SELMA – Call it an overwhelming and exhausting achievement, successfully guiding one-hundred twenty-three Correctional Trainees through a 12 week training program to graduation and law enforcement certification.

Training Director Wendy Williams announced today that the Alabama Department of Corrections will hold the first of three Academy Basic Training graduation ceremonies on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. The 123 graduates are part of the largest known graduating class in ADOC history.

The ADOC’s graduation rate has more than doubled in the last two years, with graduating classes totaling 224 in 2007 and 257 in 2008. The ADOC, last year, graduated more officers than in any of the last ten years, and is on pace to eclipse that mark in 2009.

“This is a historic day for DOC with the largest graduating class ever,” said ADOC Commissioner Richard Allen. “I think this will provide some relief for our overworked correctional officers, and to quote from Bear Bryant during his early days at Alabama, ‘Hang on, help is on the way.’” This is indeed the largest graduating class of Correctional Officers since the inception of the Alabama Corrections Academy on May 1, 1984, when the ACA became certified as an Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission law enforcement academy. For the second class in a row, the graduation percentage exceeds 80%.

"With only eleven Training instructors & supervisors on staff, it was an extreme challenge to handle a group as large as Class 2009-01. Let's not forget that this class started with 145 Trainees. With a class this large, every activity takes longer - from serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to completing uniform and room inspections. The ten hour work day quickly becomes a challenge when trying to manage 123 to 145 Trainees under our roof!"

The ADOC has more than 2,700 security personnel, with more than 1,000 non-uniformed support personnel, managing an in-house population of more than 25,600 inmates. Our current officer to inmate ratio is approximately 1:10, one of the ten highest ratios in the nation. Two additional Basic Training classes in 2009 are tentatively scheduled to begin on May 17th and August 30th. "Every day is 'sun-up' to 'sun-down' - we start at 4:30 AM and, if we're lucky, the day is over by 9:00 p.m.,” said Captain Jeff Boutwell, Academy Commander. “Outside of our daily routine, these Trainees have other life challenges they are facing; grieving the loss of loved ones, dealing with relationship and marital problems, financial challenges, and just the stress of daily life itself. Our Academy staff not only instructs, but also serves as counselors, mentors, and advisers – they wear many hats.”

Congressman Bobby Bright – a former mayor of Montgomery and former ADOC employee – will serve as the commencement speaker at this Thursday’s graduation. Representing the 2nd District of Alabama, approximately half of this graduating class lives in Congressman Bright’s district. Please join us at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 16, at the J.A. Pickard Auditorium in Selma.

Alabama Corrections Academy Class 2009-01, 123 strong!

(From Montgomery take US Hwy 80 West to Selma. After crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge, turn right onto Selma Avenue. Turn left onto Washington Street and the J.A. Pickard Auditorium will be on the right at 400 Washington Street.)

The Department of Corrections welcomes your attendance.

TUSCALOOSA- Ms. Elana Parker, Reentry Coordinator/Public Health Liaison for the Alabama Department of Corrections/Alabama Department of Public Health, recently earned the prestigious Carl Nowell Award as presented by the Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drugs Studies. The award is presented annually to honor a person who embodies the following characteristics:

• Shows dedication and persistence through leadership in the field of prevention and treatment of alcohol and substance abuse services on a local, state, and national level.
• Displays steadfast commitment through relentless effort, competence, and planning to improve those services and programs.
• Operates with a team mentality and recognizes that significant change is achieved only through the action of many individuals working together.
• Shares a vision for exciting possibilities and possesses an absolute belief in his/her ability to make extraordinary things happen.

Ms. Parker has made significant contributions in the field of substance abuse and chemical dependency. Most notably, within the Department of Corrections, she has developed and implemented specialized programs including coordination of 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.

“I am very thankful and grateful to be receiving this prestigious award,” said Parker. “I certainly consider this an honor. It was totally unexpected.”

Ms. Parker is a Birmingham native and graduate of the University of Montevallo with a Bachelors 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 and is a member of the American Correctional Association. Ms. Parker obtained a second Bachelors Degree in Counseling Education from Samford University, also completing a graduate school internship at St. Clair Correctional Facility in the Therapeutic Community program.

As Reentry Coordinator for the Alabama Department of Corrections, Ms. Parker has led the statewide API for incarcerated inmates impacted by substance abuse. She is responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating a comprehensive reentry model aimed at reducing prison recidivism rates, prison overcrowding, increasing public safety, reuniting parents and children, and providing connections to community resources.

“I am very proud of the reentry program Ms. Parker has developed for our Department,” said Commissioner Richard Allen. “Her expertise in the area of transitional services has greatly benefited this Department and, most importantly, benefits inmates as they reenter society. The reentry model we now have in place will serve this Department for years to come.”

Nominations for the ASADS Carl Nowell Award are based on three elements: contributions and long standing impact in the substance abuse prevention, treatment, recovery, and support services field; career achievements; and service and leadership. In addition to developing and implementing both Alabama’s Prisoner Reentry initiative and the ADOC Reentry Program, Ms. Parker recently served as a national trainer on Reentry and Discharge Planning Services for the National Minority AIDS Council and won the 2008 Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Omicron Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Parker is a published presenter at the 2006 HIV Prevention leadership Summit – “HIV and Corrections” – Atlanta, GA., and Dallas, TX., and also serves on numerous committees, including the Governor’s Office on Faith Based and Community initiatives, Governor’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, Governor’s Task Community partnerships for Reentry and Recovery, and the Alabama Prison Transition team.

“One thing of great emphasis, I was nominated by a colleague from another law enforcement agency,” Parker said. “It’s a big deal because we talk a lot about partnerships and collaborations. When someone from another agency nominated me that was humbling.”

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.”

The Board of the Alabama School of Alcohol and other Drug Studies proudly presents the Carl Nowell Award to Elana M. Parker, Reentry Coordinator/Public Health Liaison with the Alabama Department of Corrections and Alabama Department of Public Health.	ASADS presenter Carl Nowell, Dept. of Corrections Associate Commissioner Terrance McDonnell, award recipient Elana Parker, Commissioner Richard Allen.

MONTGOMERY- The Alabama Department of Corrections has plans to sell more than 5,000 acres of surplus properties across the State, including two recently announced invitations to bid in Elmore and Escambia counties. In a plan previously announced by Governor Bob Riley and Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen, the ADOC is offering land for sale to help offset approximately $90 million in deferred maintenance and capital improvement costs.

Three different parcels that are prime locations for commercial development are for sale in Elmore County, the largest totaling 19.9 acres near Highway 231 and the Elmore County Maintenance Shop. Another 4.7 acres is on the corner of Highways 231 and 14 near the Russell Do It Center. A third parcel of 2.4 acres is near the Wetumpka National Guard Armory and Elmore County Hospital. Bids must be submitted for individual parcels only. Bidders, however, may seek to bid on more than one parcel.

Parcel 1 is 4.69 acres with a minimum bid of $180,000.

Parcel 2 is 2.4 acres with a minimum bid of $188,100.

Parcel 3 is 19.9 acres with a minimum bid of $401,400.

“Our Department continues to seek ways to convert unused property into capital,” said Allen. “The needs of the Department are many, and we plan to use all proceeds to make deferred maintenance improvements.”

The ADOC has previously sold more than 3,800 acres at the Farquhar State Cattle Ranch and a 16,000 sq. ft. office building on Union Street in Montgomery. Additional parcels, will be available throughout the sate, that could bring the Department as much as $22 million.

In Escambia County, more than 4,200 acres contained in six different parcels are for sale with minimum bids totaling more than $7.4 million. Located within the city limits of Atmore - a convenient thirty minute drive to the city of Mobile - these parcels are easily accessible by both Interstate 65 and State Highway 21. Recent growth in Atmore makes the potential for commercial development appealing, while some acreage is best suited for agricultural purposes.

Parcel 1 is 466 acres with a minimum bid of $943,000.

Parcel 2 is 470 acres with a minimum bid of $882,000.

Parcel 3 is 1,061 acres with a minimum bid of $1,968,200.

Parcel 4 is 925 acres with a minimum bid of $1,594,900.

Parcel 5 is 868 acres with a minimum bid of $1,507,000.

Parcel 6 is 460 acres with a minimum bid of $560,000.

Information concerning bids for each parcel may be obtained by contacting the State Lands Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Sealed bids for the Elmore County property will be received by the State Lands Director up until April 14, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., at which time all bids will be publicly opened and read in the Office of the State Lands Division, Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, 464 Folsom Administrative Building, Montgomery, Alabama 36130. Sealed bids for the Escambia County property will be received by the State Lands Director up until April 16, 2009, at 2:30 p.m.

The ADOC will retain all oil, gas, and mineral rights on the properties for sale, with all other reservations and restrictions of record. The State reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to negotiate a higher sale price with the highest bidder.

MONTGOMERY- The Alabama Department of Corrections has just received the complaint filed by the Southern Center for Human Rights regarding our William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Alabama. And accordingly, we are in the process of reviewing this complaint.

At quick glance, it is obvious that many of the allegations have no basis in fact. While it is true that Donaldson is crowded and has other problems, we do not feel the plaintiffs will be able to meet the constitutional standard of showing deliberate indifference towards inmate safety.

Donaldson is a maximum security facility and many of Alabama’s most violent criminals are incarcerated there, thus one would expect the level of violence there is greater than other facilities around the state. Donaldson houses more than 525 death row and life without parole inmates – about 31% of its population. On average less than five percent of all inmates are sentenced to LWOP.

A person is more likely however, to be murdered or assaulted on the streets of Atlanta, GA., the plaintiff’s hometown, than in an Alabama prison.

ADOC has offered to work with the plaintiffs in an effort to find ways to make Donaldson more secure. As always, ADOC is willing to listen to ideas and suggestions if the plaintiffs have concrete proposals to put forward.

MONTGOMERY - Governor Bob Riley and Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen previously announced plans to sell more than 5,000 acres of unproductive properties across the State, including more than 400 acres in Limestone County at Limestone Correctional Facility. ADOC is offering land for sale to help offset approximately $90 million in deferred maintenance and capital improvement cost.

Three different parcels of land are for sale at Limestone, the largest totaling 185 acres with a minimum bid of $5,087,500. This land is adjacent to Parcel 2 containing 122 acres with a minimum bid of $3,355,000. Parcel 3 contains 120 acres with a minimum bid of $3,300,000. Bids must be submitted for individual parcels only. Lands at Limestone have previously been used for farming. However, substantial growth in the region, to include the addition of thousands of jobs associated with the Department of Defense base realignment plans at Redstone Arsenal; make this a prime spot for real estate development, both commercial and residential. Prospective buyers will find the area booming with residential growth as Limestone County continues to see a population explosion.

“This is the latest in a series of land sales our Department is proceeding with to convert unused property to capital,” said Allen. “We plan to use all proceeds to make much needed and long overdue improvements at our facilities. Sewer and plumbing renovations are underway at Holman, a new kitchen at Staton, a new dorm at Decatur, and much more is needed.”

ADOC has previously sold more than 3,800 acres at the Farquhar State Cattle Ranch and a 16,000 sq. ft. office building on Union Street in Montgomery. Additional parcels will be available throughout the state, which could bring the Department as much as $22 million.

Information concerning bids for each parcel may be obtained by contacting the State Lands Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Sealed bids for the Limestone property will be received by the State Lands Director up until February 24, 2009 at 2:30 p.m., at which time all bids will be publicly opened and read in the Office of the State Lands Division, Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, 464 Folsom Administrative Building, Montgomery, Alabama 36130.

ADOC will retain all oil, gas, and mineral rights on the property, with all other reservations and restrictions of record. At the request of the successful bidder, the Department of Corrections will petition the City of Huntsville to annex the subject parcel(s). The State reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to negotiate a higher sale price with the highest bidder.