Good evening to you on this Super Bowl Sunday.
This week I’ll be keeping tabs on the legislative session, particularly the Second Chance bill, HB 29, which could open up a pathway out of prison for people serving outsized sentences under the habitual offender law.
The smart people at Alabama Appleseed produced this beautiful film featuring several men who were condemned to die in prison who are now free. It’s worth a watch!
I’m also working on a piece on prison labor featuring a man whose exploitation in ADOC began with forced work on a prison chain gang when he first went to prison in 1995. Expect to see that published mid-week.
While you’re watching the Super Bowl, here’s a roundup of this week’s biggest stories of justice and injustice in Alabama.
ADOC
It’s inflation y’all! Governor Ivey, appearing feeble and sounding hoarse, gave an interview to WHNT and defended her mega-prison building spree, saying costs have ballooned to over one billion because of inflation.
ADOC is paying millions to settle lawsuits filed by incarcerated people over excessive force, wrongful deaths and injury and medical neglect. ADOC downplayed the significance by saying prisons are easy targets for lawsuits. Eye roll.
Budget increases for ADOC and ABPP. ADOC has the second largest budget outside of Medicaid. Commissioner John Hamm asked for $815 million in 2025, a $83 million increase. Hamm also said the new billion dollar mega-prison should be completed in May of 2026, although it doesn’t appear much has happened at the site other than moving dirt around.
A prison advocate says ADOC is targeting her incarcerated husband, retaliating against him because she’s exposing corruption.
Four more families come forward saying their loved ones died in ADOC and bodies were returned missing organs. Attorney Lauren Faraino, representing the families, is working to build a class action case about removing organs without consent.
Great piece by John Archibald on Alabama’s abysmal record on criminalizing addiction and few substance use treatment options before, during and after prison.
“I’m just an old man who wants to get home to his grandkids.” The latest in a series on Alabama’s broken parole system follows the case of a man who was granted parole, but never released from prison. He’s now suing.
JAILS AND POLICE
The Randolph County sheriff will pay $1 million to a couple after deputies illegally raided their home over a misdemeanor drug warrant. Deputies ”busted down their front door, threw a flash-bang grenade at their feet, detained the couple at gunpoint, and ransacked their house.”
Two elderly women arrested in 2022 by Wetumpka police for feeding stray cats file a lawsuit, alleging constitutional violations and mistreatment in jail.
Squabbles continue in Tarrant after the mayor suspends the police chief for the third time in nine months.
Man dies in Covington County jail cell. Sheriff says it could be suicide.
Birmingham approves $50K for arts program at juvenile jail.
Two new studies document impact of police violence on Black Americans. One tied sleep disturbances to police-involved deaths and the other found more Black Americans suffer injuries from police tasers.
OTHER NEWS
Attorney General Steve Marshall removes Montgomery’s DA from case involving fatal police shooting. The former police officer convicted of manslaughter in a fatal shooting is appealing his conviction and the AG is now representing the state.
Mobile’s DA complains he can’t release the name of a juvenile suspect. His critique is aimed at a 2021 law in Alabama called the juvenile confidentiality bill that prohibits publication of juvenile criminal records.
Legislature considers bill to castrate men convicted of rape. Sponsored by Rep. Juandaylynn Givan.
Anniston allocates $1.2 million for homeless shelter after the only shelter in Calhoun County closed in 2019.
I love your writing and it’s always truthful and informative! Yes ADOC continues with their corruption; Rhonda and her husband Derrick don’t deserve this retaliation for Rhonda being a great caring person and helping us all in times of turmoil with our loved ones in ADOC prison system when ADOC staff not only mistreated our loved ones but also us when we are in contact with ADOC staff regarding our loved ones. No one should have to go through that emotional abuse and trauma, yes I said trauma because it definitely was traumatizing for me. I won’t ever forget who and how I was spoken to almost on a daily basis and the disregard for respect and compassion for a human being for almost two months. There must be change for the betterment of all humanity in Alabama and it needs to happen now ! These legislators are going to act like they care and pitch out a little bone but the fact is that it’s an election year and people need to watch this legislative meetings and read between the lines on what they are discussing behind closed doors and only letting the public have just a little bit of the truth! They is so much money involved and you can see who’s really running and controlling those legislators! Anyone want a potato Chip?