Alabama Prison Reform Proposal

• ADOC houses 21,214 people in facilities designed for 12,115 beds — 175.1% of capacity (March 2026).
• Jurisdictional population grew by 1,171 people (+4.3%) from March 2025 to March 2026, reaching 28,628.
• In the first six months of FY2026 (Oct 2025–Mar 2026): 4,717 admissions vs. 4,598 releases — a net population gain of 119.

Why it matters: Overcrowding drives violence, worsens medical and mental health conditions, strains staff, and increases taxpayer costs.

• Alabama has one of the highest prison mortality rates in America.
• 335 deaths in 2023 (including homicides and overdoses); 274–277 deaths in 2024; 58 death investigations opened in Q1 FY2026 alone (October–December 2025).
• Chronic understaffing results in dorms operating with 1 officer for 100–200+ people (derived from ADOC quarterly staffing reports).

Why it matters: Unsafe conditions threaten incarcerated people, correctional officers, and Alabama communities.

• Historic shortages of correctional officers across major facilities, though ADOC added a net 272 security officers in FY2025.
• ADOC lost 391 officers to attrition in FY2025 — more than one departure for every two hires — amid unsafe working conditions and burnout.
• Rising state spending is heavily tied to staffing incentives, overtime, and crisis response.

Why it matters: A functional prison system requires adequate staffing, training, and safe working environments.

• Alabama has spent over $5 billion in five years on corrections — including operations, construction, and legal costs — per Alabama Appleseed and public budget records.
• ADOC General Fund appropriations rose from $610.7M (2022) to $826.7M (2026), per the Legislature’s FY2026 Budget Fact Book.
• The Elmore County megaprison alone has reached $1.25 billion — $312,500 per bed, more than the median price of an Alabama home.

Why it matters: Historic spending has not produced a measurable improvement in safety or outcomes.