100 Involved in Recent Alabama Prison Riot: Why We Are in Desperate Need of Prison Reform

Text your legal questions to Chris Reid today @ (205) 913-7406!

On March 11, 2016, the William C. Holman Correctional Facility endured a riot involving nearly one hundred inmates. The riot resulted in a fire as well as the stabbing of a prison warden and a corrections officer.  It is clear from stories like this that Alabama has a troubled prison system. This was the second violent incident to occur in the last week alone. Two officers have been stabbed at the St. Clair Correctional facility in Springville in the past few months. In 2015, six inmates were killed in the Alabama prison system due to inmate-on-inmate assaults.

Alabama prisons are packed to a breaking point. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley recently addressed the issue, describing the state prison system as a “volatile mix of overcrowding and understaffing”. Alabama prisons are currently holding nearly two times the number  of inmates that they are designed to hold. The governor has called for immediate action on the issue. Low staffing levels and severe inmate confinement are endangering to both parties; it is clear that the time for Alabama prison reform is upon us. 

If you or a friend or family member has any legal questions or concerns, please contact the Reid Law Firm today at 205-913-7406! You can also text us at (205) 913-7406 for a quick answer to any legal question. Chris Reid can be reached by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com. All communication to the Reid Law Firm is protected by attorney client privilege, so any information submitted will be held in confidence. Initial consultations are always free. For a complete list of our practice areas please visit www.reidlawalabama.com. 

No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of the legal services performed by other lawyers.

Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).