Guards Strike: Prison Deaths Rise

A statewide strike by prisoners in Alabama, ongoing since late September 2022, is protesting inhumane conditions, including overcrowding, violence, and lack of rehabilitation programs. The prisoners are demanding sentencing reform, retroactive application of the 2015 sentencing guidelines, and an end to the habitual offender law. The strike, coordinated by groups like the Free Alabama Movement and Unheard Voices, aims to pressure the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) to address these grievances. The ADOC has responded with repression, locking down facilities, restricting communication, and retaliating against suspected organizers. The article details instances of solitary confinement, limited access to hygiene products, and denial of visitation rights used as punitive measures against striking prisoners. There are concerns about the ADOC’s transparency, with limited information provided regarding the extent of the strike and the department's response. The article highlights the role of the Alabama state government in perpetuating these conditions, including the legislature, which has resisted comprehensive sentencing reform. The strike and the state's reaction have exacerbated already difficult conditions within the prison system, with concerns mounting about the long-term impact on the incarcerated population. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/03/10/bxjx-m10.html