Alabama must close Tutwiler now. It’s time to end the abuse.

February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 | bamaaubie

Pit of vipers at Alabama's Tutwiler, prison for women — Pit of vipers at Alabama’s Tutwiler, prison for women

By AL.com Editorial Board link here
on February 02, 2016 at 8:30 AM, updated February 02, 2016 at 2:11 PM

We know the legislature has a lot to do as it reconvenes today for the governor’s state of the state address and the legislative session to follow. It has to address teacher salaries. It has to consider whether Alabama will join most American states in a lottery. It has to consider raising the gas tax, so tempting with prices at the pump lower than they’ve been in years. We want to remind Governor Robert Bentley and the other lawmakers of another priority: get rid of Tutwiler prison, and get on with the prison reforms passed last year and then hung up due to lack of funding.

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10 Working Showers Between Almost 300 Women

January 26, 2016March 1, 2016 | bamaaubie

We have been made aware that at the Montgomery Women’s Facility there has been an issue whereby several of the shower heads were damaged or removed. The correctional staff have therefor restricted the use of showers to only those that have a working shower head, including the shower for disabled inmates.
This has resulted in only 10 showers with shower heads being available for almost 300 women and is totally unacceptable given that according to regulations inmates have to shower everyday between certain times. Come on Alabama Department Of Corrections, you have maintenance personnel, how hard is it to replace a shower head?

State’s prison system ‘under stress,’ commissioner says

January 25, 2016January 25, 2016 | bamaaubie

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s prisons chief on Tuesday said the state prison system remains ‘under stress’ because of aging facilities, low staffing and overcrowding.

Source: State’s prison system ‘under stress,’ commissioner says

How to fix the Alabama Department Of Corrections

January 25, 2016March 1, 2016 | bamaaubie

I have read with great eagerness the coverage given to exposing the conditions within Alabama Department Of Corrections and by exploring ways of improving conditions within Alabama’s prisons and reducing the prison population overall. But then I would, I have a biased view, my wife is currently incarcerated in ADOC and has been for 11 years. We know how the ADOC works, I can only speak of that which I know and have experienced first hand, so my focus lies with the female population incarcerated within Alabama Department Of Corrections.

Ironically it seems to matter not, how serious a crime you are charged with committing, if you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, unless you or your family are financially secure, or are well connected with the old boy network, you have little to no chance of a fair trial, and if you happen to be female, the problem is even more acute. The issues are very complex and multi faceted and a lot of people have a vested interest financially and politically to keep things ticking over just as they are. I will raise the negative aspects first and then follow on with our suggestions on how to fix ADOC, ADOJ and the prison over population problem.

Firstly, as in my wife’s case the District Attorney and prosecutors will seek the most severe charges, and therefor the maximum penalties. They will withhold evidence, prevent witnesses at trial in order to weaken your case and strengthen theirs against you. Instead of a manslaughter charge, they will push for a murder charge. Instead of 10-15 years, you’ll be looking at life, possibly without the possibility of parole.

District Attorney’s, prosecutors and even judges should not be above the law. They should not be allowed to blatantly manipulate the law. They should not present unreliable evidence nor should they be allowed to get away with professional misconduct. They should present all evidence; they should uphold the constitutional rights of the accused and treat them as innocent until proven guilty. They should lay charges as per the crime, not try to convict for murder for example in a blatant manslaughter case in an effort to get another “Murder Conviction” notch on a belt, or another political gong to show just how “tough on crime” they are.

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Only 4 microwave ovens for nearly 300 female inmates

January 25, 2016March 1, 2016 | bamaaubie

Did you know?
Inmates have to stand in-line and wait for hours as there are only 4 microwave ovens in a dormitory that houses almost 300 women.
In addition the only access to hot water that they have for drinks etc. is from the hot faucet in the shower block.
Surely Alabama’s Department of Corrections could afford to install at least a couple more microwaves, given the millions of dollars that Alabama Department Of Corrections, makes off of each inmate via their families, over charging for canteen, phone calls, kick backs etc. etc. etc.?

Clarification Finally Given On PREA Laws

December 9, 2015March 1, 2016 | bamaaubie

The women were recently issued with ADOC’s new PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) informational flyer. It seems they have finally started to acknowledge and clarify the law and how it legally affects the women, what protection it affords them, and what they can expect to happen should they ever feel threatened or are attacked in anyway by another inmate or a correctional officer. PREA is not a new law, but its good to see it getting formal exposure throughout the facility, inline with federal standards, although perhaps given the seriousness of the subject matter, perhaps a spelling and grammar checker should have employed before being sent to print. In any event, please note that retaliation is not permitted in any form, and there are many valid forms of reporting any and all incidents.