News & Commentary

Birmingham’s new 1.3 million dollar surveillance technology doesn’t prevent or “solve crimes.” It responds to crimes that have already occurred by utilizing surveillance tools that have a documented record of racist targeting and increased criminalization of Black, brown and poor communities.

Maria Morris, Senior Staff Attorney, National Prison Project, ACLU

The

The 2020 Alabama Legislative Session convened on Tuesday, February 4, 2020. Read more about Following the 2020 Legislative Session.

Paul DeMarco wrote a letter to the editor dated January 13, 2020, in which he responded to a recent report by the Campaign for Smart Justice with ACLU of Alabama. The report analyzed 5 years-worth of data and projected a spike in Alabama’s already overcrowded prison population in 2020.

Two cases recently elevated by Smart Justice investigative reporting made a huge impact at the December “study group” meeting on Alabama’s prison crisis. Governor Kay Ivey, who has not attended the monthly meetings, formed the group in July to address “the challenges” facing Alabama’s prison system. The latest meeting on December 4 in Montgomery was the only opportunity given for people directly impacted by the crisis to speak publicly to the group. 

The United States is in the midst of a prison suicide epidemic. In 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicides accounted for about 1.6% of overall U.S. deaths. Alabama, where I live, is at the center of the crisis.

Let’s address the term “violent inmate.” The implication is this person is actively dangerous, guilty of causing physical harm and likely to hurt someone again. None of this is necessarily true.

This past week the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) held a memorial service honoring Jake, a K-9 narcotics detection officer that died after he was exposed to a synthetic drug during a raid at Staton Correctional Facility.

Today is the 12th day of the 2019 legislative season and the session is in full swing. Last week, HB314, passed the House health committee with a favorable report and it now heads to the House floor for debate. The ACLU of Alabama has been out front in opposition to this bill and in last Wednesday’s public hearing Executive Director, Randall Marshall, testified in opposition to HB314 and stated that Alabamians are paying a significant price (millions!) for the state to defend unconstitutional legislation like this bill.