Alabama Department of Corrections
The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC), which is headed by Commissioner Kim T. Thomas, has a total of fifteen major correctional facilities located in the different places within the State. Along with these major facilities, the ADOC also has thirteen Work Centers and Two Private Facilities. ADOC’s mission is to provide programs that will rehabilitate convicted felons in a humane and secure environment with the help of professionals in managing the facilities and they prepare the offender for their social re-entry (state.al.us).
The Department’s correctional programs are usually engage with offenders who able to work, attend programs for drug abuse treatment and even attend classes so as inmates can improve themselves instead of just locking them inside the facility (al.com).
Major Facilities
Bibb Correctional Facility – Started in 1997, this facility in Brent, AL served a total of 1,824 inmates (state.al.us). Bibb focuses on in providing education to offenders about the substance abuse along with programs for self-improvement to make them ready for social re-entry. This facility is headed by Warden Willie Thomas and has a total capacity of 1,914.
Bullock Correctional Facility – Started in 1997, Bullock Facility in Union Springs, AL is headed by Warden Kenneth Jones. Initially capable of 900 inmates and was expanded its capacity to 1,658. This medium-security facility is divided in to two units; the Mental Health Unit and its Main Camp. The Mental Health Unit has 30 cells and 7 dormitories while the Main Camp has 23 dormitories with 30 cells. Its objective is to provide a mental health and substance abuse treatments and educational programs for adults as well as religious programs (state.al.us).
Donaldson Correctional Facility – Headed by Warden Cheryl Price, Donaldson in Bessemer, AL started in 1982 was capable of having 700 inmates and was expanded to 1,760. This maximum-security facility is specialized in handling repeat or multiple offenders who have longer sentence and behavioral problems. It has a death row capacity of 24 inmates for incarceration in judicial area in Birmingham (state.al.us).
Draper Correctional Facility – With a total capacity of 1,232, Draper in Elmore, AL started in 1939 having the goal of maintaining the needed security level to avoid escapes in which may threaten the community’s security. This facility also provides education, housing and productive tasks for inmates such as farming and furniture-making jobs. Formerly known as Speigner Reformatory, Draper Correctional Facility is headed by Warden Louis Boyd (state.al.us).
Easterling Correctional Facility – Headed by Warden Karla Jones, Easterling in Clio, AL started in 1990 and has a capacity of 600 inmates. It provides treatments for drug abuse with the help of staff counselors who also give aftercare program. This facility also provides educational programs with vocational courses via Sparks State Technical College. They provide vocational training such as cabinet making, industrial electricity or brick masonry (state.al.us). Additionally, 225 inmates were able to attend these self-improvement programs.
Elmore Correctional Facility – This facility is located in Elmore, AL and started in 1981. Currently headed by Warden Leeposey Daniels, the facility has a total capacity of 1,176 inmates and serves as the main recycling unit of the Department. Prisoners are classified as minimum-in and minimum-out custody. Minimum-in inmates are demanded to work within the property of the institution supervised by the employees of the department. Minimum-out inmates are allowed to work outside the property (state.al.us).
Fountain Correctional Facility – It was opened in 1955 and is located at 9677 Hwy 21 N
Atmore, Alabama. It has a total capacity of 1613 inmates. It was formerly known as the GK Fountain Correctional Facility and Atmore Prison Farm. It has agricultural operations that include cattle and vegetable gardens. It also provides inmates' vocational programs (state.al.us).
Kilby Correctional Facility – It was opened in 1969 and is located at 12201 Wares Ferry Road
Montgomery, Alabama. It has a total capacity of 1421. This facility was created for male inmates. It consists of dormitories and a hospital for medical and mental services. It is on a maximum security since all prisoners are received for evaluation and it is where they are assigned to other facilities. They use dog tracking teams that enable local agencies to recognize escapees and criminals. They train employee for local protection and to assist staff. They offer programs like anger management, therapy for sex violators, and counseling for alcohol and drugs. It also offers graphic arts and printing plant and maintains a garden (state.al.us).
St. Clair Correctional Facility - It was opened in 1983 and is located at 1000 St. Clair Road
Springville, Alabama. It has a total of 1514 inmates. Inside this facility, a chemical plant and automobile repair is operated by The Alabama Correctional Ind. It offers classroom setting for educational courses. It also offers medical and dental services with a private healthcare provider (state.al.us).
Holman Correctional Facility – Started in 1969 and currently headed by Warden Gary Hetzel, this facility is located in Atmore, AL and has a capacity of 1,002 inmates. This facility is a house for inmates who are in death row and it is the only one that carries out prisoner execution. Its population is a mixed of minimum to closed custody prisoners, including the ones who are sentenced to life imprisonment (state.al.us).
Limestone Correctional Facility – Headed by Warden Dwayne Estes, this facility has a capacity of 2,086 within 1,600-acre location. It was opened in 1984. Limestone is also providing cattle and farming operations for inmates (state.al.us).
Staton Correctional Facility – This facility has started in 1978 and currently headed by Warden Leon Forniss and has a total capacity of 1,376. Named after Thomas Staton, the facility is a medium-security for adult male inmates. It includes 4 dormitories with each capacity of 204 inmates. It provides emergency medical assistance as well as medical observation for Draper, Frank Lee and Elmore. In addition, they also provide vocational and educational courses through J.F. Ingram Technical College (state.al.us).
Tutwiler Prison for Women – Headed by Warden Bobby Barrett, this facility in Wetumpka, AL has a total capacity of 975 inmates. It started in 1942 and was expanded from 400 to its current capacity. It is a maximum-security prison that has 13 dormitories, mental health unit, segregation and a medical center as well as substance abuse treatment facility (state.al.us).
Ventress Correctional Facility – This facility has started in 1990 and currently headed by Warden Christopher Gordy. It has a total capacity of 1,650 inmates and located in Clayton, AL. The facility’s mission is to provide drug and alcohol abuse treatment to inmates. Additionally, they provide dual disorder treatment for inmates along with 18-month Therapeutic Community for minimum-security inmates (state.al.us). They also provide vocational and academic programs through Sparks Technical College.
Hamilton Aged & Infirmed – Headed by Warden Freddie Butler, the facility has a total capacity of 300 inmates and located in a five-acre land. This facility started in 1981 and identified as a minimum and medium security facility. There is a staff in the minimum-security area who gives facility maintenance and community work assistance (state.al.us.).
Works Cited
"Alabama Department of Corrections." Alabama Department of Corrections. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
Cason, Mike. "Department of Corrections asked to draw blueprint for expanding community corrections | al.com." al.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
