MONTGOMERY — Alabama should pass legislation creating "independent prison oversight" of Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) facilities, according to one prison reform advocate.
Matthew Charles, a senior policy advisor with Families for Justice Reform, said at a Joint Prison Oversight public hearing on Wednesday at the State House that Alabama should pass legislation similar to oversight legislation recently passed at the federal level concerning the federal prison system.
"Alabama is ripe for independent prison oversight, and we think you should look to the federal legislation as a model," Charles told legislators at the hearing. "Oftentimes, when you have an agency monitoring and checking itself, it doesn't truly check itself. That's the reason we believe in independent, outside people looking at the situation that are not tied to the agency."
The federal legislation creates a new ombudsman within the Department of Justice to investigate complaints from inmates and staff in federal prisons. Separate state legislation would have to be passed to create something similar for state prisons.
The public hearing featured about an hour of testimony from family, advocates and legislators about ongoing violence and extortion happening in Alabama's prison systems.
Former Gov. Don Siegelman told the committee, "I wanted to remind you of the responsibility and power that you have by bringing to light the example of the removal of the head of the Secret Service."
"This week, we saw the unprecedented action by the United States House Oversight Committee asking for the resignation of the head of the United States Secret Service. I say this just to remind you of both the responsibility that you have and the power that you have to make change," Siegelman said.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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