MONTGOMERY- The Alabama Department of Corrections has plans to sell more than 5,000 acres of unproductive properties across the State, including 2,045 acres in Montgomery County that is considered a hunter’s paradise - Red Eagle Honor Farm. ADOC will sell the land to help offset approximately $90 million in deferred maintenance and capital improvement cost. The Department will retain 364 acres of the total 2,409 available and will continue prison operations at Red Eagle.

“I wish we could talk them out of selling it,” said Joseph Womble, a Captain at Red Eagle. “It’s an awesome place to hunt all kinds of game, plenty of deer, wild hogs, and lots of dove. We always have the Conservation Department’s youth dove hunt and have taken almost 400 birds in that one day hunt.”

The property is bordered on three sides by the Tallapoosa and Dead Rivers, limiting access and creating a pristine, controlled hunting area. In all, there are approximately 27,000 linear feet of water frontage on the property, allowing for excellent river access. Still, the low lying farmland has ample high ground suitable for a hunting lodge or support buildings. The tract is unbelievably convenient, located only three miles north of Montgomery; it has well established roads and has been planted with crops for decades.

“We plant and cut corn to feed our own livestock,” Womble said. “There is always plenty of surplus left, so there is plenty of food. The deer love to hide in the cane-breaks along the river. With a food source here, the game is here.”

ADOC staff attorney Albert Butler has hunted the property for years, once sharing a duck hunting adventure with former Governor Fob James. “I showed him where some of the duck spots were, just not the best ones,” Butler said with a sly chuckle. “I grew up hunting out there. I took my first duck on the property when I was seven years old.”

The Red Eagle property was originally purchased by the Department in 1893 and used as a farming operation to support other prisons. In 1976, and continuing to 1983, the facility was renovated and two new dormitories constructed, allowing for the housing of 264 minimum custody inmates. Red Eagle now houses up to 340 inmates, providing labor in community service jobs for state agencies in Montgomery.

The facility’s property also contains numerous archeological artifacts from an early Creek Indian meeting ground. Red Eagle was the name given to William Weatherford, a noted Creek leader. In 1976, The Chief and Council of the Creek Indian Nation gave approval to the Department for the use of the name Red Eagle.

“It’s very good for deer and turkey hunting, and excellent for dove,” Butler said. “Quail could be brought back with some work, but quail are down all over the State. It would be a very good place to manage quail with a little effort.”

Governor Bob Riley and ADOC Commissioner Richard Allen previously announced plans to sell numerous unproductive lands to generate revenue for much needed capital improvements within the Department. The minimum bid for the Red Eagle property is $4,015,000. ADOC is also selling more than 3,800 acres at the Farquhar State Cattle Ranch, a 16,000 sq. ft. office building on Union Street in Montgomery, 32 acres on Highway 231 North in Wetumpka, and 10 acres at the old Kilby prison site also in Montgomery. The Department expects the sale of these properties to generate in excess of $22 million.

Sealed bids for the Red Eagle property will be received by the State Lands Director up until January 8, 2008, at 2:00 p.m., at which time all bids will be publicly opened and read in the Office of the State Lands Division, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 464 Folsom Administrative Building, Montgomery, Alabama 36130.

ADOC will retain mineral rights on the property, except for clay, sand, and gravel. Evidence of such does exist on the property and samples of subsurface excavations are available for inspection. The State makes no claims, expressed or otherwise, as to the volume, grade, or quality of sand, gravel, and/or clay present. The property may be inspected before 2:00 p.m. on January 8, 2008, by contacting the State Lands Division.

MONTGOMERY- Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen today announced changes to the ADOC website that will improve the dissemination of accurate information within the Department, to other state agencies, and to the general public. Monthly and annual Departmental reports are archived on the web dating back to the year 2000. These reports provide large quantities of Departmental information regarding facility populations, sentencing, demographics, staffing, and more.

“Our Department continues to evolve and change, making many improvements,” Allen said. “We feel it’s important to collect and share accurate data on as many facets of the Department as possible. The monthly and annual reports contain a wealth of valuable information, and we hope these changes mirror the information relevant to our Department.”

Major revisions have been made to the ADOC monthly report beginning with the new Fiscal Year that began October 1, 2007. A definitions page is now included on page one of the report to help clarify the differences between ADOC’s In-House, Jurisdictional and Custody populations. Historically, much of the focus has been placed on the In-House population with an occupancy rate that is consistently near double the State’s designed capacity. In-House Population is defined as the inmates incarcerated within correctional facilities owned and operated by ADOC; this includes transient inmates between correctional facilitates. In October, ADOC’s In-House population was 25,038, with a designed capacity of 12,682. This equates to an In-House occupancy rate of 197.2%. Average monthly populations for all facilities and their occupancy rates are included in the monthly report.

Also, as of October, there were 29,363 inmates in ADOC’s Jurisdictional Population. This includes all inmates serving time within ADOC facilities / programs, as well as in the custody of other correctional authorities, such as county jails, other State DOCs, Community Corrections Programs, Federal Prisons, and privately leased facilities.

ADOC’s Custody Population as of October 2007, was 25,547. Custody Population is defined as In-House Population plus those housed in other ADOC leased facilities and special programs such as Supervised Re-Entry or the Columbiana Therapeutic Education Facility.

“Research and Planning personnel have spent numerous hours over a period of two-to-three months analyzing this publication to make revisions and improvements that will provide more clear insight into the operations of the prison system,” said Glen Casey, Director of the ADOC’s Research & Planning Division. “This revision process involved interactions with ADOC administrative and operational personnel, as well as with external agency personnel, including members of the Alabama Sentencing Commission, who have extensive experience in the field of criminal justice.”

Further changes are evident on page four of the report. The inmate distribution page has been revised to include the new population categories detailed by location/program, along with that portion of the Jurisdictional Population located in county jails.

On page five of the report, admissions into ADOC jurisdiction are detailed by admit type, offense, demographics, sentence length, and committing county or circuit. Release details follow on page eight. Within ADOC, major revisions are being made in the reporting of disciplinary actions, assaults, and other violent acts to ensure reports mirror national Performance Based Measures established by the Association of State Correctional Administrators.

Details related to ADOC’s Work Release program, including gross inmate salaries earned with a year-to-date revenue total, are broken down by facility in the report. Work Release is a reintegration tool, assisting inmates with employment in the free world. ADOC retains 40% of a WR inmate’s salary to help offset the cost of his/her incarceration. Other fines, court fees, and restitution, including court ordered child support, are also withheld from an inmate’s wages and sent to the proper authority.

ADOC’s recently implemented Supervised Re-Entry Program is detailed on page twelve of the report. SRP effectively transitions an offender back into society in a structured manner. This program takes select male and female offenders and places them in a residential environment - under the supervision of a sponsor and ADOC SRP Correctional Supervisors - where they obtain employment, education, and/or training and pay court-ordered restitution. Rehabilitation, re-socialization, and reintegration of an offender are the SRP’s primary goals.

The monthly report concludes with pages detailing revenue from Alabama Correctional Industries, along with security and support personnel staffing. Recruiting and retention, especially at the Correctional Officer level, is one of the Department’s highest priorities. ADOC, in the past year, has implemented an aggressive recruiting campaign, graduating more Correctional Officer Trainees in 2007 than in any of the last five years.

“Our goal at the beginning of each fiscal year is to analyze and develop a monthly report that will serve as a valuable management tool for our administration, as well as provide beneficial information for the general public,” said Casey. “I feel like we’ve done that with this product.”

MONTGOMERY- Alabama Attorney General Troy King, the Alabama District Attorneys Association, and the Alabama Department of Corrections have filed motions seeking dismissal of a lawsuit brought by the family of former inmate Farron Barksdale and the Southern Center for Human Rights, asserting the materials requested are not public record under Alabama law. The Barksdale suit is seeking various investigative records and incident reports concerning not only Barksdale, but several other inmates within ADOC.

The documents sought by Plaintiffs are not considered public and do not fall within the meaning of the Open Records Act, Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. These documents specifically concern security procedures or impact public safety and are exempt from disclosure. The incident reports that are generated by correctional officers and the ADOC Investigation and Intelligence Division are protected as “investigative reports” under Alabama Section 12-21-3.1. An amicus brief filed by the District Attorneys Association in support of the Department’s motion to dismiss agrees: “ADAA has a great interest in preserving the confidentiality of law enforcement investigative reports… (Plaintiffs) admit that they want incident reports and reports of criminal investigations, not only of the inmate in question, but of other inmates in the system. All available authority is overwhelming in favor of denying them this request.”

Attorney General Troy King has also submitted a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the Defendant’s motion to dismiss, suggesting the Court deny disclosure of all investigatory information. King’s amicus brief contends that making investigative reports public will compromise investigations at both the state and local levels, and strongly urges the Court to recognize the compelling investigations exception to the Open Records Act.

Numerous opinions issued by the Attorney General, and relied upon by corrections officials, have long applied the pending criminal investigations exception to the Alabama Uniform Incident/Offense Report used by most law enforcement agencies. The Attorney General suggests that the Court follow the analysis in a 1999 Attorney Generals Opinion (Op. Atty. Gen. 2000-004, Oct. 7, 1999) to determine what information in the inmate’s file is or is not investigatory. The brief concludes, “For these reasons, the Defendant’s motion to dismiss should be granted on the grounds of the criminal investigation exception to the Open Records Law codified in Section 12-21-3.1(b), as it pertains to investigatory information.”

ADOC has responded to dozens of media requests regarding the incarceration and subsequent death of Farron Barksdale on August 20, 2007, as allowed within the legal restrictions applicable to inmate health records and investigative files. ADOC has followed, and will continue to follow, federal and state law in regards to disclosure of such information.

In addition, in an attempt to provide the Barksdale family with as much information as possible, a forensic pathologist hired by attorneys representing the Barksdale family observed Barksdale’s medical care while in the hospital and was also present during an autopsy preformed by the Department of Forensic Sciences. At the request of Commissioner Richard Allen, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation of this matter. “Our Department has cooperated, is cooperating, and will continue to cooperate in the investigation into the death of Farron Barksdale,” Allen said. “The Department, however, will not do anything to compromise the integrity of the investigation and will not step outside the boundaries of the law.”

MONTGOMERY- Staton Correctional Facility Inmate Barry Lynn Reddick, W/M, DOB 6/20/56, was shot during an escape attempt today at approximately 11:15 a.m. Sentenced to life for attempted rape out of Cherokee County in July, 2003, Reddick was transported to the Staton Health Care Unit and subsequently airlifted to Baptist Medical Center South, where he is reported awake, alert, and in stable condition.

At the time of the incident, Reddick was attending classes on the campus of J.F. Ingram State Technical College, a secure educational facility for ADOC inmates adjacent to Frank Lee Correctional Facility. Reddick and other inmates were being escorted by officers to the dining hall at Frank Lee for lunch when Reddick attempted to escape by running into the nearby woods. Reddick was shot by an armed officer assisting with the inmate movement. An investigation of this incident is being conducted by the ADOC office of Investigations and Intelligence.

Selma - Training Director Wendy Williams announced today that the Alabama Department of Corrections Academy will hold the year’s third Academy Basic Training graduation on Thursday, November 8, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. Seventy-five Trainees will graduate, pushing the 2007 total to 224 graduates, more than double the 108 graduates of 2006. In fact, ADOC has graduated more Trainees in 2007 than in any of the last five years.

“We are extremely excited to announce that all seventy-five Trainees assigned to class 2007-03 successfully passed the final academic exam,” Williams said. “This is a great accomplishment on their part – some of them needed to score as high as 82 on the final to pass. They studied late into the evening and worked hard to achieve this goal!” she added.

As defined in the May 2006 ADOC Action Plan, recruiting and retention, especially at the Correctional Officer level, is one of the Department’s highest priorities. ADOC has since implemented an aggressive recruiting campaign, to include partnerships with the Alabama National Guard, Alabama Career Centers, and the Army’s Partnership for Youth Services, as well as television, radio, internet, billboard, and various other forms of media advertising.

“We are happy to see our recruiting efforts pay off,” said Richard Allen, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections. “We still have a long way to go in terms of building our work force to more acceptable levels.

However, we’re certainly hiring more than at any time in recent history, thanks to the efforts of our Recruiting Director, Brian Corbett, our institutional recruiters, and the good work of our COT hiring team, led by William Lawley.”

ADOC is the largest law enforcement agency in the State, charged with protecting the public while also providing rehabilitative programs in a safe, secure, and humane environment. ADOC has more than 2,600 security personnel, with more than 1,000 non-uniformed support personnel, managing an in-house population of more than 24,900.

A recent Staffing Study by Alabama Performance Improvement Partners suggests ADOC may be under-staffed by as many as 1,300 Correctional Officers. Our current officer to inmate ratio is 1:10, one of the ten highest ratios in the nation.

Attorney General Troy King is the scheduled commencement speaker for Thursday’s graduation. “It is my privilege and honor to stand with these fine officers as they graduate into the service of law enforcement,” King said. “The Alabama Department of Corrections officers have one of the toughest and most challenging law enforcement jobs in the nation, and I commend these graduates for taking on this important duty for the people of Alabama.”

Each Academy class consists of a 12-week, 480 hour intensive training program to include defensive tactics, classroom instruction, and physical conditioning. Upon graduation, each new CO is certified by the Alabama Peace Officers Standards Training Commission and required to complete an additional 40 hours of in-service training per calendar year. Please join us at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, November 8, 2007, at the School of Discovery, J.A. Pickard Auditorium in Selma.

(Take US Hwy 80 West to Selma. After crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge, turn right onto Selma Avenue. Turn left onto Washington Street. The School of Discovery Auditorium will be on the right at 400 Washington Street.)

The Department of Corrections welcomes your attendance.

MONTGOMERY- Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen today announced policy changes that will affect HIV positive inmates both at Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka and at Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest. At the urging of Representative Laura Hall, Chairperson of the Governor’s HIV Commission for Children, Youth, and Adults, Senator Hank Sanders, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, all HIV positive inmates will now participate in visitation and religious services, as well as all other programs, with general population inmates. Prior to the change, HIV positive inmates attended separate visitation and religious services and were segregated for meals.

“We feel this is the right thing to do,” Allen said. “After receiving a letter from Representative Hall and Senator Sanders, I instructed our staff to conduct a review of policies and procedures regarding HIV positive inmates. Much has been learned about the transmission of HIV in the last 20 years, and many fears about its spread are unfounded. We are very proud that our in-prison transmission rate is almost zero and that, because of the level of health care provided, most are in better health upon release than when first incarcerated.”

A 2006 study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that while male inmates have a relatively high prevalence of HIV infection, nearly five times that of the general U.S. population, very few of them acquire the virus while behind bars. The long standing perception is that transmission is common among prison inmates. This study, interestingly contradicts that perception, finding that the in-prison transmission rate is actually low.

Many individuals entering correctional facilities have a history of high-risk sexual behavior, substance abuse, or both. As a result, high rates of HIV and STDs have been documented among prison populations. The first HIV positive inmate arrived at Limestone Correctional Facility on October 10, 1985.

“HIV positive inmates have been participating in Trade School and Adult Basic Education classes with general population inmates for more than a year without incident,” said Billy Mitchem, Warden at Limestone Correctional Facility. “Thanks to tremendous medical improvements over the past decade and ongoing educational efforts for both employees and inmates, this unit is actually one of our better units to manage,” he said.

Through the Alabama Prison Initiative, the Alabama Department of Public Health – HIV/AIDS Division, along with statewide AIDS Service Organizations/HIV medical clinics, provided primary and secondary HIV education and transitional services to the HIV positive population prior to the policy changes. HIV specific health information was provided on disease transmission, medication adherence, partner/family notification, depression, nutrition, living healthy, harm reduction, and behavior modification. The inmates have also participated in life enrichment classes on peer mentoring, career development, parenting, addiction, and anger/stress management.

Current integration efforts are limited to the issue of program participation. For safety and prevention purposes, housing units for inmates infected with HIV will remain segregated. ADOC began limited integration for HIV positive inmates at Limestone in January of 2004. Integration for female inmates at Tutwiler soon followed.

“This change is awesome!” said Dana Harley, an inmate at Tutwiler since June of 2002. Harley has been battling HIV for almost six years while serving time on theft and forgery charges. To complicate matters, Harley must try to be a mom from prison. “I look forward to visiting with all the other mothers and children in the AIM (Aid to Inmate Mother’s) program,” she said. “I have a 7 year-old, and he’s had questions as to why he had to visit in another room, away from the other children.”

HIV positive inmates at Tutwiler will be assigned to select jobs within the facility, all educational and treatment programs will be open to them, and they will eat in the general population dining hall. Due to space limitations at Limestone, meals will still be served to HIV positive inmates in their dorms.

At Tutwiler, HIV inmates live in Dorm 8, a relatively spacious environment compared to the rest of the prison. Dorm 8 also includes other amenities perhaps not available in all Tutwiler dorms - a television, DVD player, telephones, microwave, and books.

Kathryn Canty is a Tutwiler inmate for the second time. After serving more than a year for drug possession in 2000, Canty returned in 2004 with multiple charges for theft and forgery, only to learn this time she would be living in Dorm 8. Canty was informed at intake that she had tested positive for HIV.

“It’s different, much different this time,” Canty said. “All classes were off limits. We had our own separate education, the classes came to us, food came to us. Eating in the dorm… our trays were cold. Now we go to the kitchen, our food is piping hot, it taste better and even looks better,” she said.

At in-processing, all ADOC inmates are tested for HIV, as well as other communicable diseases. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Alabama is one of 18 states who test all inmates at intake, and one of only three states who test all inmates upon release, the others being Missouri and Florida. In addition, if an inmate is housed out-of-state, in a community setting, or in a county jail for more than 90 days, and returns to ADOC for any reason, the inmate is re-tested. Additional testing may be done upon inmate request, clinical indication, incident involvement, random sample, or court order.

On average, ADOC annually receives approximately 12,000 inmates and releases more than 11,000 back into society. Currently, ADOC houses 285 males and 23 females with known HIV infections, equating to little more than 1% of total custody population. In the last five years, there have been no known cases of in-prison HIV transmission.

Currently, HIV positive inmates receive transitional and reentry services to assist with linkages to statewide AIDS Service Organizations and Medical Clinics. After release, inmates are linked to HIV specific medical care, dental care, intensive case management, and targeted housing. Due to currently existing programs and community support, newly released HIV positive inmates are successfully connected to a comprehensive array of services and resources to assist them in maintaining a higher quality of life after release.

MONTGOMERY- Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen announced today the return of all female inmates previously housed in Louisiana private prisons. ADOC completed the first transfer of 162 inmates on Monday, Oct. 15th, followed by the remaining 166 inmates on Wednesday, Oct. 17th. The transfers were completed on three chartered buses with security and cost covered by ADOC.

“We are very pleased to have all of our female inmates back at home,” Allen said. “Transferring this many inmates without incident required a massive logistical undertaking. Our staff is very professional and dedicated to their jobs, and it showed here by completing this task. As we move all inmates back to Alabama, we expect to save an estimated $10 million annually on rented bed space.”

In April 2003, in an attempt to reduce overcrowded, unsafe conditions at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women, and in an effort to comply with a federal court order, ADOC looked to out-of-state facilities as a means of alternative housing. ADOC remains court compliant by maintaining a population of 700 inmates or below at Tutwiler’s main campus. The returning female inmates are housed at the recently renovated Montgomery Women’s Facility, formerly the Montgomery Pre-Release Center for men, located on the grounds of Kilby Correctional Facility in Mt. Meigs. To make the facility female friendly, additional showers and toilets were added, with renovations to accommodate medical and mental health services, along with on-going installation of lighting and a new perimeter security system. The renovation cost is approximately $55,000.

As Associate Commissioner for Operations, James DeLoach helped to organize and facilitate the transfer. “I was surprised how happy the women are to move home, closer to kids, grandkids, and their families,” DeLoach said. “I equate it to the troops coming home from Iraq. It’s one of the warm and fuzzy things you get to do in this business.”

Wendy Ragland is serving a 20 year sentence for assault out of Calhoun County. Ragland was one of the first transferred to Louisiana almost five years ago in April of 2003. “I think it is God’s grace,” Ragland said. “I am so glad to be back home, I can’t stop smiling. I wrote my momma a letter just to tell her how happy I was.”

By contrast, Jacklin Mitchell is a Louisiana short-timer. Serving a 15 year sentence for forgery from Limestone County, Mitchell has only been in Louisiana since June 12, 2007. “Just long enough,” Mitchell said. “I’m just overjoyed…grateful to be back in Alabama. I like structure. There was no structure in Louisiana. Here we know how it’s going to be run.”

The transfer of 328 females further required complete medical screenings; to include chart reviews, blood work, mental health evaluations, prescriptions, and follow-up appointments. Ruth Naglich, Associate Commissioner of Health Services, utilized a team of nine medical and five mental health personnel to complete the task. “We had an outstanding collective effort from both medical and mental health staff,” Naglich said. “They have a vested interest in making sure these ladies are taken care of… these people worked their tails off.”

To help eliminate a budget shortfall of more than $30 million, ADOC is in the process of returning more than 1,300 male and female inmates back to Alabama. The first male transfers took place in late August. The use of private bed space is consistent with short-term recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Prison Crowding and assisted ADOC in keeping the number of state inmates in county jails beyond the thirty day limit at zero.

To make room for all returning inmates, ADOC will use a multi-pronged approach. A new Therapeutic Education Center in Columbiana will begin taking inmates in the Spring of 2008, eventually housing up to 450 inmates. Work Release capacity statewide will be doubled, topping out at more than 3,000 inmates.

The Montgomery Pre-Release is now the Montgomery Women’s Facility and the Limestone Pre-Release remains under construction with a future capacity of 300 male inmates. Renovation cost at Limestone is expected to top $2.5 million. A new Supervised Re-Entry Program has been implemented with the purpose of placing select inmates in a residential environment, under the supervision of their sponsors and ADOC SRP Supervisors, where they may obtain employment, education, and/or training and pay court-ordered restitution. Rehabilitation, re-socialization, and reintegration of an offender are the SRP’s primary goals and allow for offenders to re-enter society in a structured manner.

Kyndale Kolkana spent two years in Louisiana after being sentenced in 2003 on various theft charges from Mobile. “Now I can have visits. Louisiana was too far for my family to come,” said Kolkana. “I’m relieved. I can rest now. Here we know where we stand at all times. It’s a relief to be back at home with familiar faces.”

ADOC continues to house 136 male inmates at the Perry County Detention Center in Uniontown, Alabama, and 141 male inmates at the J.B. Evans Correctional Facility in Louisiana, both owned and operated by LCS Corrections Services. All male inmates are expected to be returned to ADOC facilities by mid March, 2008.

Montgomery, AL. - The Alabama Department of Corrections will contract with Correctional Medical Services of St. Louis, Missouri, to provide comprehensive medical coverage for inmates on a statewide basis beginning November 1, 2007. CMS was awarded the contract through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. An Intent to Award notification was sent to CMS on August 16. The parties have since completed negotiations with a final contract to be presented to the state’s Contract Review Oversight Committee on September 6. The contract calls for a payment to CMS of $67,248,203.00 for the first eleven months and an additional $156,025,596.00 over the next two years.

CMS will provide comprehensive medical and dental services to more than 24,600 inmates in ADOC’s 29 correctional facilities. The contract is for 35 months, with two potential one-year renewals. This contract contains innovative approaches to managed care and provides ADOC with the most cost effective use of resources while meeting services delivery requirements.

“Our staff worked hard to develop an all-encompassing RFP,” said Richard Allen, ADOC Commissioner. “This request gave us the opportunity to find the best value for our health services dollar.

I think the difficult work performed by our staff, including the evaluation of all three bidders, resulted in a selection that gives ADOC the best value possible. The new contract has many improvements over the existing contract, including limiting the State’s potential liability for in-patient and out-patient care and pharmaceutical costs.”

The new contract will benefit ADOC by placing additional financial responsibility on the vendor, thus reducing risk to the State. This reduced financial risk diminishes the Department’s need to seek additional supplemental funding as it relates to inmate healthcare. The contract also requires the contractor to pay and be responsible for several items the Department paid for directly in the previous years, such as the cost for inmates in the hospital receiving in-patient care. Furthermore, the contract establishes a means of both performance and financial accountability, while increasing the overall level of services received.

Correctional Medical Services, Inc. is a nationwide leader in the provision of correctional healthcare services, offering a comprehensive suite of medical, dental, and mental health services for the incarcerated population. CMS returns as ADOC’s healthcare provider with previous contracts from 1982 - 1988 and again from 1994 - 2001. CMS currently operates medical units in 24 states and manages medical services for 12 statewide systems. Over 6,000 employees and independent contractors work with CMS nationwide. For more information, visit the CMS web site at www.cmsstl.com.

Of the three companies that responded to the RFP, CMS presented the second lowest bid price (behind Wexford’s bid of $222,666,049.00 for three years). Although CMS’s bid price was second lowest, in a health service contract such as this price is only one of many considerations in determining best value. CMS scored strongly in the areas of qualifications and experience, its clinical support program, its personnel training plan, its program for innovation that would result in value added to the contract, its cost containment program, in addition to being within 4% of the lowest bid price. After the selection of CMS, the Department further reduced the CMS price through negotiations by $2.3 million.

“When our staff considered all of the facets of the proposal, CMS was deemed to be the best overall value, and I agreed; accordingly, the contract was awarded to them,” Allen said.

“We’ve had a successful partnership with the Alabama Department of Corrections over the years, and look forward to working with them again to best meet the needs of their inmate patients,” said Richard H. Miles, President and Chief Executive Officer of CMS. “We have an excellent team in place to develop and support a quality, responsible healthcare program for the State and lead us to a new level of achievement.”

ADOC Healthcare Fact Sheet

MONTGOMERY- Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen announced today the transfer of 134 male inmates from the West Carroll Detention Center in Epps, Louisiana, to the Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest, Alabama. This transfer is the first of several required to return more than 1,100 male and female inmates currently housed out-of-state to ADOC facilities.

“In an attempt to save taxpayer dollars and eliminate our budget shortfall, we plan to return all out-of-state inmates to Alabama by year’s end,” Allen said. “This move will allow us to save an estimated $10 million annually on rented bed space.”

ADOC first moved inmates to the West Carroll facility in January of 2007 and first began utilizing contract beds in the summer of 2003. The use of private bed space is consistent with short-term recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Prison Crowding and assisted ADOC in keeping the number of state inmates in county jails beyond the thirty day limit at zero.

To make room for all returning inmates, ADOC will use a multi-pronged approach. A new Therapeutic Education Center in Columbiana will begin taking inmates by November 1, 2007, eventually housing up to 400 inmates. Work Release capacity will be doubled, topping out at more than 3,000 inmates.

The Montgomery Pre-Release will be converted to a women’s facility, housing up to 300 inmates, while the Limestone Pre-Release remains under construction with a future capacity of 300 male inmates. A Supervised Re-Entry Program is also being implemented. The purpose of the SRP is to place selected inmates in a residential environment, under the supervision of their sponsors and ADOC SRP Supervisors, where they may obtain employment, education, and/or training and pay court-ordered restitution. Rehabilitation, re-socialization, and reintegration of an offender are the SRP’s primary goals and allow for offenders to re-enter society in a structured manner.

Prior to today’s transfer, 294 male inmates were housed at West Carroll at a cost of $26.75 per inmate, per day. Alabama inmates are also housed at the J.B. Evans Correctional Facility, South Louisiana Correctional Center, and the Perry County Detention Center, which are owned an operated by LCS Corrections Services.

MONTGOMERY- Dr. Ronald Cavanaugh, Director of Treatment for the Alabama Department of Corrections, recently earned professional certification in the field of correctional health care. To become a Certified Correctional Health Professional, Dr. Cavanaugh demonstrated mastery of national standards and the knowledge expected of leaders working in this field.

“Knowledge is power,” said ADOC Commissioner Richard Allen. “We believe in continued educational opportunities and training for our employees. I think this certification distinguishes Dr. Cavanaugh as someone with outstanding knowledge and experience in this field.”

Dr. Cavanaugh has been with the Department since 1986. Previously, he worked seven years with the Virginia DOC. Dr. Cavanaugh started as a Psych Assoc II at St. Clair and then at Donaldson before becoming the Director of Treatment in 2000. Dr. Cavanaugh earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri.

In order to become certified, candidates must first submit an extensive application and then pass a comprehensive exam covering administrative and legal aspects of health care in prisons, jails, and juvenile detention and confinement centers. CCHP is highly regarded as a symbol of accomplishment and self-improvement, with immeasurable benefits. It promotes correctional health care professionals’ knowledge, understanding, and application of standards and guidelines essential to the delivery of appropriate health care in the correctional environment; their role in delivering that care; the basic legal principles underlying their practice; and their ethical obligations. The credential further enhances ones professional standing in the community.

“The National Commission on Correctional Health Care establishes standards for the provision of health services in correctional settings,” Cavanaugh said. “Becoming certified helps ensure that these standards are met in the delivery of quality health care. I am grateful to all those who are supportive of these treatment efforts.”

As the Director of Treatment for ADOC, Dr. Cavanaugh oversees the provision of mental health services, substance abuse programs, drug testing, critical incident stress management teams, and assists with medical issues. Dr. Cavanaugh was instrumental in meeting compliance with the Bradley Settlement requirements regarding mental health services, and he is actively involved in establishing standards of care and drafting Administrative Regulations regarding ADOC’s mental health policies. He directed the standardization of the substance abuse programs incorporating evidence based practices. Dr. Cavanaugh is a board member of the Adult Immunization Task Force and the Alabama Commission for the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse.

The CCHP program is the only national program to recognize professionalism in the field of correctional health care. Dr. Cavanaugh joins an elite group of more than 2,000 correctional health professionals nationwide who currently hold this honor.

Contact Information
Frank Miles
Auburn Montgomery
University Relations
334-244-3467

The Auburn Montgomery Center for Government today honored Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks, State Department of Corrections Commissioner Richard F. Allen and the Alabama Department of Finance’s State Buildings & Space Management Office with Innovative Alabama Governments Awards.

The honorees were presented their awards for helping their respective agencies reach new levels of efficiency and responsiveness. The awards are the only such honors in Alabama that target individuals or teams that have brought about constructive change in local, county or state government.

Sparks and Allen won in the elected/appointed official category while the Buildings and Space Management Office took top honors in the team category.

Sparks gave the okay to initiatives that proactively position Alabama to be ready for food safety issues, statewide drought and other emergencies, but he said it was the work of department staff that was the key element in earning this recognition.

“I hope that this award sends a message that state employees work hard for the people of Alabama,” Sparks said.

Matthew Duke, senior director of the Center for Government, said the center’s mission to enhance individuals’ skills and organizational operations made bestowing these awards only natural.

“Our belief is that if we recognize these innovations, other groups will strive to reach the same level of efficiency and responsiveness that these government organizations have,” said Duke.

Honorable mentions went to Steve Carter, manager of the Athens Gas Department; the Department of Children’s Affairs Alabama Resources Management System Team; the city of Huntsville’s “Fixin’ Alabama” Project Team; and the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations’ Application Development Team.

Karen Hill Sheppard, representing Fixin’ Alabama, said her city’s plan to reduce the population of stray animals through spaying eliminates costly euthanizations down the road.

“What we have done is smart government because we are preventing a problem instead of having to deal with the consequences,” Sheppard said.

The AUM Center for Government provides employees of government agencies with consulting services that develop leadership skills, strengthen organizational capabilities and provide tools and strategies that promote success within the organization.

For more information on the Center for Government, visit www.cgov.aum.edu.

Synopses of the innovations developed by the award winners:

Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks Sparks directed Agriculture and Industries to develop strategic initiatives to address challenges in the areas of food safety, statewide droughts, and emergency response. As an example, he created the first Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness division within the department, which now oversees the development of agriculture emergency response capabilities.

Department of Corrections Commissioner Richard F. Allen Allen implemented the Alabama Department of Corrections action plan to advocate sentence reform, community corrections, parole transition centers and therapeutic education. He also implemented strategies that have helped alleviate prison overcrowding, personnel shortage, aging and poorly maintained facilities and high inmate health care costs.

Alabama Department of Finance’s State Buildings & Space Management Office The office developed the Space Management Leases Search Program as a searchable, web-based tool available to any citizen to view the state’s real estate portfolio. The new search program has eliminated the potential for waste and fraud in the leasing of state land and has increased government transparency, accountability and efficiency.

MONTGOMERY- Ever lost your car keys or misplaced your wallet? Truth be known, it’s pretty easy to do. Imagine the difficulty keeping track of almost 10,000 items, some large, some very small, worth more than $36 million. Such is the task given to Bill Lock, Inventory Control Manager for the Alabama Department of Corrections.

In accordance with the Code of Alabama 1975, the State Auditor’s Office conducted a property audit of ADOC’s nonconsumable personal property during the period April 9, through May 4, 2007. This audit includes ADOC property statewide, from Limestone County in the North, to Baldwin County in the South. In all, ADOC manages 29 correctional facilities and 76 administrative accounts. ADOC reported a property count of 9,618 items with an acquisition cost of $36,305,274. All state owned property assigned to the Alabama Department of Corrections was accounted for. In addition, ADOC has accounted for all items with a perfect audit for the last 19 years.

“It’s hard enough to keep up with your socks and make them match, much less tracking more than 9-thousand items,” said Commissioner Richard Allen. “The fact that Mr. Lock and everyone working in ADOC Inventory Control have managed perfect audits for nearly two decades is truly an amazing accomplishment, one the entire Department can be proud of.”

While everyone in ADOC is to be commended, the State Auditor’s Office offered a Certificate of Commendation to Mr. Lock, with special recognition for other Inventory Control employees Mr. James Doby and Mr. Charles Green Jr.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Jimmy Doby, Mr. Chuck Green, and all of the staff involved with the State Audit,” Lock said. “Once again the Alabama Department of Corrections has a perfect audit. Without help from everyone involved this could not have been accomplished.”

The State Auditor’s Office is required by law to conduct an audit on an account every two years. In addition, ADOC conducts two internal audits on equipment annually. This is done to preserve accountability of items that belong to the taxpayers of Alabama. During the last four audits ADOC has received a Certificate of Commendation from the State Auditor’s Office for a perfect audit.

MONTGOMERY – Commissioner Richard Allen announced today that the Alabama Department of Corrections is requesting proposals from responsible vendors to provide comprehensive medical coverage and related support services for inmates on a statewide basis. Prison Health Services of Brentwood, Tennessee has held the ADOC medical services contract since October of 2003. The current four year contract expires on October 31, 2007.

“We are committed to providing a level of health care which meets constitutional requirements and community standards, while remaining frugal with taxpayer dollars,” said Allen. “State law requires we open the RFP process to all qualified vendors.”

Responses to the Request for Proposal are expected to include information regarding the vendors ability to provide comprehensive health care in accordance with American Correctional Association, National Commission on Correctional Health Care, and constitutional standards, acceptable levels of staffing, inventory control, full reporting and accountability measures, along with the ability to comply with all state licensure requirements and standards regarding delivery of health care. The agreement period for this contract is three years, with two 1-year options for both parties to extend the contract.

ADOC will evaluate all proposals using criteria which may include:

1. Vendor qualifications and experience
2. Financial stability
3. Clinical program support
4. Personnel and training
5. Contract transition and start-up
6. Program innovations
7. Price and cost containment

Opening date for submitting a proposal is July 9, 2007, with presentations to be made the week of July 16, 2007. Upon acceptance of the Vendor’s proposal the parties will execute a formal written contract, subject to review by the Legislative Contract Review Committee and approval of the Governor. The vendor selected must be fully operational and ready to provide services no later than November 1, 2007.

Vendor selection will be based on the proposal that meets or exceeds the requirements set forth in the request. After the evaluation and selection process, all Vendors will be notified in writing regarding the selection of the successful Vendor. A copy of the RFP for inmate medical services will be available on the ADOC website at www.doc.alabama.gov.

Birmingham, AL – A documentary filmed in two Alabama prisons debuts Monday, May 7 to kick off a nationwide campaign to slow down the nation’s high school dropout rate.

“Inside Out” is a 52-minute documentary that features prison inmates promoting education as the only way for youth to avoid a life behind bars. It is the creation of Shelley Stewart, Chairman and CEO of Birmingham-based marketing firm O2 Ideas, and his business partner John Zimmerman, the company’s President and Chief Creative Officer. It is a production of the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting literacy and the curtailment of the dropout rate nationwide. The Foundation is named after Stewart’s mother, whom he witnessed being killed by his own father at the age of five in 1939 in Homewood, Alabama.

The Inside Out documentary presents a stark look at prison life – with inmates telling their personal stories of regret for not pursuing an education and graduating. Stewart compassionately interviews the inmates and unveils their genuine hope to give others the chance they no longer have, to avoid the pitfalls of dropping out of school. All of the inmates interviewed are either serving life sentences or life without parole.

"What we are hearing these inmates say is that they want to keep young people out of prison," Stewart said. “We want to tap into this growing desire of a sizable portion of the prison population to communicate that education and graduation from high school is the only way to avoid having a life wasted behind bars." Stewart added that a shorter, 34-minute version of the documentary will be available for classroom viewing.

"We originally thought Inside Outwould be a PSA campaign, but it quickly grew into something much bigger than that,” said Zimmerman. "As we filmed these emotionally charged interviews with prisoners, we realized we were working with the stuff of life itself. The passion and decency of the prisoners filmed in this documentary will have a life-changing impact on everyone who sees it," he said.

U.S. Congressman Artur Davis (D-AL) said, “The prisoners in the film Inside Out are essentially sending a ‘message from the grave’ so to speak. They are speaking from the end result of not getting an education. Yet, at the same time, we see Shelley Stewart ‘speaking from the mountaintop’ – the end result of leaving the valley to pursue education and working hard. I believe young people, who typically don’t realize they will face harsh consequences until they have gone too far, will listen to both perspectives and hopefully make the right choice. I fully endorse the mission of Inside Out and The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation and believe it has national importance.”

Borders Group CEO George Jones said, "The Inside Out documentary delivers an emotionally powerful and effective message — dropping out of school is linked to dire consequences. Once a child sees this film, they will understand the stark consequences of dropping out in a personal and moving way."

Stewart said the documentary will rapidly be made available in the state’s schools, churches, youth clubs and community groups throughout Alabama and across the country. The state’s Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education are already cooperating to endorse and promote viewings of the documentary. "We are grateful for the way that State School Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton and Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen, viewing the film at the same time, immediately embraced it and pledged their support for what we are doing," Stewart said.

"Each day we keep our children in school and increase their formal education skills, we are making an investment in all of our futures," said Dr. Morton, Alabama Superintendent of Education. "The teaching message in Inside Out is clear: A life lost to prison is a life lost to a family, to relatives, to friends...to all of Alabama. We must do all we can to stop the loss of these lives. This documentary has application for everyone who sees it, regardless of age or social position."

Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen said, "We support the Inside Out documentary's message of education as a crime deterrent. We also appreciate the film's portrayal of some inmates in our prison system as human beings of worth who just happened to have made unfortunate choices and are now living with the consequences. We, like those inmates depicted, trust that others will learn from these mistakes.

"We are also grateful to Shelley Stewart and John Zimmerman for taking this cause as their own, and encourage others in the private sector to support the film and get behind efforts to reduce the flow of inmates into the system. The DOC stands firm with the Alabama Department of Education in making sure the maximum number of young people, as well as other citizens, see this film."

Stewart said Inside Out will also be unveiled with similar premier events in Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile in the coming days and will also be taken to Washington to show federal elected and agency officials for a potential national rollout in schools and communities.

About the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation

The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation (MCS Foundation) was established in honor of Dr. Shelley Stewart’s late mother, Mattie C. Stewart. Dr. Stewart survived witnessing his own mother’s murder, suffering abandonment as an infant and severe abuse as a child. His mother and father both were illiterate – the primary driver behind their tragedy. The goal of the MCS Foundation is to enable corporate and individual philanthropic giving to fund initiatives that are designed to keep young people in school until they graduate. The MCS Foundation partners with local schools, law enforcement and other community organizations that place a special emphasis on nurturing the growth of our children to the end that they stay in school long enough to graduate. The MCS Foundation is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

About O2 Ideas

O2 Ideas, based in Birmingham, AL, is one of the fastest growing multi-faceted multicultural communications and retail branding companies in the United States. O2, headquartered in Birmingham, AL, has offices in Chicago and in Greenville, SC. Current clients include Borders, The Home Depot, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Intuit, Meijer, Verizon Wireless Midwest Area, Verizon Wireless GA/AL, Captain D’s, BI-LO and Bruno’s Supermarkets, Alabama State University among many others - as well as numerous “pro bono” clients including The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 16th Street Baptist Church, bewhoyouwannabe.com and others.

For more information on O2 Ideas, visit the web site at www.o2ideas.com.

MONTGOMERY- Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen today announced a new reentry program designed to help inmates adjust to life outside of prison, and thereby reduce the overall recidivism rate. The new transition program is based on one currently in place for persons living with HIV/AIDS within ADOC, and will be supervised by Elana M. Parker, an employee with the Alabama Department of Public Health, on loan to ADOC for a period of two years. Ms. Parker will design and implement the program as Reentry Coordinator and Public Health Liaison.

Discharge planning is vital to an inmate’s successful return to society. Currently, ADOC has more than 28,000 prisoners on its rolls. It is estimated that more than 95% of those presently incarcerated will eventually leave prison, returning to our neighborhoods and communities while bringing with them a multitude of challenges in addition to their criminal record, including relatively poor health, a history of substance abuse problems, and often a lack of job skills.

Studies have shown that the first year after release is critical and that without a sound reentry plan, and support from the home community, many inmates will return to prison within 12 months after release. Recidivism rates are lower for those who transition back into society with reentry services.

ADOC's Reentry Program will be designed to help inmates find the information and necessary resources to get back on their feet, assisting with task such as: obtaining a birth certificate, Social Security card, driver’s license and a GED Certificate. All persons leaving prison need at a minimum, a place to live, employment, and contacts with programs on the outside to help them stay drug free and out of trouble. Many times, parents must learn new skills to effectively bond with their children or other family members.

Ms. Parker’s previous work for ADOC includes coordinating the Alabama Prison Initiative for HIV positive inmates at Tutwiler, Limestone, and Kilby Correctional Facilities. The API incorporates primary and secondary preventive health education, discharge planning, and transitional services for HIV positive offenders who are reentering society. During the last several years, program services have expanded to the drug treatment and pre-release programs at Easterling, Donaldson, Montgomery Pre Release, Birmingham Community Based Facility, and St. Clair Prison. Ms. Parker has previously identified multiple social service and community based organizations statewide that are available and willing to assist with reentry efforts.

“I am very happy to be continuing my work with the DOC family,” Ms. Parker said. “I am looking forward to developing a state wide Reentry Program with transitional services which will be mutually beneficial for inmates and their home communities.”

Ms. Parker is a graduate of the University of Montevallo with a Bachelor Degree in Marketing and a Masters of Education Degree in Community Agency Counseling; she is also certified as a Masters Level Addiction Professional with the Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, as well as a member of the American Correctional Association and the Alabama Counseling Association. Ms. Parker obtained a second Bachelor Degree in Counseling Education from Samford University, also completing a graduate school internship at St. Clair Correctional Facility in the Therapeutic Community program.

As ADOC’s Re-Entry Coordinator / Public Health Liaison, Ms. Parker’s duties will include:

1. Development of a statewide comprehensive discharge planning/reentry model
2. Create within the developed system a holistic approach to discharge planning/reentry to better support and assist inmates during pre-release
3. Develop Departmental discharge planning/reentry documents to compliment the proposed model
4. Develop process and outcome monitoring tools to evaluate the discharge planning/re-entry model
5. Serve as liaison between ADOC and ADPH, Bureau of Professional and Supportive Services to include: Public Health Nursing for home health and community care, Social Work services, Women’s Health, Minority Health, Primary Care and Rural Health, health and vital statistics

“I am very excited to announce the addition of Elana Parker to the DOC staff,” said Commissioner Richard Allen. “We feel that her prior experience with corrections and expertise in the area of transitional services will greatly benefit this Department, and most importantly, benefit inmates as they reenter society. We are very appreciative of Dr. Don Williamson and the Department of Public Health for agreeing to assign Ms. Parker to DOC.”

Ms. Parker’s previous work history includes the Aletheia House Drug Treatment Program in Birmingham as a Therapist providing individual, group, and family therapy to newly released offenders and substance abuse clients. She also served in the capacity of Director of Housing and Outreach where she coordinated transitional and permanent housing, drug treatment, and social services for newly released offenders. Parker was a published presenter at the XIII Annual International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa in 2000. Abstract Title: “The Importance of Individual and Group Therapy for HIV positive substance abusers, homeless and mentally ill persons”.

MONTGOMERY- In one week’s time, from March 3rd to March 10th, inmates at the Kilby Correctional Facility have raised and donated more than $1,000 to the American Red Cross, earmarked for the Enterprise Relief Fund. Edward Flynn, an inmate housed in Kilby’s faith based honor dorm organized the effort.

“It makes us feel good – We’re excited about it,” Flynn said. “We like to help even though we are on this side of the fence. We like to use the slogan, ‘help us to help our neighbors’. Our neighborhood is just behind the fence.”

This is not the first time inmates have raised money for a worthy cause. In September of 2005, inmates statewide raised and donated more than $5,000 dollars to the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief, of that, more than $1,100 came from inmates at Kilby.

“My heart is so full that these men have chosen to give out of their own needs. This is a sacrifice for them,” said Helen Carroll, account manager for the Red Cross of Central Alabama.

Flynn organized the philanthropy effort by making announcements to each dorm at Kilby, posting flyers and maintaining a running total of the amount raised. The total donation is even more impressive when you consider inmates at Kilby do not have the ability to earn income. Some gave as little as .6 cents or a quarter. One inmate stated, “Man, I only have .27 cents on the books, but you can have it.” In all, more than 300 inmates contributed with the largest donation being $50.00.

“I’d like to express my appreciation to the organizers and those who contributed to this cause,” said ADOC Commissioner Richard Allen. “This reminds me of the bible parable the “Widow’s Mite.”

Luke 20:45-21:4

[21:1] As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. [2] He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. [3] "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. [4] All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

A check for $1,001.98 is being presented to the Red Cross of Central Alabama at Kilby Correctional Facility, 12201 Wares Ferry Rd, Montgomery; on Friday, March 16th at 10:00 a.m. Attendance is encouraged.

HARVEST – At the request of Representative Mac McCutcheon (R), several State Lawmakers are scheduled to tour the Limestone Correctional Facility on Thursday, February 8th. The purpose is to gain a first-hand look at the serious ills facing the Alabama Department of Corrections, not only at Limestone, but statewide. Long in need of Legislative attention, ADOC is stressed by prison crowding and other problems related to decades of inadequate funding.

“Alabama taxpayers deserve a Corrections Department that is efficiently run and adequate for public safety,” McCutcheon said. “We are here to support the men and women of the Department of Corrections. With budget hearings beginning for the 2007-08 fiscal year, we want to take a look at the needs of our State Corrections Department and its employees.”

Rep. McCutcheon will be joined at Limestone by Rep. Howard Sanderford (R), Rep. Sue Schmitz (D), and Rep. Micky Hammon (R).

The Limestone Correctional Facility opened in 1984 with an original design capacity for 874 inmates. Yet today, LCF has an average monthly population of 2,352, with plans for a new dormitory which will add 300 additional beds as part of ADOC's Pre-Release Program. Limestone's population also includes more than 260 inmates who have tested positive for HIV.

Appointed less than one year ago, Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen has set forth a comprehensive plan to identify and address the long-term problems facing ADOC, A Plan for Change I & II. Major elements of this plan, along with a historical perspective and action plan will be presented to lawmakers today. In addition, Limestone Warden Billy Mitchem will discuss facility specifics to include staffing levels, classification of inmates, inmate work opportunities, education, substance abuse treatment and other areas of concern.

“I am pleased to have Rep. McCutcheon, Rep. Sanderford, Rep. Schmitz and Rep. Hammon visit Limestone,” Allen said. “I am very grateful that they have taken time out of their busy schedules to learn more about the real needs of our Department. Its important with the Legislative session fast approaching that we present a true, honest account of our needs, and state our case clearly, in the best manner possible.”

Among the four major issues facing ADOC, prison crowding remains a top priority. Statewide, ADOC is currently operating at 191.5% of designed capacity. However, at medium security facilities and higher, ADOC is consistently operating at more than 200% capacity. With 12,705 inmates classified as medium security, this group accounts for more than half of ADOC's total average monthly population. Further, due to bed space limitations, ADOC continues to house more than 1,100 male and female inmates in contract facilities in Louisiana, costing the State more than $11 million per year. Staffing shortages among Correctional Officers, deteriorating infrastructure, and inmate medical cost are also major issues which much be addressed.

Representative Mac McCutcheon (R) was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2006 and serves the communities of Madison City, Capshaw, Monrovia and East Limestone.

Representative McCutcheon earned an A.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from Calhoun Community College and a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Trinity University. McCutcheon has been a farmer and worked 25 years with the Huntsville Police Department and the City of Huntsville Municipal Court System. His career in law enforcement includes Police Officer, Police Trainer, Investigator/Major Crimes, Hostage Negotiator and Probation Officer.

Representative Howard Sanderford (R) was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1989. He received his B.S. Degree in Accounting from Mississippi State University.

Rep. Sanderford is President of the Computer Leasing Company, Inc., and is a member of the First Baptist Church. An Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, he has also served as past President of the Huntsville Rotary Club, past Chairman of the Madison County Republican Executive Committee, past Co-chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Free Enterprise Committee, and past Vice President of the Metropolitan YMCA Board. Representative Sanderford currently serves as a member of the Alabama Commission on Aerospace Sciences, the Alabama Management Improvement Program, and the Alabama Board of Medical Scholarship Awards.

Representative Sue Schmitz (D) was elected in 1998. She received her B.A. in English and Political Science from the University of Alabama.

Rep. Schmitz is a classroom teacher and co-owner of a hardware and general merchandise store. She is a member of the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Optimist Club. Rep. Schmitz also sponsors Students Against Drinking and Driving, the Close Up Foundation, and serves as Coach and Advisor for the 'WE THE PEOPLE PROGRAM'.

Representative Micky Hammon (R) was elected in 2002. He received an electrical degree from Calhoun County Community College and currently works as an electrical contractor.

Rep. Hammon is a member of the Business Council of Alabama, the Morgan County Economic Development Association, the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Associated Builders and Contractors, and the Tennessee Valley Training Center.

MONTGOMERY- Newly elected Alabama Senator Parker Griffith (D-Huntsville) is concerned about the State’s prison system and wants to do something about it. Senator Griffith engaged in a fact finding mission Thursday, visiting two Alabama Department of Corrections facilities, the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, and the Kilby Correctional Facility, in Mt. Meigs. A former mayoral candidate for the City of Huntsville, Griffith also toured the Limestone Correctional Facility and the Decatur Work Release Center in December of 2006.

“I welcome Senator Griffith’s interest and look forward to working with him in meeting the many challenges our prison system presents in the coming legislative session,” said ADOC Commissioner Richard Allen.

Voters elected Griffith to the Alabama Senate on November 7th. A retired Board Certified Radiation Oncologist and businessman, Griffith is quickly making a name for himself in the Senate by serving as Chairperson of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Vice Chair of the Health Committee, as well as the Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee, and by serving as a member on the influential Rules Committee. One of seven new Senators elected, Griffith is taking a hands-on approach in his attempt understand the myriad of challenges faced by the State, and those which pertain to the Alabama Department of Corrections.

“I think it’s important for those of us responsible for the prison system to become more familiar with it,” Griffith said. “My learning curve is shorter if I can see it and put my hands on it. Perhaps if we are familiar with the system, we can prevent major expenditures from being forced on us in the future by the courts.”

Appointed by Governor Bob Riley in March, Commissioner Allen is working to address several major problems within ADOC, including overcrowded facilities. Built in 1942 with an original designed capacity of 400, Tutwiler has, at times, held more than 1,000 inmates. Currently, no more than 700 women reside in the main structure, with an additional 250 housed in external dormitories on site. ADOC also houses 399 women at the J.B. Evans Correctional Center in Newellton, Louisiana.

“The thing that impresses me most about the prison system is the culture created by the people working here,” Griffith said. “Your people are the story. It’s obvious to me that they are excellent caregivers and care deeply about the Alabama prison system.”

Kilby Correctional Facility opened in 1969 with a designed capacity for 440 inmates. The intake center is currently operating at 316% of its designed capacity, housing 1,358 male prisoners, with more than 500 in permanent party. Kilby is a maximum-security facility, providing inmate classification and assignment to other ADOC facilities. Senator Griffith entered a Kilby dormitory where one corrections officer supervises 136 inmates. ADOC’s officer to inmate ratio is 1:10, raising many safety implications, while surrounding states are near industry standard at 1:6.

“The system is so under-funded… it’s obvious this is a dangerous situation,” Griffith said. “The order and respect shown by the inmate population is a credit to those who work within the system.”

Kilby also provides hospital services to include comprehensive medical, dental and mental health care, which includes free world specialty care, and all related support services. In recent years, ADOC’s health care cost have risen to consume more than $80 million of the Departments annual budget, a number Griffith comprehends as a physician. “The average guy on the street does not want to think about the prison system,” he said. “He has no concept as to how expensive it is, especially when you are housing two, three, five guys who may be terminally ill, with twenty-eight more cancer patients undergoing active treatment. They are not thinking about all that’s happening here.”

The Alabama Legislature will convene in Regular Session at noon, Tuesday, March 6th. Senator Griffith may be contacted at the Alabama State House, 334-242-7800.

MONTGOMERY- Department of Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen announced today the transfer of 60 male inmates from the Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest, Alabama to the West Carroll Detention Center in Epps, Louisiana. West Carroll is owned and operated by Emerald Correctional Management of Shreveport, La

“The continued use of contract beds is consistent with short-term recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Prison Crowding as a means of addressing our immediate overcrowding issues,” Allen said. “This transfer and others in the future, will assist us in keeping the number of state inmates in county jails beyond the thirty day limit at zero.”

ADOC selected Emerald in May of 2006 as the low bid vendor for 600 medium custody contract beds at a cost of $26.75 per inmate, per day. With today’s transfer complete, a total of 262 male inmates are now housed at Emerald’s West Carroll facility, with a total of 1,162 Alabama inmates housed out of state. This out of state total includes 495 males at the South Louisiana Correctional Center in Basile, La., and 396 females at the J.B. Evans Correctional Center in Newellton, La.

LCS Corrections Services, Inc. owns and operates both the J.B. Evans and South Louisiana facilities. ADOC’s contract with LCS, at a per inmate cost of $27.00 per day, expires in July.