by Eva Pechtl “They see me trying to do right, but my past is my problem,” said Terry Townshend, an inmate resembling countless others denied release on parole from Alabama’s prisons at astounding rates. Before we begin, I encourage you to read Kala Bhattar’s posts on the extensive history and severity of the Alabama … Continue reading Hopeless Efforts at Release on Parole from Alabama Prisons
Search Results for: alabama prison
The Ongoing Alabama Prison Crisis: From the Past to the Present
This is a continuation of the conversation about the Alabama Prison Crisis as exposed by Mary Scott Hodgin in her podcast, “Deliberate Indifference.” If you have not read the previous blog post on this topic, “The Ongoing Alabama Prison Crisis: A History”, it is recommended that you do so. Also, if you would like more … Continue reading The Ongoing Alabama Prison Crisis: From the Past to the Present
The Ongoing Alabama Prison Crisis: A History
WBHM, the publicly sponsored NPR affiliate located in Birmingham, Alabama, published a podcast this year, focusing on the atrocious realities of prisons in Alabama. Titled, “Deliberate Indifference,” the host, Mary Scott Hodgin, takes the listeners through an in-depth journey of the correctional facilities in Alabama, trying to better understand the root causes of the … Continue reading The Ongoing Alabama Prison Crisis: A History
Factors Affecting Poverty in Alabama
by Jordan Price One day, in the cafeteria of my small-town Alabama high school, my friend asked if I could sneak some extra snacks from the cafeteria as I went through the line, “Anything that I can put in my backpack for later.” I wondered why her question was asked so defeatedly but brushed it … Continue reading Factors Affecting Poverty in Alabama
Mental Illness in U.S. Prisons and Jails
by James DeLano “I run the biggest mental hospital in the country.” That was Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca in 2005. He was referring to the fact that, in 2005, over 2,000 people in the county jail had been diagnosed with a mental illness. That has not changed. Nationwide, between 16% and 24% of … Continue reading Mental Illness in U.S. Prisons and Jails
Southern Prisons in the U.S.
by Abigail Shumate Prisons, Historically A quick Google search of “Alabama prison news now” will lead you to hundreds of articles detailing brutal and entirely unnecessary deaths of Alabama inmates. This is not exclusive to Alabama, it’s a trend you can find amongst most other southern states, including Georgia, North Carolina, and Louisiana. The UAB … Continue reading Southern Prisons in the U.S.
Modern American Slavery: Forced Prison Labor
by James DeLano Historical Slavery in the United States Slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865 with the ratification of the 13th Amendment. The amendment reads, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any … Continue reading Modern American Slavery: Forced Prison Labor
Policing for Profit: An Ongoing Alabama Investigation
Brookside, Alabama – a poor town, 70% white, 21% black with a small but growing Hispanic population and a median income “well below the state average” has made national news because of the Brookside Police Department (BPD). The BPD has managed to double the impoverished town’s total income from 2018 to 2020 as a result … Continue reading Policing for Profit: An Ongoing Alabama Investigation
Nathaniel Woods and Alabama’s Broken Justice System
As the world is reeling from the coronavirus outbreak and the constant inundation of new cases and increasing death rates, I wanted to call your attention to an important event that has largely been overlooked in the midst of the chaos. On March 5th, 2020, a man by the name of Nathaniel Woods was executed … Continue reading Nathaniel Woods and Alabama’s Broken Justice System
PRISONERS NEED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TOO!
With the release of the film Just Mercy, which recounts Bryan Stevenson’s experience challenging death row convictions in Alabama and creating the Equal Justice Initiative, the criminal justice system is once again in the news and the topic of the death penalty is being debated. First off, everyone should see the film. Until we do … Continue reading PRISONERS NEED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TOO!
