Alabama prisons report eight deaths in six days, do not ask why
Alabama prisons reported eight deaths final week.
The Alabama Division of Corrections mentioned its Regulation Enforcement Companies Division is investigating every of the dying, with ultimate causes pending these investigations. Within the meantime, ADOC didn’t share any significant particulars in regards to the deaths. Every particular person was “discovered unresponsive,” however ADOC didn’t clarify what circumstances could have contributed to that state. Essentially the most data shared is that one incarcerated man confirmed as much as the jail infirmary with “sure signs.”
Households report going months with out receiving any actual details about how their family members died in jail. They’re left to guess what occurred on that final day.
The Montgomery Advertiser has been unable to succeed in members of the family of those that died in Alabama’s custody final week. If you recognize one of many decedents, please contact this Advertiser reporter to assist in our reporting.
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The deaths are the latest in a lethal 12 months in Alabama prisons. By means of September, the latest month for which knowledge is out there, 179 folks died within the state’s prisons. That already exceeds the year-end complete for yearly on report besides one: 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic unfold by way of jail amenities. July 2022 was the deadliest month on report in Alabama prisons.
The issues of violence, dying, sexual abuse, and drug use — so persistent that they are thought of unconstitutional, the U.S. Division of Justice says — are made worse by unabated overcrowding and understaffing on the prisons. In September, Alabama prisons had been crammed to 164.9% of their designed capability. Practically each jail is considerably understaffed, regardless of makes an attempt to draw new jail staff.
The DOJ sued Alabama in 2020 over the circumstances of its prisons, however the state has did not make modifications with tangible optimistic outcomes to most amenities.
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Eight useless in six days
Justin Wade Hopkins died on Nov. 22 in Elmore Correctional Facility. After Hopkins was found unresponsive in his dorm, medical employees responded. He was transferred to the jail infirmary the place he was pronounced useless, ADOC mentioned.
Hopkins, 39, was from Attalla, Alabama.
Willie A. McCall died at some point later in St. Clair Correctional Facility. Found unresponsive on the dorm ground in St. Clair, McCall was taken to the infirmary the place he was pronounced useless.
McCall, 67, was from Cell.
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Cameron Holifield died on Nov. 24 in Staton Correctional Facility. Discovered unresponsive in his dorm, he was taken to the jail infirmary the place he was pronounced useless.
Holifield, 22, was from Cell.
Grady Anthony Lee died the identical day in Bibb Correctional Facility. Discovered unresponsive in his dorm, he was taken to the well being care unit the place he was pronounced useless.
Lee, 44, was from Andalusia.
Three males died on Nov. 25. Barry Christopher Culver died in St. Clair Correctional Facility. He was discovered unresponsive on his mattress, the place he was assessed by medical personnel and pronounced useless.
Culver, 25, was from Kinsey, Alabama.
Jason P. Hopkins died on Nov. 25 in Elmore Correctional Facility. He was taken to the well being care unit after he was discovered unresponsive on his mattress. Medical employees responded, however he was pronounced useless.
Hopkins, 36, was from Pinson.
Jimmy R. Hurst additionally died on Nov. 25 at Limestone Correctional Facility. Hurst reported to the infirmary with “sure signs” earlier than he “grew to become unresponsive.” He died there.
Hurst was 89 years previous.
Joseph Edward Nichols died on Nov. 27 in Ventress Correctional Facility. He was discovered unresponsive in his dorm and brought to the jail infirmary, the place he was pronounced useless.
Nichols, 46, was from Greenville, Alabama.
Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser. Contact him at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter @EvanMealins.
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