After more than nine years of Department of Justice (DOJ) oversight of Julia Tutwiler Prison in Wetumpka, the DOJ joined the State of Alabama motioning to drop most of the mandatory provisions placed on the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) in a 2015 settlement.
In January 2014, the DOJ informed then-Gov. Robert Bentley that it had found evidence of sexual abuse against female inmates in Tutwiler by ADOC guards. The following year, the DOJ filed suit against ADOC, accusing the department of negligence and complicity in the continued abuse, which included rape, fondling, voyeurism and sexually explicit verbal abuse.
The DOJ said it identified "several systemic failures that led to the pattern of abuse, including ineffective reporting and investigations and no grievance policy." It also claimed Tutwiler failed to hold culpable staff accountable for abuses.
The agreement required that all sexual abuse and l harassment allegations are "promptly, thoroughly and objectively investigated and appropriately referred for prosecutorial review" and that alleged victims are advised of the outcome of their claims. It also required Tutwiler to take appropriate disciplinary action against staff found to have engaged in sexual abuse or sexual harassment or to have violated Tutwiler's sexual abuse and harassment policies.
The agreement also stated that staff will be "trained on how to manage, interact and communicate appropriately with women prisoners and with their lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender nonconforming prisoners."
The full settlement agreement can be found below.
Tutwiler by Craig Monger on Scribd
On Thursday, ADOC announced that the state and DOJ had filed a motion to eliminate 38 of the 44 provisions required in the initial settlement.
"I am thankful for the men and women who are dedicated to our mission at Tutwiler," said ADOC Commissioner John Hamm. "This joint motion to terminate most of the requirements on this consent decree is a credit to our entire team and their dedication to our department and our state. We look forward to ending all court oversight of Tutwiler in the near future."
In its announcement, the ADOC maintained that "no basis exists for any interference by the DOJ or continued oversight by the federal court in the day-to-day operations of this facility." It also stated an eagerness to end all federal oversight of Tutwiler totally.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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