In the News

Follow the coverage of Alabama Appleseed’s work, news mentions and opinion editorials written by staff members. If you’re interested in speaking with Appleseed, please email megan.cheek@alabamaappleseed.org.

  • Recent Coverage

 


3/16/2023 | Cynthia Gould

Thousands of drivers in Alabama struggle to get to work due to suspended licenses and studies show it’s costing the state millions of dollars. It’s a huge burden on the economy which has driven a labor force shortage.

Faye Mitchell is happy to be behind the wheel again. She had two jobs and walked to work. A bike from her dad helped ease the burden. But imagine biking or walking in Alabama’s extreme weather. The lack of public transportation only compounds the problem.

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2/23/2023 | Megan Plotka

A bipartisan vote led to a mass release of incarcerated people to relieve unconstitutionally overcrowded prisons in the state.

About 300 out of 400 people in January, but officials say they couldn’t release everyone as planned because the victims were not notified.

Prison rights advocates with Alabama Appleseed said this shouldn’t come as a surprise because the crime victim notification system has long-standing issues. In the 15 months between the state legislature passing the vote and the date set for the release, only 20 victims were notified.

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1/21/2023 | Ivana Hrynkiw

At nearly 80 years old, Robert Cheeks kept falling in the shower. Inside the Alabama prison where he had spent nearly four decades behind bars, other inmates were the ones left to help him bathe.

“I’m thankful to be alive,” said Cheeks, speaking to AL.com after a nonprofit helped win his release. But Cheeks is an exception; few elderly and ailing prisoners are allowed to leave those prison gates.

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2/15/2023 | Alabama Daily News

People are released from prison all the time.

More than 4,200 people ended their sentences last year and returned to Alabama communities. That’s an average of 363 people per month.

About half were released early under the state’s mandatory release law allowing people near the end of their sentences to get out a few months early and submit to supervision by the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles for the remainder of their sentences. It’s been in place since 2015.

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