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Alabama To Build Three Mega Prisons, One Near Atmore; Will Create 2,800 Local Construction Jobs
September 4, 2020
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has announced plans to build to three new mega-prisons in Alabama, and one of those will be near Atmore.
The Atmore site is proposed near Bell Fork Road — which runs between Highway 21 north of Atmore and Robinsonville Road. But the statement “near Bell Fork Road” does not rule out that it could be located on Highway 21, and local officials have said it will be located off Highway 21 near the RiverCane development. We reached out to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) in an attempt to pinpoint a more exact location.
“The ADOC intends to enter into confidential negotiations with CoreCivic to build Facility Three with a proposed site near Bell Fork Road in Escambia County,” Samantha Rose, public information specialist for the ADOC, told NorthEscambia.com. “As the procurement process has now entered into a confidential negotiation period to ensure and secure the best possible value for the State, we cannot disclose additional details regarding the proposed site in Escambia County at this time.”
The ADOC anticipates construction to begin in early 2021, and they said that will mean about 2,800 construction jobs in Escambia County. Two other mega-prisons will be built in Alabama in Bibb County and Elmore County.
Some of the current prisons in the state will be closed as inmates are moved to other facilities. That announcement will come at a later date.
The prisons will be built by private companies and leased back to the state, which will operate them.
Pictured: Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Comments
17 Responses to “Alabama To Build Three Mega Prisons, One Near Atmore; Will Create 2,800 Local Construction Jobs”
Building new prisons is not the answer. There are men in thoes prisons that have taking it upon themselves to rehabilitate themselves and each other to be productive citizens in society and ALDOC keeps them locked up. You don’t need a new prison you need a new Governor and commissioner.
justice Dept. reports as of 2016 1 in 4 staff members that worked in private facilities made less than 26,000 a year. Nobody is going to be breaking down the doors for one of these private prison jobs
Thats great, a prison bed and breakfast ..niiiice
Look at all of Florida s fiasco with private ran prisons. It costed more than when the state ran them. Also thousands of lawsuits that had to be paid with taxpayer dollars because of the private operators running on the cheap. So word up to our neighbors in alabama , challenge this to no ends or live with never ending lawsuits and being in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Ummm
They can build on existing land without tearing the prisons down.
Ever notice all the vacant land around the prison? The state owns it.
They own miles of it.
No need to House the prisoners anywhere else until they New prisons are built.
There is plenty of land at the current prison to build another on site.
BUT then someone’s hand dont get greased selling off some NEW land.
Classic NIMBY.
Not
In
My
Back
Yard
@DJC It’s interesting the view people have on prisons if they have never gone to one in some sort of ministry or had a family member incarcerated. Yes, there are murderers, rapists, and violent people locked up. They need to stay locked up, and while conditions need to be humane and as safe as possible, it is what it is. The problem is, the majority of people locked up are in on some sort of drug charge or something related to their drug habit. They may have been in trouble when they were young so a minor charge get jacked up to 5 or 10 years.
There are thousands of people in prison that if they would have had money to have a decent lawyer, it would have gotten worked out and they wouldn’t have even gone. Like I said, there are the bad ones, but many are just normal people who got in a bad place with drugs and ended up paying the price. MOST of these guys decide to clean up and work on themselves in prison. They work out, take anti-drug classes, get their GED, take vocational training, play ball, learn to play a musical instrument, do constructive things. Try to pass the time as quickly as possible, stay out of trouble, be able to have meaningful visits from their family and hopefully be in a place to make something out of themselves when they get out.
The whole point is to rehabilitate these people so that when they do get out, they can be successful. The classes, a decent environment, clean facilities, books to read, and ways to improve themselves go a long way towards the person being successful and not re-offending or breaking probation. Places that have a better prison systems have a much, much lower rate of recidivism than places with horrible prisons. That’s a statistical fact. So better prisons and a better prison system overall will make the state safer and save it money in the long run.
If a prison is a hell-hole, dirty, full of drugs of every type, spice, home-made hooch, weapons and contraband brought in by staff who hate their jobs (ie Alabama prisons) would it be possible to improve yourself? Most of those prisons, YOU HAVE TO BELONG to a gang or group to survive. That involves attending meetings, fighting if someone in the group needs help, etc. Inmates that get out of those places have a MUCH higher rate of going back to prison.
I guess a lot of you aren’t Christians, because if you have never sinned you don’t need God… there are a LOT of perfect people here, who have never made mistakes.
” Why cant they tear them down and use the land for the new one” what do they do with the prisoners in the meantime? Hmmmmmmm.
Logical questions have been asked by others in this comments section.
It’s a shame no state officials will ever answer them.
The reality is that a massive government construction program is about two things. First is new prisons. Secondly and more importantly to those making the decisions is awarding contracts and transfer of wealth. Transfer of tax dollars to private companies. The prison system owns thousands of acres with most of it shovel ready. It already has infrastructure including water and electrical. Now if you move the location you get to sell land, Dozier work, new water, etc. All that is money going to private companies. Once you vacate the existing prisons then you get to sell the land.
More money to private individuals and transfer of the land out of the state.
Ride by the old barn that the prison let fall in for want of a roof. With free labor they couldn’t fix it? It wasn’t about fixing it. It was about letting it deteriorate so that no one complains when it’s tore down.
Just saying.
Follow the money.
Why aren’t these prisons being built in the “All Rich “ neighborhoods???
Stick a fork in Rivercane. It’s done!
Oh and by the way, Our State is against lottery or gambling, but we’re OK with mega-prisons? Why? Because it mega business? I’m not condoning any of it. Just asking.
How convenient to announce AFTER local officials are elected. Why would anyone want to support the concept of these mega-prisons in our state. Other news has described the amenities (training, education, exercise / fitness and programming) to provide a more meaningful stay for the inmates. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! You mean there is nothing better for the state to invest this kind of money into? I suppose your going to tell me the revenue from these “state of the art facilities” are going to be a huge contribution to the schools for our children and how this is really going to improve our community! BULL! I can’t think of but 1 reason why anyone would be so excited about such of a thing. CRIME DOES PAY! I hope I’m proven wrong
What will they do with the two prisons that are already there? Why cant they tear them down and use the land for the new one? Isn’t Holman not inhabitable? Fountain is awful as well. Quit wasting land and do something with the ones that are already there. Jobs are always appreciated but be smart for a change.
I would be interested to know how many inmates a mega-prison holds. From reading, the State plans to save $88M a year, which I assume will more than cover the lease payments and how it is being sold to the public. The lease payments will not be known until the end of the year when the contracts are let.
I wonder who is getting Richer on he deal?
Temporary 2,800 jobs being created! It’s highly possible those jobs will be given to outside bidders that do not support this county. How in the heck is that going to become anything beneficial to us, here, in Atmore???
In reality, and status proves when this happens, there will possibly be a negative downturn to occur. You see, these men that are incarcerated, have families that want to be with them and visit on the regular. So what does that mean? That means these people will be looking to relocate and get closer to their incarcerated loved one. Where will THEY work? Where will THEY live? Can Atmore support 200, 300, 400 additional families??? Why HECK NO! There’s enough real estate for sale in Atmore but jobs?
“Come on man”