How to fix the Alabama Department Of Corrections

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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

| 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.?

 

 

Prison system setting inmates up for failure

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Montgomery Advertiser Dec 10, 2015

Has the public ever realized that the very ones the parole board deems too dangerous to release are the very ones released with no conditions or supervision?

This is the case of many, such as myself, who received a 25-year sentence for the murder of my husband. I have served almost 24 years and have been considered for parole many times. My district attorney, Doug Veleska, has ensured my hearings were nothing less than dramatic – just like my trial. Of course, one would only have to take the time to see just where his theatrics have gotten him these days. 

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Homicide Rate in Alabama Prisons Highest in History | Equal Justice Initiative

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Last year was the most lethal year in the history of Alabama’s correctional system.

Source: Homicide Rate in Alabama Prisons Highest in History | Equal Justice Initiative

Why Are So Many Black Women Dying of AIDS?

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The injustices caused by racial profiling in law enforcement, and bias in criminal prosecution and sentencing, are now a subject of significant public attention. And they should be. The loss of life and liberty from these practices is shameful and tragic. But it is critical that we do not overlook the significant evidence showing that the end result of these practices — the mass incarceration of nonwhite men — may also be fueling an urgent public health crisis among some of the most disadvantaged members of our society.

Although African-Americans represent about 12 percent of the United States’ population, they account for roughly half of all new infections and deaths from H.I.V./AIDS. The H.I.V. infection rate among black women is 20 times higher than for white women, read more http://nyti.ms/1Z4t5I9 

 

What Is Going On With Visitation?

| bamaaubie

For several months now, the process of being booked in for visitation has gone from bad to worse. We are hearing complaints from friends and family of the women who arrive 10-15 minutes early and are ready at the booking in shack, yet the correctional officers do not even bother coming over to process people in until the official start time of visitation.

Inside news from Montgomery Women's Facility
Inside news from Montgomery Women’s Facility

As of the weekend December 5th-6th, it was observed that most families and friends were inline by 10-20am on Sunday December 6th, but the officers did not appear with Lt. Mason until at least 10:30am it then took the officers almost 45 minutes to process the people in, that is totally unacceptable given that visitation is only 3 hours long.

One family member told us, “they get us in late and kick us out early”. Some people arrive with very young children and adversely some families arrive with older relatives, the correctional officers should start processing people in earlier so that people get as much time with their loved ones as possible. Visitation is vitally important for maintaining the family bond.

We suggest that people start contacting Warden Ellington with their concerns on (334) 215-0756 or the Commissioners Office, Please add your comments below, and if all else fails then contact us and we will pass on your complaint or concern.

 

 

Clarification Finally Given On PREA Laws

| 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.

PREA Rules
PREA Rules at Montgomery Women’s Facility

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Smear Tactics Backfire on CEO of Prison Phone Company

| bamaaubie

Tuesday, 01 December 2015 00:00
By Brian Dolinar, Truthout | Op-Ed

Unlike many government bureaucrats, Mignon Clyburn, a member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), doesn’t only pay attention to data and documents. She also understands the importance of a simple phone call for the millions of people incarcerated in the United States.

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn addresses America's Digital Inclusion Summit at The Newseum, March 9, 2010. (Photo: Knight Foundation / Flickr )
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn addresses America’s Digital Inclusion Summit at The Newseum, March 9, 2010. (Photo: Knight Foundation / Flickr )

At a hearing before the congressional committee that oversees the FCC, Commissioner Clyburn spoke proudly of the body’s recent vote to slash the cost of phone calls from prisons and jails in the United States. She was moved by the case of a young woman living in New Mexico, Jazlin Mendoza, whose family has spent an astounding $28,000 so that she could have a weekly five-minute conversation with her father in prison.

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Words From Prison…Did You Know???

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Women In Prison An Overview

Women are the fastest growing segment of the incarcerated population. Nationally, there are now more than eight times as many women incarcerated in state and federal prisons and local jails as there were in 1980.[i]

The number of women serving sentences of more than a year grew by 757% between 1977 and 2004—nearly twice the 388% increase in the male prison population.[ii]

There are more than one million women behind bars or under the control of the criminal justice system when all forms of correctional supervision–probation, parole, jail, and state and federal prisons–are considered.[iii]

New York State has the fourth largest female prison population in the nation, exceeded only by Texas, California and Florida.[iv]
Women of color are significantly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Two-thirds of women in prison in the United States are women of color.[v]

In 2004, black women were 4.5 times more likely than white women to be incarcerated.[vi]

African American women’s incarceration rates for all crimes increased by 800% since 1986, compared to an increase of 400% for women of all races.[vii]

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