Alabama Public Radio’s Pat Duggins tells our Newscast unit that prisoners are setting fires and roaming the facility, and that the local sheriff’s department says “it isn’t sure what sparked the riot at the prison near the city of Atmore”.
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Holman Correctional Facility is the only prison in Alabama that carries out executions, according to the Department of Corrections.
The prison’s warden, Carter Davenport, was also stabbed after he and other officers responded to the dormitory melee.
The injuries sustained by the officer and Warden Davenport are reportedly non-life-threatening. According to ADOC, corrections officers and the CERT teams are conducting a complete search of the prison for illegal cell phones and other contraband.
Horton says another correctional officer was stabbed and then transported to an off-site medical facility.
ADOC says that around 100 inmates were involved in the disturbance.
The violence began Friday around 9:15 p.m., when the officer responded to a fight between inmates in one of the prison’s dorms. Three Corrections Emergency Response Teams (CERT) were deployed to the prison, which allowed the inmates to be detained. All inmates involved have been segregated and face criminal charges.
A video and photos from Facebook and YouTube, apparently posted by prisoners inside Holman overnight, revealed a hostile situation at the prison that included a fire in one of the prison dormitories. He said the facility is now calm and remains on lockdown. We must reduce overcrowding and provide facilities that are safer and more secure for both inmates and corrections officers.
This was the second incident in a week, once again highlighting the troubled prison system of Alabama that has continuously come under criticism for being understaffed and overcrowded.
After the prison was under control, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley took to Twitter to voice his concerns for the “issues that plague our prison system”.
Senator Cam Ward has consistently advocated for prison reform in Alabama because the facilities hold twice the number of people they are meant to house.
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“Anybody who has been inside the facilities know what a risky situation those officers work in every day”.
