ALABAMA MOVING AHEAD WITH TWO NEW MEGAPRISONS

By Bob Walsh

 

Gov. Kay Ivey signs into law a plan to construct two new 4,000 man prisons

 

 The State of Alabama is moving ahead with plans to build two new 4,000 bed megaprisons, despite dubious funding for construction.  One of the contracts has already been let.

The two new prisons will be built in Escambia and Elmore counties.  

Current correctional thinking is that prisons this large are very difficult to manage and have trouble providing a rehabilitative environment.  It seems that Alabama does not care what current thinking in the field is.  

The feds have been after Alabama in the recent past, alleging abuse by staff, rampant corruption, drug smuggling, overcrowding and constant short staffing.  In addition medical and mental health support is said to be subpar.  Supporters of the new prisons assert that the new facilities will address some of these issues.

Alabama was going to use a private prison operator (CoreCivic) to build the new facilities and lease them back to the state, but their funding fell thru.  For that matter state funding, via bond sales, has been about 20% short of goals, though the state is moving forward in any case.

My own humble opinion, for what that might be worth to you, is that their system will continue to be disgusting until they thoroughly professionalize all levels of staff.  This includes paying the staff a decent wage.  I do not see that happening any time soon in Alabama.