DRUG OFFENDERS ARE CROWDING TUTWILER

Corrections

The Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka is overcrowded and
understaffed. Gov. Bob Riley's attorney, Troy King, said that Riley has
plans to resolve the problems within the next 60 days. Meanwhile, the
population of Tutwiler steadily increases. "We think half of the women in
there do not need to be in prison," said Lisa Kung, attorney for the
Southern Center for Human Rights. "Most women in prison are in there for
writing bad checks, non-violent offenses and possession of drugs."

Kung said, these women need drug treatment programs and their families need
to get on with their lives.

"When they're out of jail, they have lost jobs and families, but they still
have their drug problem," Kung said.

The problem is that there is no typical sentence for drug possession. The
women can get rehab or 10 years of prison. There is no consistency, Kung
said.

The prison, opened in 1942, was designed for 364 inmates, and it now houses
about 995 inmates.

"We have done what we can do," said Gladys Deese, Tutwiler warden. "We
request budgets and additional staff each year. We request it to the
commissioner, then he goes to the governor, who apportions funds. Citizens
need to realize that we cannot incarcerate in this manner anymore because
the prison cannot control this large of a number."

"The public needs to seek diversionary methods of incarceration, such as
house arrests," Deese said. "There needs to be a change in the law, because
the 'lock up and through away the key' method is not working."

Deese is requesting 58 more guards to be added at Tutwiler. The inmates are
requesting educational programs.

The approximate cost of adding 100 people to the staff for programs and for
corrections officers is $5 million, Kung said.

There are some programs offered at Tutwiler right now. There are parenting
and domestic classes, work training, mechanics, welding and more. There is
also a GED program offered for inmates to remain productive citizens.

The addition of educational programs is to relieve inmates of their
"jampacked" dormitories and give them something useful to do.

"They live in dormitories that are just rooms with 40 bunk beds lined in two
rows, that's it," Kung said. "When there's nothing to do, some women can
work at factories, or they're just stuck in their dorms. Programs,
educational or recreational, get them out of the dorm."

College students can probably relate, Kung said. She compared the prison
situation to being stuck in a dorm room for an entire weekend, or an entire
sorority stuffed into the same room for too long.

The programs are also a beneficial in terms of safety. In 2002 there were
about 78 assaults and 560 disciplinary actions taken against inmates.

There have been numerous complaints from inmates and their families.

"Yes, the prison is occupying more inmates than it is designed to hold, but
it is clean and orderly," Deese said.

"The safety of the public, staff and inmates is my biggest concern," Deese
said. "I don't think the public realizes the part they must play, as well as
the Legislature's part to appropriate us the money that we need. We have
fine workers who do a good job. Ninety-nine percent of them put their lives
on the line everyday."

The inmates claim that the prison is violating the eighth Amendment, citing
cruel and unusual punishment.

"Tutwiler is not unique," Deese said. "These problems are all over Alabama."

Kung agreed.

"Alabama has the worst problem in the nation," Kung said. "It is as if the
state decided that they want votes that are tough on crime, but they do not
know the consequences for these women."