Sarah Ford | September 9, 2014
SPLC Urges Federal Court to Address Razors in Alabama Prisons
The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) urged a federal court today to block an Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) practice that allows male prisoners virtually unlimited access to razor blades in state prisons – including prisoners with a history of mental illness and suicide attempts.
The groups filed a motion for preliminary injunction to stop this practice that puts the lives of prisoners at risk, violating their constitutional rights. It describes how this routine continued even after a prisoner killed himself with a razor in 2011. It also notes that this procedure fails to track the number of blades prisoners possess, allowing razors to be found throughout ADOC prisons.
“The Alabama Department of Corrections is endangering its prisoners with this policy,” said Maria Morris, managing attorney for the SPLC’s Montgomery legal office. “It should be obvious that you don’t freely hand out razors to prisoners suffering from suicidal thoughts and mental health crises. This policy is irresponsible and a danger to anyone within the walls of these prisons.”
Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Explore More Articles
January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month
Hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion, disabilities, restricted access to participation in the democratic process. These are…
Read Article
How to Take Your Business’s Employee Volunteer Program to the Next Level
Click Here to Tweet This Message! Whether your program was started 10 months or 10 years ago, periodically stepping back to take stock of your #EmployeeVolunteer…
Read Article
Open Position: Customer Service Coordinator (Remote-Part Time)
Position Title: Customer Service Coordinator (Remote – Part Time) Department: Charitable Funds Management Solutions We are a non-profit charitable organization looking for skilled individuals who…
Read ArticleGet Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Receive our monthly/bi-monthly newsletter filled with information about causes, nonprofit impact, and topics important for corporate social responsibility and employee engagement professionals, including disaster response, workplace giving, matching gifts, employee assistance funds, volunteering, scholarship award program management, grantmaking, and other philanthropic initiatives.
