Blog – Alabama Appleseed

The State of Justice Blog

Leaving prison and finding joy at age 88

John Coleman served 34 years for offenses involving no physical injury under Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act. Now he’s free and experiencing kindness for the first time in way too long. By Carla Crowder, Executive Director “I’m…

So far this year, someone has died every other day in an Alabama prison.

Alabama prisons, Eddie Burkhalter, News

By Eddie Burkhalter, Appleseed Researcher Alabama prison deaths are again surging, after state prisons saw a record high year of deaths in 2022. At least eight men have died in Alabama prisons this month, following 12 deaths in…

Alabama leaders promised an automated, statewide victim notification system 15 years ago. We’re still waiting for it.

Eddie Burkhalter, News

By Eddie Burkhalter, Appleseed Researcher Politicians across Alabama expressed concern and outrage when victims were not notified in advance of planned releases of several hundred people from Alabama Department of Corrections…

The Rescue Horses and the Bread Man of Holman

Alabama prisons, Leah Nelson, News

Incarcerated 37 years for burglary convictions, Larry Garrett has been given a second chance at life thanks to Appleseed's legal team. By Leah Nelson, Appleseed Research Director The second-to-last time Larry Garrett left prison…

New Data Tool from Council of State Governments Should Help Guide Criminal Justice Decisions

Eddie Burkhalter, News

By Eddie Burkhalter, Appleseed Researcher A recent report by the nonpartisan, nonprofit Council of State Governments (CSG) found that overall crime, including violent crime, across the U.S. and in Alabama, has been on the decline. The…

Another free man, safe from the chaos of Alabama’s violent prisons.

Alabama prisons, Carla Crowder, News

A bungled robbery in 1983 sent Lee Davis to prison on a life without parole sentence. Appleseed’s legal work brought him home. By Carla Crowder, Executive Director Lee Davis spent 39 years incarcerated for a robbery conviction…