|
|
| Judge Asked to Relieve Alabama Prison Overcrowding |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 09/27/2002 |
|
A federal judge was expected to conclude a court hearing Wednesday on a lawsuit that contends that Alabama's prisons for women are overcrowded and dangerous. Attorneys for women inmates have asked U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson to issue a temporary injunction requiring the state to hire more corrections officers and take other actions to ease overcrowding at the state's prison for women, Tutwiler Correctional Facility in Wetumpka, and at two work-release centers for women. The suit, filed by attorneys for the Atlanta-based Southern Center for Human Rights, also asks the judge to order the state to come up with a plan for adding new facilities to house female inmates. Thompson said he expects the hearing, which started Monday, to wrap up Wednesday afternoon. It was not known when he would rule on the injunction request. Thompson heard testimony Monday and Tuesday from inmates and corrections experts about conditions at the prisons, particularly Tutwiler, which has about 1,000 prisoners. The 60-year-old prison was built to house 364 inmates. The attorneys for the plaintiffs presented testimony showing that inmates live in hot, crowded dorms at Tutwiler where bunk beds are stacked side by side. Tutwiler Warden Gladys Deese testified Tuesday that corrections officers at the prison are 'not afraid' to man their posts in the dormitories. Concerning the claim by plaintiffs that overcrowded conditions have increased the risk of violence, Deese testified that there have been 17 fights reported at Tutwiler in the past 90 days. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
I like learning more about prison reforms from this great website that has housed excellent articles on the topic. If I want to learn more about these important topics I know to contact Hamilton Lindley about more of this information because I know that I’ll get a fair answer.