Alabama Inks Leases For Two New Prisons, Including One Near Atmore

February 2, 2021

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday signed 30-year leases for new prisons to be constructed near Atmore and in Elmore County.

The two new men’s correctional facilities wilk be constructed by CoreCivic’s Developer Team. The state signed a lease agreement with Government Real Estate Solutions of South Alabama, LLC, a CoreCivic entity, for the Escambia County facility on Bell Fork near Atmore.

The agreements are not subject to annual renegotiation; however, options to negotiate occupancy extensions beyond the 30-year lease term are available to the state.

The Alabama Department of Corrections will staff and maintain full operational control of the facilities — these are not private prisons. CoreCivic will construct, own, and maintain the facilities

Construction of the Atmore facility will be staggered with the Wetempka facility to ensure sufficient labor and supply chain availability to support both projects, but construction in Atmore is anticipated to begin later this year or early 2022.

Construction of the two facilities is anticipated to be completed in fiscal year 2025

The two facilities will provide approximately 7,000 beds.

Once ready for occupancy, the ADOC will begin to transition its inmate population into these facilities. Development of this transition plan will soon be underway and informed by many factors, including the recommendations of the Alabama Prison Repurposing Commission.

The total cost of all lease payments (encompassing rent, annual preventive maintenance, and life cycle maintenance) for the Alabama Prison Program are subject to an overall affordability limit of $88.6 million as indexed to fiscal year 2022. The base cost of rent for the facilities will remain flat (fixed price) for the 30-year term.

The exact least amounts are still in negotiations.

“I am pleased that we have reached this important milestone in the Alabama Prison Program, the cornerstone of a multifaceted strategy to address the ADOC’s longstanding challenges and failing prison infrastructure,” Ivey said. “ADOC’s existing dilapidated infrastructure is failing at a rate of one facility every two years, exorbitant deferred maintenance costs are rising by the day, and the Courts may act imminently if real progress is not made soon — given all these risks, there is not one minute to spare.”

“Leasing and operating new, modern correctional facilities without raising taxes or incurring debt is without question the most fiscally responsible decision for our State, and the driving force behind our Alabama Solution to an Alabama Problem. We are improving public safety, providing better living and working conditions, and accommodating inmate rehabilitation all while protecting the immediate and long-term interests of the taxpayers. This is simply the best path forward,” Ivey added.

“It is no secret that, due to decades of inaction and a lack of resources, our correctional system is at a crossroads. Thanks to Governor Ivey’s vision, tenacity, and leadership, we have reached an important step in our continued work to chart a transformative new course for the Department,” said ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn. “Leasing, staffing, and operating modernized prison infrastructure that is owned and strictly maintained by the private sector minimizes our short- and long-term risk for an initiative of this necessary magnitude. These facilities will provide a safer, more secure environment in which our heroic staff can better deliver effective, evidence-based rehabilitative programming to our inmate population.”

Pictured: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey inks to prison lease contracts Monday at the Alabama State Capitol. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “Alabama Inks Leases For Two New Prisons, Including One Near Atmore”

  1. Emily on February 4th, 2021 7:25 pm

    This country is disgusting with the way they are making money by locking people up in these institutions for non violent crimes, so that the prison corporation system profits. I’ve seen cases in which local judges get kick backs if they also a hefty sentence on numerous people. Of course, it’s usually the poor and non- Caucasian male who is the easiest target. It’s a shame and disgrace for humanity. If someone does a violent crime, they should be punished for what they have done. But, if they’re willing to participate in some kind of rehabilitation program and become a useful member of society, that should be happening more often than just throwing away the key; while the CEO’S of these corporations are breaking white collar crimes every day. This is about the worst time that I have ever seen in the United States. Greedy politicians lie and cheat, and yet people are so brainwashed by them, they actually believe that these people are Christian people. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing and will do or say anything to get into office and then they forget about the people who put them there.

  2. Tf on February 3rd, 2021 11:51 pm

    Don’t really see how building more prisons help the overcrowding situation if you’re just going to build new ones to vacate the old ones. Prison is big business obviously, that’s the only logical explanation I can come up with as to why they just won’t release people. I’m pretty sure that non violent cases make up more than 50% of the prison population. Drug and property charges don’t necessarily have me shaking with fear in my boots . Concerning people with violent cases… Yes, they deserve to be punished and accept their sentence, but they also deserve help. Not all people who broke the law are bad people. Some just made bad decisions. How about you take some of that money and invest in actual programs that help these inmates. How about programs when they get out to insure that they won’t make those mistakes again. Obviously this is not to help the prisoners nor the tax paying public but this smoke screen and effort to seemingly satisfy the public while keeping their pockets fat. Alabama government is a joke smh. Where are the feds when you need them?

  3. William Lingo on February 3rd, 2021 11:25 pm

    For profit prisons should be illegal, particularly for profit prisons with quotas!!!

  4. Well on February 2nd, 2021 8:35 pm

    Sorry your parole keeps getting denied billy.

  5. Billy Davis on February 2nd, 2021 5:47 pm

    How is building two new prisons going to stop the prison over carousing situation.You have people in there that has been locked up for fifty years and keep gett2 denied every time they go up for parole.When is enough to.e is enough.Start letting people out that has clear records and have re habilitated them selves.Because the prison system is corrupt as the rest of our government in Alabama.locking peopl2 up and throwing away the key is backwoods thinking and dose not work.So y’all need to get y’alls head out of the sand.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News