The Department of Justice filed suit against Alabama on Wednesday, alleging that officials failed to provide adequate safety standards for male inmates in state prisons.
In the suit, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division said the department will require Alabama to “make sure that its prisons are safe and humane” after finding that the treatment of male prisoners violated a ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
“The Department of Justice conducted a thorough investigation of Alabama’s prisons for men and determined that Alabama violated and is continuing to violate the Constitution because its prisons are riddled with prisoner-on-prisoner and guard-on-prisoner violence,” the statement read. “The violations have led to homicides, rapes, and serious injuries. The Department of Justice looks forward to proving its case in an Alabama federal courtroom.”
In a statement released following the filing, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said the news was “disappointing,” noting what she called active engagement with the DOJ on the issue.
“Out of respect for the legal process, we unfortunately cannot provide additional comment at this time,” Ivey wrote. “We will, however, push forward with our plan to reimagine and rebuild Alabama’s correctional system from the ground up through the construction of three new regional men’s prisons. The comprehensive efforts underway will go a long way in addressing the long-standing challenges faced by the Alabama Department of Corrections.”
