-466x311.png";s:5:"width";i:466;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-397x265.png";s:5:"width";i:397;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-600x400.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-600x561.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:561;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2019-02-12_at_11.59.05_AM-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}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:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:11:{s:4:"full";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:839996;s:14:"optimized_size";i:229466;s:7:"percent";d:72.68;}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:120:"The size medium is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:5:"large";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:119:"The size large is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:35959;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12240;s:7:"percent";d:65.96;}s:12:"medium_large";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:126:"The size medium_large is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:13249;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4925;s:7:"percent";d:62.83;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:309463;s:14:"optimized_size";i:103891;s:7:"percent";d:66.43;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:520135;s:14:"optimized_size";i:169900;s:7:"percent";d:67.34;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:132:"The size wbhm-featured-home is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:136:"The size wbhm-featured-carousel is not authorized to be optimized. Update your Imagify settings if you want to optimize it.";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:29219;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10141;s:7:"percent";d:65.29;}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1748021;s:14:"optimized_size";i:530563;s:7:"percent";d:69.65;}}
        )

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

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Southern Poverty Law Center
        )

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

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

)
1667154670 
1549975957

Gov. Kay Ivey announced Tuesday a plan to replace existing prisons with three new regional men’s prisons. The move is to address persistent issues of “violence, poor living conditions and mental illness” in Alabama’s corrections system, according to a statement from the governor.

The Department of Corrections (DOC) has said existing correctional facilities, which are overcrowded and aging, need $750 million in maintenance. The governor says repairing them would be “wasteful and ineffective.”

Ivey says the Department of Corrections will soon seek proposals from outside contractors to build three facilities. One prison will be reserved for “special needs populations,” including those with mental health issues. She says officials will have a better estimate of the project’s cost once they receive proposals. According to AL.com, DOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn says the project could cost around $900 million.

Some have criticized the governor’s plan as too costly. In response, Ivey says it is necessary for public safety and to prevent federal intervention. Alabama has been under federal court order since 2017 to increase mental health staffing at its prisons.

“The investment in these new facilities will also ensure that we retain control of our correctional system,” she says in the statement.

Ivey’s plan acknowledges the need for improved staffing and retention rates. She says in the upcoming legislative session, her budget proposal will include $31 million to hire prison employees and increase salaries. Last year, an additional $86 million was appropriated to contract medical and mental health workers and reduce turnover.

The governor’s announcement comes the day after a federal judge ruled that the DOC is “deliberately indifferent” in monitoring the mental health of prisoners isolated in segregation units. It was the latest development in a lawsuit that the SPLC and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program filed in 2014.

 

Space Command is coming to Huntsville. What might that mean for first-time homebuyers

While Huntsville has been a more affordable market than other growing cities, what’s it been like for those looking for their first home? 

Colorado says relocation of Space Command to Alabama is ‘punishment’ for mail-in voting

The litigation announced by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser asks a federal judge to block the move as unconstitutional.

Breaking down Alabama’s CHOOSE Act

It’s been a year since Alabama legislators passed the CHOOSE Act allowing families to apply for state funds to use towards homeschool expenses and tuition for participating private schools. The Alabama Daily News’ education reporter Trisha Powell Crain has been diving into how the funds are being used. WBHM’s Andrew Gelderman sat down with her to talk about what we’re seeing so far.

Huntsville is growing fast. Here’s how it’s stayed affordable

Home prices are rising in Huntsville, but so far, the city’s avoided the skyrocketing costs in other boom towns.

What are your unique holiday traditions? NPR wants to know

The holiday season is full of traditions and we all celebrate them a bit differently. NPR wants to your most unique holiday traditions. What makes celebrating this time of year feel special for you?

What are your unique holiday traditions? NPR wants to know

The holiday season is full of traditions and we all celebrate them a bit differently. NPR wants to your most unique holiday traditions. What makes celebrating this time of year feel special for you?

More Front Page Coverage