MONTGOMERY, Ala. ( WIAT ) — The Joint Prison Committee held an emotional meeting today with leaders in Alabama’s prison system.
John Hamm, Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, updated lawmakers on the state of Alabama’s prisons.
Leigh Gwathney, Chair of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, also stood before lawmakers.
“The parole board is not working,” said Beth Smith, relative of a former inmate. “The parole system is not working. These prisons are becoming more and more populated.”
Smith and many others listened in as lawmakers heard from both Hamm and Gwathney. Hamm said there’s a solution to the problems, but it will take time to fix. “That’s captain obvious. We know what’s going on, we’re trying to fix it,” said Hamm. “But there’s no silver bullet. It is going to take a massive effort for a long time, so, we’re on that road.”
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According to Hamm, that road includes recruiting officers, with ninety nine people going through the academy right now. “We have some very good people now on hiring, recruiting, and trying to retain correction officers cause that’s the crux of a lot of our stuff’,” said Hamm.