As reported by ABC News, with the four fatalities since January 2017 has become a deadly year for the Alabama prison system.
Earlier this week at Elmore Correctional Facility, inmate Timothy Robertson, 47, was killed in the prison yard. Video evidence has led prison officials to believe that Robertson was attacked by fellow inmate Jason Lee Jackson, 28.
Since the beginning of the year, four inmates have been killed, and six officers have been attacked in Alabama prisons.
When asked about the recent string of violence and what can be done to prevent it, Prison Commissioner Jeff Dunn told ABC:
“ The safety of our officers and those in our custody is our utmost concern, and we will employ all available resources to prevent the escalation of violence in light of recent incidents.”
While many factors contribute to such violence, it speaks to Alabama’s ongoing need to reform its overcrowded and dilapidated prisons.
Related: Federal Judge Orders Alabama To Fix Prisons Now
In Elmore Correctional Facility alone, the population of inmates is 190% of its designed capacity, and 169 officers are needed to safely manage the inmate population, but the facility only has 72 officers. This lack of staffing can certainly contribute to violent events like this week’s murder.
Elmore’s spokesman Bob Horton said,
“The inmates are double-bunked, and an officer’s line of sight inside the dorms is limited, which can lead to a higher risk of violent activity.”
Currently, steps are being taken to address the trending violence. Prison Commissioner Dunn done said he is working to ensure that “critical staffing” needs are being filled. However, with the low wages offered at many correctional positions, this could be an uphill task.
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