Entries by Carla Crowder

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A New Job. A Christmas Party. His First-Ever Week of Paid Leave. Alvin Kennard, Once Sentenced to Die in Prison, Marks His First Year of Freedom.

By Carla Crowder, Executive Director Carla.Crowder@alabamaappleseed.org One year ago, Alvin Kennard stood in a Bessemer courtroom nervous and uncertain. Striped jailhouse scrubs swallowed his rail-thin, shivering frame. After 36 years in a sweltering, unairconditioned prison, the chilled air of Judge David Carpenter’s courtroom was a shock to his system. What came next was a shock […]

August 23, 2020 by

Introducing Appleseed Legal Fellow Alex LaGanke

My name is Alex LaGanke, and I am thrilled to be joining Alabama Appleseed as a Legal Fellow. Appleseed is bringing me on to grow our presence in criminal and municipal courts where low-income people lack legal representation. My contribution to Appleseed’s mission will encompass the direct assistance of clients by organizing projects for pro […]

June 8, 2020 by

Appleseed Network Response to the Murder of George Floyd and the Fight Against Systemic Racial Injustice

Alabama Appleseed is proud to be a member of the Appleseed network of 18 centers across the United States and Mexico. Collectively our network stands in solidarity with Black voices and Black-led movements mobilizing for change and releases the following statement: America is hurting. The unjust murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and […]

June 4, 2020 by

Appleseed Welcomes 2020 Class of Summer Interns

Our team at Alabama Appleseed is pleased to be working with several terrific students this summer. Through remote internships, these students are advancing the cause for justice in Alabama and helping us with research, writing, data collection, policy analysis, and more. The passion, dedication, and skill of these students brightens the future. We are proud […]

June 1, 2020 by
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Tuscaloosa’s “Operation Safe Streets” Makes Tuscaloosa More Dangerous for Some

By Leah Nelson, Appleseed Research Director As Alabama struggles to contain Covid-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus that has gripped the world’s attention since January, law enforcement officials and judges across the state have taken bold steps to prioritize public health over punishment by slowing arrests for low-level offenses and releasing from jails […]

May 29, 2020 by
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A 71-year old man finally walks free, after marijuana sent him away

By Carla Crowder, Appleseed Executive Director Birmingham, Ala. — A little more justice slowly made its way into Alabama this week. Roberto Cruz, a 71-year-old man who had been sentenced to die in prison for a case involving marijuana – that’s right, only marijuana – was resentenced to time served and will soon be released […]

May 8, 2020 by
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Black Belt COVID-19 testing improves, but there is much more to do

By Akiesha Anderson, Appleseed Policy Director On March 30th, Alabama Appleseed sent a letter to Dr. Scott Harris—Director of the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), and Brian Hastings—Director of the Alabama Department of Emergency Management (ADEM), urging their agencies to share with Appleseed and the general public their plans to ensure that COVID-19 testing […]

May 4, 2020 by
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“People are dying. They had us in there for tickets.”

By Leah Nelson, Appleseed Research Director MONTGOMERY, Ala. — When police pulled Reunca Lewis over near downtown Montgomery on April 17, the 23-year-old Montgomery resident was baffled. Lewis’s car had been stolen and then involved in a hit-and-run, and she had spent most of the day with police downtown, dealing with the aftermath. Now, the […]

April 28, 2020 by

Introducing Akiesha Anderson, Appleseed’s new policy director

My name is Akiesha Anderson and I am thrilled to join Appleseed! As Policy Director, my role will primarily focus on policy development, legislative advocacy, coalition building, engaging with public officials and assisting with legal projects. As a Montgomery-native, I grew up very aware of the existence of both past and present social inequality and […]

February 1, 2020 /0 Comments/by
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Fines, Fees, and Financial Security in the US South

The following report is part of Appleseed’s collaboration with the Aspen Institute’s Financial Security Program and also appears on the Aspen Institute blog. For many individuals and households, a $200 traffic ticket can devastate savings and finances. The Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households finds that 40% of Americans wouldn’t be able to pull […]

January 15, 2020 /0 Comments/by