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) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus033843 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...