Inmates strike to protest Alabama prison
conditions
By Margo Gray
WAFF.com,
Jan 07, 2014
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama
Prisoners in three different state prisons think it is time they get
paid for doing kitchen work, laundry and maintenance tasks. In protest
of not being paid for institutional work, some have refused to report
for work at three different facilities since the weekend.
The inmates are also seeking better living conditions and a revamping of
the parole system. They said prisons are too overcrowded. State prisons
are operating at almost double the capacity they were built to hold.
The protest started Sunday in Atmore at Holman Correctional facility,
then on Monday, the peaceful protest spread to St. Clair Correctional in
Springville and Elmore Correctional. On Tuesday, all of the Elmore
inmates returned to work and some followed suit in Holman, but the
protest continued at St. Clair Correctional on Tuesday.
Some inmates have posted videos on
YouTube
as part of their movement, but officials would not comment on this and
said they are open to discussing issues about the food at the
facilities. Posting the videos would constitute a felony charge against
a prisoner because cell phones are considered to be contraband inside
prison walls.
Department of Corrections Spokesperson Brian Corbett said the protest
may not be the best course of action because some of their complaints
are things the department has no control over, such as altering terms of
parole and
sentences. He suggested the prisoners should make lawmakers aware of
their concerns.
SOURCE :
WAFF
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