In the News
Follow the coverage of Alabama Appleseed’s work, news mentions and opinion editorials written by staff members.
Interested in speaking with Alabama Appleseed? Please email Executive Director Carla Crowder for an interview.
Alabama’s Solution to Its Prison Problem is More Prisons
Anya Slepyan | 5/19/2021
The construction of the new prisons is part of a larger plan to improve the Alabama correctional system, which is facing a lawsuit from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
A 2019 DOJ report concludes that the Alabama Department of Corrections routinely violates incarcerated Alabamians’ 8th Amendment rights “by failing to protect them from prisoner-on-prisoner violence and prisoner-on-prisoner sex abuse, and by failing to provide safe conditions.” The report continues, “the violations are exacerbated by serious deficiencies in staffing and supervision and overcrowding.” READ MORE
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Alabama Legislature Passes Modest Asset Forfeiture Reforms
C.J. Ciaramella | 5/18/2021
The Alabama legislature passed a compromise bill on Monday to curtail asset forfeiture. Although it was significantly scaled back to appease law enforcement, civil liberties advocates still say that it is a step in the right direction.
The Alabama House passed Senate Bill 210, sending it to Republican Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk. The bill would limit law enforcement seizures of cash to more than $250 and vehicles worth more than $5,000, among other provisions. READ MORE
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Montgomery Nonprofit Alabama Appleseed Receives NFL Inspire Change Grant
Melissa Brown | 5/10/2021
A Montgomery legal nonprofit will receive a second year of grant funding from the NFL for their work addressing criminal justice reform in Alabama.
Alabama Appleseed is one of nine organizations to receive a portion of $2.5 million in grant funds through the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative. A committee of players and team owners voted to renew Appleseed’s grant, according to an NFL release. READ MORE
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Incarcerated Alabama Man Nearing Release Dies After Assault
Eddie Burkhalter | 5/6/2021
A 23-year-old man who was set to be released from prison died the day before his birthday, according to court records and the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Ian Rettig was stabbed to death on Tuesday at Fountain Correctional Facility, a man incarcerated with Rettig told APR on Wednesday. The Escambia County Coroner’s Office confirmed Rettig’s death to APR on Thursday and said the cause of death was pending a full autopsy. READ MORE
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Alabama Asset Forfeiture Bill Went from Broad Reforms to ‘Best We Can Do’
Connor Sheets | 5/5/2021
As he has for each of the past three years, Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur introduced a bill at the start of this legislative session aimed at reining in civil asset forfeiture.
Unlike his previous attempts, the legislation appears posed to finally be approved this year, but only after extensive negotiations with law enforcement and other lawmakers that stripped major reforms out of the bill, allowing police to continue seizing cash and property from many people who have not been convicted of crimes. READ MORE
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CoreCivic Settles Lawsuit for $56 Million, More Firms Pull Out of Alabama Prison Bid
Eddie Burkhalter | 4/20/2021
CoreCivic, the private prison company that has struggled to secure financing to build two of Alabama new prisons, will pay $56 million to settle a lawsuit levied by shareholders.
“This deal has disintegrated less than three weeks after it was made public, which speaks volumes about the future challenges of CoreCivic to secure funding for Alabama’s mega prisons,” said Carla Crowder, executive director of Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, in a message to APR on Monday. “Where will the financing possibly come from and how much more will this cost?” READ MORE
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Alabama Appleseed in the News
Alabama’s Solution to Its Prison Problems is More Prisons
5/19/2021 | The Daily YonderAlabama Legislature Passes Modest Asset Forfeiture Reforms
5/18/2021 | ReasonNFL Owners, Players Renew Grants to Nine Social Justice Organizations
5/10/2021 | USA TodayMontgomery Nonprofit Alabama Appleseed Receives NFL Inspire Change Grant
5/10/2021 | Montgomery AdvertiserIncarcerated Alabama Man Nearing Release Dies After Assault
5/6/2021 | AL.comAlabama Asset Forfeiture Bill Went from Broad Reforms to “Best We Can Do”
5/5/2021 | AL.comCoreCivic Settles Lawsuit for $56 million, More Firms Pull Out of Prison Bid
4/20/2021 | Alabama Political ReporterGov. Kay Ivey Disappointed as Underwriters Pull Out of Alabama Prison Deal
4/19/2021 | AL.comBarclays Pulls Out as Underwriter for CoreCivic’s Alabama Prison Deal
4/19/2021 | Alabama Political ReporterCops Caught This Amputee with $400 of Medicinal Weed-So They Took His Car and His Cash
3/16/2021 | ViceRegions Bank Ends Deal with CoreCivic After Meeting with Activists
3/10/2021 | Montgomery AdvertiserBirmingham Man Released From Prison After 37 Years
3/3/2021 | CBS 42Changes to Habitual Offender Law Needed
2/3/2021 | Birmingham WatchRegions Bank Turns Its Back on CoreCivic
2/1/2021 | ForbesRegions Bank Won’t Finance CoreCivic
1/31/2021 | Alabama Political Reporter
Alabama Appleseed Op Eds
Op-Ed: With HB129, Lawmakers Have an Opportunity to Pass Business-Friendly Legislation
3/10/2021 | Alabama Daily NewsOp-Ed: Worsley Case Shows How System Fails
9/8/2020 | Alabama Daily NewsOp-Ed: A Poll Tax by Any Other Name
7/9/2020 | Facing SouthOp-Ed: Changes Needed on Funding for Courts, Law Enforcement
5/7/2020 | Alabama Daily NewsOp-Ed: Alabama’s Diversion Programs Are In Trouble. We Must Do Better
2/17/2020 | Alabama Daily NewsMoney for nothing: More prisons and more punishment haven’t made us safer
2/6/2020 | Yellowhammer
Latest News
- 2021 Legislative Recap May 18, 2021
- Welcome Megan Cheek! Appleseed’s New Communications and Development Associate Brings Years of Nonprofit Experience to Her Role March 30, 2021
- Quan Holt’s Good Samaritan actions cost him his left leg, his mobility, and his health. Alabama’s civil forfeiture laws cost him nearly everything else. February 21, 2021
- Appleseed’s Legislative Priorities 2021 February 1, 2021
- “I’m experiencing a rebirth, a second chance at life, and every day has been a blessing.” January 25, 2021
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Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice
400 South Union Street, Suite 245
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Phone: (334) 416-8401
2130 Highland Avenue South, Suite 202
Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone: (205) 305-0735
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