With the nation’s most crowded prison system and the looming threat of federal court action, Alabama

Описание: (30 Jun 2015) AT ELMORE CORRECTIONAL CENTER PRISON NORTH OF MONTGOMERY...
THERE ARE NEARLY TWICE AS MANY INMATES HERE FOR WHAT THE FACILITY WAS DESIGNED FOR—
A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE STATE... WHICH HAS THE MOST CROWDED PRISONS IN THE COUNTRY.
SOUNDBITE Susan Watson/ACLU:
"Our prisons are at double capacity. That is not a safe situation for the corrections officers or the inmates. "
EXTRA BUNKBEDS HAVE HAD TO BE BROUGHT IN FOR INMATES LIKE ROBERT MARBURY,
CONVICTED OF RAPE, ROBBERY AND THEFT- HE SAYS PRISON CONDITIONS HAVE DETERIORATED OVER THE LAST 28 YEARS.
SOUNDBITE Robert Marbury/Inmate:
"Crowded, a little bit more hostile than it used to be. People seem to think that it used to be badderthan it is now, but it's not necessarily. It's a lot worse now"
NEW LEGISLATION PROMISES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEHIND BARS IN ALABAMA PRISONS.. BY CREATING A NEW FELONY CATEGORY THAT COULD AVOID JAIL TIME.
SOUNDBITE Cam Ward, state Sen. (R) Alabama, who led a reform task force that developed the plan:
"Prisoners who committed property crimes, who committed drug possession crimes, who committed non-violent crimes. In other words, "I didn't harm another physically." What that does is, this bill says they'll be moved into a Class D felony, which gives the judge discretion on how to sentence them."
REFORM ADVOCATES SAY IT'S A GOOD FIRST STEP TO FIX THE ALABAMA PRISON SYSTEM.
SOUNDBITE Susan Watson/ACLU:
"Something absolutely had to be done or we would have had the Department of Justice in."
BUT LEGISLATORS NOW HAVE TO FUND THE BILL WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT $12 MILLION IN ITS FIRST YEAR.
ALABAMA LAWMAKERS HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER TO AGREE ON A BUDGET OR POSSIBLY FACE FEDERAL INTERVENTION OF THEIR PRISON SYSTEM.
JOSHUA REPLOGLE, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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