FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2019, file photo, a sign reads,"HELP," in the window of an inmate cell seen during a tour by state officials at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala. Alabama lawmakers return to Montgomery on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, to vote on a $1.3 billion prison construction plan proponents say will help address the state’s longstanding problems in corrections, but critics argue the troubles go much deeper and won’t be remedied with brick, mortar and bars.
With legislative leaders standing behind her, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bills into law soon afterward. The Republican called the construction plan “a major step forward” for the prison system, which faces various federal court orders and a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice.President Joe Biden’s sweeping $1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue package was signed in March, providing a stream of funds to states and cities to recover from thepandemic.
The plan drew opposition from many Democrats in the House of Representatives, but had minimal dissenting votes in the state Senate, where senators approved the use of the pandemic money in a 30-1 vote and the overall construction plan in a 29-2 vote. U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York this week sent a letter to Treasury Department Secretary Janet Yellen asking her to “prevent the misuse of ARP funding by any state, including Alabama” to build prisons.
The U.S. Department of Justice has sued Alabama over a prison system “riddled with prisoner-on-prisoner and guard-on-prisoner violence.” The Justice Department noted in an earlier report that dilapidated facilities were a contributing factor to the unconstitutional conditions but wrote “new facilities alone will not resolve” the matter because of problems in culture, management deficiencies, corruption, violence and other problems.
Shouldn't virus cash be used to treat, cure, prevent or even go for better remedies for the virus?
How is this even right JoeBiden VP JoyVBehar sunny. As a whole this country is failing the people. CNNPolitics this money could be used to better their state instead of stealing that money to only build more prison camps. Build more schools, build more jobs.
Shameful
What a pathetic state Alabama is where it puts peoples health over profits Look to the cost and the business of keeping a inmate in prison there you will find the reason for the long prison sentences
Idiots 🤬
I'm pretty sure that's not what the funds were intended for. Pathetic..
This is a horrendous misuse of Covid relief funds on so many levels. What an inept and hypocritical Governor and AL Republican party. alpolitics
My wish
The federal government should take the money back as it’s not being utilized for what it was intended for!
Wonder what plan they’ve got to fill them.
$$$$$$$$$$$$ Grifting, anyone?
Kay Ivey cosigned Nate Woods execution and wore blackface in high school.
Truly despicable place.
Why are they allowed to waste funds
Oh i suppose he need it to harbour a workforce. 😖😩
this is terrible news
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. Read more
Biden still wants a strong republican party instead of working with progressives, knowing that this is what they're about
Pandemic Prisons?
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