With the nation’s most crowded prison system and the looming threat of federal court action, Alabama скачать в хорошем качестве

With the nation’s most crowded prison system and the looming threat of federal court action, Alabama

(30 Jun 2015) AT ELMORE CORRECTIONAL CENTER PRISON NORTH OF MONTGOMERY... THERE ARE NEARLY TWICE AS MANY INMATES HERE FOR WHAT THE FACILITY WAS DESIGNED FOR— A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE STATE... WHICH HAS THE MOST CROWDED PRISONS IN THE COUNTRY. SOUNDBITE Susan Watson/ACLU: "Our prisons are at double capacity. That is not a safe situation for the corrections officers or the inmates. " EXTRA BUNKBEDS HAVE HAD TO BE BROUGHT IN FOR INMATES LIKE ROBERT MARBURY, CONVICTED OF RAPE, ROBBERY AND THEFT- HE SAYS PRISON CONDITIONS HAVE DETERIORATED OVER THE LAST 28 YEARS. SOUNDBITE Robert Marbury/Inmate: "Crowded, a little bit more hostile than it used to be. People seem to think that it used to be badderthan it is now, but it's not necessarily. It's a lot worse now" NEW LEGISLATION PROMISES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEHIND BARS IN ALABAMA PRISONS.. BY CREATING A NEW FELONY CATEGORY THAT COULD AVOID JAIL TIME. SOUNDBITE Cam Ward, state Sen. (R) Alabama, who led a reform task force that developed the plan: "Prisoners who committed property crimes, who committed drug possession crimes, who committed non-violent crimes. In other words, "I didn't harm another physically." What that does is, this bill says they'll be moved into a Class D felony, which gives the judge discretion on how to sentence them." REFORM ADVOCATES SAY IT'S A GOOD FIRST STEP TO FIX THE ALABAMA PRISON SYSTEM. SOUNDBITE Susan Watson/ACLU: "Something absolutely had to be done or we would have had the Department of Justice in." BUT LEGISLATORS NOW HAVE TO FUND THE BILL WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT $12 MILLION IN ITS FIRST YEAR. ALABAMA LAWMAKERS HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER TO AGREE ON A BUDGET OR POSSIBLY FACE FEDERAL INTERVENTION OF THEIR PRISON SYSTEM. JOSHUA REPLOGLE, ASSOCIATED PRESS Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...