CHAIN-GANG POLICY ENDS IN ALABAMA

The revival of chain gangs in Alabama four years ago, partly to discourage
crime by showing how miserable prison could be, has come to a quiet end.

State prison officials earlier this month closed down the last detail of
shackled inmates because of a need for more guards inside prisons.

Corrections spokesman Tom Gilkeson said Monday that the financially strapped
department cannot spare employees to accompany medium-security inmates on
roadsides.