Mobile Site

Alabama’s Prison Crisis

By Jessica Taloney Reporter

M30o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Alabama’s Prison Crisis

Published: Mon, February 25, 2008 - 6:38 pm
Last Updated: Mon, February 25, 2008 - 6:40 pm

Jessica Taloney

Across Alabama, state prisons are housing nearly twice the number of inmates than they are designed to hold, and they're operating with only a fraction of the staff. "Right now we are 47 officers down," says Grantt Culliver, warden of Alabama's Holman Prison.

According to numbers obtained by News 5, more than 6,000 inmates call the state's five maximum security prisons home, but the facilities are best suited for only 3,600. In a rare look behind bars, we saw for ourselves the effect overcrowding is having on Culliver's facility.

did you know

61% of people in the custody of the Department of Corrections are repeat offenders.

Plumbling problems forced the prison staff to close an entire section of Holman, which once housed more than 100 inmates.

"We were able to move 45 inmates actually out of the facility to a lower level facility and kinda consume the remainder by spreading them out through the facility here," Culliver said. But, there's only so much the prison staff can do. At some point the federal government may say enough is enough. We're told it happened in Alabama in the 1970s and it could happen again. "A court can order the release of a certain amount of inmates," said Robert Oakes, the Assistant Director of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Oakes says anywhere from 60 to 70 prisoners face the state's parole board everyday. But, if Alabama were to come under what's called "federal oversight", who is released would be out of the parole board's hands.

2007

Paroles Considered: 6,640
Paroles Granted: 2,187

"You don't want to get a list from the federal government to say for example every fifth name has to be released regardless of offenses," said Oakes. "I don't know that's how they'd do it now, but those are the kind of nightmare scenarios you don't want to get into," he said. The state's prison crisis is certainly on the minds of many at the state capital as well. After all, it's state lawmakers who hold the purse strings for the Department of Corrections. "In my mind it is absolutely a state of crisis," said House Appropriations Chariman John Knight (D), "I think everyone wants to make sure we have safe streets," he said. But, while Rep. Knight sees the problem, he doesn't see the solution fitting in the budget. The Department of Corrections is asking lawmakers for an additional $72 million, but Knight says the money isn't there.

Paying the Price for Prisons

Behind Bars: $39.46 per day
Community Corrections Program: $12.97 per day
Probation or Parole: $2.02 per day

"It will get to the point where if we don't increase funding for corrections, if we do not build new facilities, we will not have places to incarcerate people guilty of crimes," said Knight. "That means absolutely there will be more people on the street because we have not provided to funding to be able to house them in our corrections department," he said. So what happens next? We're told the Department of Corrections and the courts are scrambling to look for alternatives. Either sentence criminals to probation instead of prison, release more on parole, or take advantage of work centers and community correction programs. In any of those cases, more criminals would be on the streets.

In part 2 of this News Five special report, we look at where criminals live. We've told you before how to find out if a sex offender is living in your neighborhood, but what about a murderer or someone convicted of another violent crime? What we found may surprise you. Click Here for that Report.

News Map

Email to a Friend

Printer Friendly

Why dont they send these prisoners to fight in the war. Too many good men or being killed over there and for no reason.

Posted by shannonmlashley on 02/26/08 - 8:22 am • Report Abuse

send the illigals back and you will have more room and less crime,bet that dont happen, they are the ones they probably turn loose .-----t-----.

Posted by ronald t on 02/26/08 - 5:44 am • Report Abuse

I watched your show with the utmost respect. but I can tell you first hand that things are not what is presented to the press. I have a son that has been in the prison system for about 9 years and as such, charges can be added that are false and it takes an act of congress to get it resolved. The time sheets are usually not correct, this I have encountered trying to help my son. Sentences are imposed then not written up correctly. If you need medical attention, forget it. My son suffered severly with an abscessed tooth and had to lance it himself with a wire that was found in the prison dorm. This was reported by my son, myself and our Att. So if the Chairman Mr. John Knight would look into just 5 complaints that are the same he would find out that what I am saying is true. There was a special committie hired to figure out what to do about the overcrowding, what did they pay for these people to meet and discuss the problem. And for what purpose, money spent and there is still no solut

Posted by linda on 02/25/08 - 9:57 pm • Report Abuse

Recent Commented on News Reports

Deadly Construction Accident…

9 Total Comments

One man is dead after a construction accident at Robertsdale Elementary. more »

Cell Phone Fees

9 Total Comments

People who want to bail out of their cell phone contracts could be getting a break from cancellation fees. more »

Falling Crude Oil Prices

1 Total Comments

Prices are now $20 less than record price set two weeks ago. more »

Coca Cola Strike: Still No…

217 Total Comments

After almost a week, there is still no resolution between the Teamsters union and Coca Cola.. Hear what the spokesman for the striking workers has to say. more »