Prison
Alabama profits off prisoners safe enough to work at McDonald’s, deems them too dangerous for parole
No state has a longer, more profit-driven history of contracting prisoners out to private companies than Alabama. Best Western, Bama Budweiser and Burger King are among the more than 500 businesses to lease incarcerated workers from one of the most violent, overcrowded and unruly prison systems in the U.S.
Inside this maximum security prison, a film festival proves ‘a little bit healing’
The Sing Sing maximum security prison in New York held its first-ever film festival recently, with incarcerated men invited to judge the five entries.
Lawsuit challenges Alabama inmate labor system as ‘modern day slavery’
The class action lawsuit also accuses the state of maintaining a discriminatory parole system with a low release rate that ensures a supply of laborers while also generating money for the state.
How hard is life after prison? This simulation in Birmingham offers a taste
Across the country, U.S. justice officials are hosting simulated experiences to highlight the barriers many people face after leaving prison.
Man sentenced to 30 years after police officer shot friend
Alabama’s felony murder law holds someone liable for murder if they participate in a felony that results in someone's death.
‘White Lies’ sheds light on a prison takeover in Talladega that led to today’s immigration system
Many don’t realize a notable moment that shaped our current immigration system happened in Talladega, Alabama, when Cuban detainees took over a federal prison there.
Gov. Ivey announces rules for prison ‘good time’ incentives
Ivey's executive order categorizes offenses and outlines how much “good time” will be forfeited.
Gov. Kay Ivey wants to give the state more time to carry out executions
Under Ivey’s proposal, the state corrections commissioner could immediately designate a new execution date if a delay prevents the state from carrying out an execution on the original date listed on the death warrant.
Coronavirus Deaths Mount In Alabama Prisons
More than 50 Alabama inmates have died from COVID-19.
Lawyers: Set Parole Hearings, Prevent Virus Spread In Alabama’s Crowded Prisons
A group of law school faculty members and former prosecutors has written Gov. Kay Ivey urging her to have the state Board of Pardons and Paroles hold expedited hearings to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to Alabama’s prison population.
New Exhibit Features Artwork From Alabama Inmates
The issues around Alabama's troubled prison system are complex, but a new exhibit featuring artwork by Alabama inmates hopes to generate a different conversation.
Some Prisoners Invited To Vote By Absentee Ballot For The First Time This Year
Valentine’s Day took on new meaning Friday as members of five organizations continued their tour to get persons in jail and prison registered to vote by absentee ballot in the upcoming primary and beyond.
Alabama to Close Most of Holman Prison
The Alabama Department of Corrections is accelerating plans to close most of Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. Officials made the announcement Wednesday, citing growing maintenance costs and safety concerns at the 51-year-old prison.
Prison Re-Entry Program to Expand with $6 Million Grant
When prisoners are released, they often face lots of hurdles. They can't find work or housing or health care. Often, they end up back in prison. The Dannon Project recently received a large federal grant that will allow the nonprofit to help more former inmates get on their feet.
SPLC Proposes ‘Collaborative Process’ to Address Prison Crisis
The Southern Poverty Law Center sent a letter Tuesday to Gov. Kay Ivey and state Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn proposing its own plan to address the state's prison crisis.
Fed’s Report Condemning Alabama Prisons: State Vows Action
Alabama authorities vowed Thursday to begin the monumental task of fixing their troubling prison problems, responding to a U.S. Department of Justice report that condemned excessive violence, inmate deaths and a critical staffing shortage in the state correctional system.
Alabama ACLU Proposes Plan to Cut Mass Incarceration
Earlier this month the American Civil Liberties Union announced a goal of releasing 50 percent of Alabama prisoners by the year 2025 through a report aimed at tackling mass incarceration.
Alabama Prison Bill Gets Final Approval & More From This Week At The Capitol
Alabama lawmakers gave sweeping changes to Alabama’s prison system final approval this week. The legislature hopes these sentencing and probation reforms will alleviate some of the overcrowded prison system’s worst problems. For more on this, and the rest of the week’s news from Montgomery, we turn to Don Dailey. He’s the host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television, and he joins WBHM each Friday during the legislative session.
Senate Passes Prison Reform Bill,Draft General Fund Budget “Bleak”
Prison reform and the General Fund budget were at the top of the agenda for Alabama legislators this week. Thursday, the Alabama senate passed a comprehensive bill aimed at relieving Alabama’s overcrowded prison system. Earlier this week, state lawmakers got a sneak peek at what the budget could look like next fiscal year if the state pulls in no new revenue.
Man On Death Row For Almost 30 Years Will Be Freed
A man on Alabama’s death row for almost 30 years will be freed tomorrow Friday, April 3, after a judge dismissed the case. Prosecutors say the evidence that tied the man to two murders is not reliable. Anthony Ray Hinton was convicted and sentenced to death for killing two managers at Birmingham fast-food restaurants during […]
What’s In Alabama’s Prison Reform Bill?
Alabama's prison reform bill was approved today by a 31-2 vote in the Alabama Senate. The bill contains major changes to the state’s sentencing and probation rules with the goal of reducing prison over-crowding. Alabama's prisons are currently at almost 200 percent capacity. The bill was crafted by the Alabama Prison Reform Task Force with the help of The Council of State Governments, a nonprofit that works with policymakers across the country. WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley spoke with Andy Barbee, research manager with The Council of State Governments about some of the most important policy changes in the Alabama Justice Reinvestment Act and how Alabama’s challenges rank nationally.
Female Inmates Can Face a Cycle of Abuse
While incarcerated women have characteristics that are similar to their male counterparts, a closer look reveals another story. Studies have shown that the majority of incarcerated women were victims of verbal, physical or sexual abuse before coming to prison. Les Lovoy reports how abuse in prison can re-traumatize women and the challenge for them to break the cycle of abuse, once they re-enter society.
DOCUMENTARY: Voices From Tutwiler Prison For Women
J.F. Ingram Technical College is a unique part of Alabama's two-year college system because all of its students are incarcerated. Last month, WBHM's Dan Carsen went to Ingram's campus at Tutwiler Prison. He was planning to do a story on Ingram's new life skills program there, but sometimes, plans change. He decided the best way to convey those classes was basically to let the tape roll ... which also gives normally voiceless people a chance to be heard. You can hear them right now. Or click on the link above to hear them and see more photos.
Life After Prison: Ex-offenders Face Many Challenges When Reentering Society
Alabama's overcrowded prisons currently house more than 25,000 inmates. The vast majority - about 97% - will one day be released and return to the communities they left behind. After incarceration, former inmates face staggering challenges. All this week, WBHM's Life After Prison series will explore the stories of Alabama's recently released prisoners struggling to reintegrate into society. It's part of our investigation into the Alabama prison system, in partnership with al.com and the Center for Investigative Reporting. To start this series, WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley examines what stands between ex-offenders and a productive life outside of prison.
What We Heard at WBHM’s Issues and Ales
On Tuesday, June 17, WBHM hosted an Issues and Ales panel discussion focusing on the Alabama prison system. Over three panels, speakers covered the system's current problems with overcrowding, along with how to best rehabilitate offenders and what Alabama could do to improve the prison system. Panelists included Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Kim Thomas, State Senator Cam Ward, former inmates, and people who provide services to ex-offenders. WBHM's education reporter Dan Carsen and news director Rachel Osier Lindley moderated the discussion. They sat down after the event to discuss some of the highlights. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Alabama Media Group.
Issues and Ales: Alabama’s Prison System
Issues within the Alabama prison system impact the culture and economy of Alabama, affecting thousands of lives across the state every day. What are the causes for concern? Who is responsible? Why does it matter to you? WBHM explored this topic at 'Issues and Ales: Alabama's Prison System,' hosted in collaboration with AL.com/The Alabama Media Group and The Center for Investigative Reporting. Hear a broadcast of highlights from Issues and Ales on Wednesday, June 25, from 2-3 pm.
Problems in Alabama’s Prisons Pose Challenges For The State
It's been an eventful week for the Alabama Prison System. On Tuesday, Governor Robert Bentley announced initial plans for rebuilding the state's overburdened and underfunded prison system. Governor Bentley said Alabama would work in partnership with private agencies and the government to examine the prison system and suggest reforms. Bentley's announcement came on the same day the Southern Poverty Law Center released a highly critical report on medical care in Alabama prisons. For WBHM, Les Lovoy outlines the numerous challenges facing Alabama's prisons, and what the state is doing to solve the problems.
INTERVIEW: Rick Vest, Counseling Coordinator Of Two-Year College For Prisoners
J.F. Ingram State is a unique part of Alabama's two-year college system because one hundred percent of its students are incarcerated. Its new pilot program at Julia Tutwiler Prison focuses on life skills, not just vocational training. As part of our prison-reporting partnership with Alabama Media Group's Investigative Journalism Lab, WBHM's Dan Carsen spoke with Ingram State Counseling Coordinator Rick Vest outside Ingram's Tutwiler campus. Among other things, Vest says learning job skills isn't enough.
Interview: State Senator Cam Ward on Alabama’s Prison System
Alabama's prison system is under investigation by the Justice Department after a federal report detailed cases of rape and sexual abuse at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women. If some big changes aren't made, the federal government could take over the prison system. State Senator Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, is fighting that. He's a vocal advocate of prison reform and chairs the Alabama Legislature's joint oversight committee on prisons. Ward spoke with WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley about what he believes the legislature needs to do.
What’s Your Experience with Alabama’s Prison System?
WBHM, Alabama Media Group and the Center for Investigative Reporting are collaborating on a closer examination of the state's prison problems and who is being held accountable. We want to hear your experiences with the prison system.
Life Sentences for Teens
The United States is the only country that convicts young adolescents as adults and sentences them to life in prison without parole. A new report from the Montgomery, Alabama-based Equal Justice Initiative identifies dozens of prisoners serving life sentences for crimes committed when they were 13 or 14. WBHM's Tanya Ott talks with Bryan Stevenson, executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative.
