Posts tagged Birmingham News
Equal Justice Initiative sounds alarm over sharp rise in Alabama prison slayings

“The Equal Justice Initiative said today there have been 13 homicides in Alabama prisons this year, part of a sharp increase over the last decade that has raised the homicide rate far above the most recently available national rate. The 13 slayings this year represent a rate of about 62 homicides per 100,000 inmates. The national homicide rate in state prisons was 7 per 100,000 in 2012, 2013, and 2014, the most recent numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics.“

Birmingham News

November 18, 2019

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Alabama lawmakers aim for special session on prison reforms

“Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said the prison problems would be best addressed in a special session of the Legislature. Only the governor can call a special session, and Marsh said he hoped Gov. Kay Ivey would call one on prisons. The regular legislative session, going on now, ends no later than June 17. “

AL.com

May 16, 2019

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Lawmakers put temporary hold on $10 million prison contract

“Alabama legislators today put a temporary hold on the Alabama Department of Corrections' plans to pay a company $10 million to design new prisons and analyze the system’s needs in preparation for the possible construction of three prisons. The Legislature’s contract review committee can hold contracts for up to 45 days but cannot stop them.“

Birmingham News

December 13, 2018

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Alabama sheriffs begin signing 'oaths' to not misuse state jail food funds

“The move was an attempt to put an end to some sheriffs' longstanding practice of pocketing ‘excess’ state money they receive to feed state inmates in their county jails but do not use for that purpose. The practice has been a major point of controversy in Alabama since AL.com reported in March that Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin had pocketed more than $750,000 worth of inmate-feeding funds over the previous three years and proceeded to purchase a $740,000 beach house in September 2017.“

Birmingham News

September 23, 2018

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