Alabama’s newest prison, a $1 billion mega-facility currently under construction in Elmore County, will not open on schedule, the Alabama Correctional Institution Finance Authority confirmed last week. Meanwhile, the state may potentially borrow money to fund the construction of another prison in Escambia County.

The Gov. Kay Ivey Correctional Complex, which is planned to house 4,000 prisoners, will open in October 2026, rather than May. According to state Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, a member of ACIFA and the chairman of the State General Fund, the delayed opening was agreed on by the state and the construction contractor, Caddell Construction Co., who is working on the prison.

Albritton said the delay would not cost the state any additional money, and that Caddell Construction Co. would pay a fine of roughly $9 million for the delay. 

The Ivey Correctional Complex is supposed to be safer for both its prisoners and its staff than the state’s other prisons, according to the lawmakers who supported its construction. It will feature two-person cells, rather than dormitory style housing, where guards can monitor inmates from centralized hubs. Additionally, the multi-building facility is also slated to have specialized medical and mental health facilities, as well as additional spaces for training and rehabilitation.

In recent years, living conditions in Alabama prisons have been scrutinized, with the Department of Justice filing a lawsuit against the state and the Alabama Department of Corrections in 2020 arguing that the high rate of violence in the state’s prisons violates Constitutional promises against cruel and unusual punishment.

However, the Ivey Correctional Complex has exceeded its original budget. State lawmakers appropriated $1.3 billion for the construction of two new prisons, the Ivey Correctional Complex and another in Escambia County, in 2021. However, the Ivey Correctional Complex is now estimated to cost a total of $1.23 billion to construct — leaving little funding for the planned Escambia County prison, which was also planned to house 4,000 prisoners.

The state will continue in the planning process for the Escambia County prison, and are prepared to borrow a yet undisclosed amount to boost funds for the project.

“We anticipate and we’ve gotten different estimates on there. But as far as bonding authority we have, we have a bonding authority available more than is needed for the construction of the Escambia facility,” Albritton said.

Earlier this year, state lawmakers authorized $500 million in borrowing for state prison construction. At the time, Albritton also maintained that the state would not have to borrow that full amount in order to complete the Escambia County project.

Alabama top stories in brief

Alabama schools see highest state education report card score yet

• Alabama’s K-12 schools received an 87 overall on this year’s state education report card, released on Nov. 13. This is the highest score the state’s schools have obtained since the report card system began in 2018.
• State Superintendent Eric Mackey said Alabama students are improving in reading, math and science. Mackey also said there have been higher graduation rates and better growth in schools across the state.
• Under the report card system, public schools each receive a letter grade. State education officials reported that the number of schools that received A and B letter grades improved this year.

Alabama’s infant mortality rate decreases, but remains above national average

• Data released last week from the Alabama Department of Public Health shows Alabama’s infant mortality rate has improved, but is still higher than the national average. 
• Alabama’s infant mortality rate was 7.1 deaths per 1,000 live births for 2024. This is down from 7.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023. The infant mortality rate reflects the number of babies who die within a year of their birth.
• The state also saw the lowest recorded rate of infant mortality for Black infants in 2024.
• However, the infant mortality rate for Black infants in the state remains disproportionately high — the Black infant mortality rate was 11.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, versus 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births for white Alabamians.
• The national infant mortality average is 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Environmental activist asking federal agency to protect rare fish from Bessemer data center

• Environmental advocacy groups filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Nov. 13, asking the federal agency to protect a rare fish species found only in an area slated for a data center near Bessemer.
• The Birmingham darter is a rare, newly-discovered two-inch long fish that only lives in the Valley Creek system in Jefferson. Advocates fear the proposed data center project could harm the Birmingham darter’s habitat. 
• The advocates are seeking to have the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognize the Birmingham darter as an endangered species. The petition claims that the fish is already threatened by limestone quarrying in the area.
• The petition was supported by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Alabama Rivers Alliance, Black Warrior Riverkeeper and The People’s Justice Council.
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has three months to issue its initial findings on the species.

50 rural hospitals receive grants from new state board

• The Rural Hospital Investment Program Board approved grant applications for 50 rural hospitals across the state last week.
• The board was created by state lawmakers this spring. Funding for the board’s grants come from a new dollar-for-dollar tax incentive program for individuals and businesses that donate to rural hospitals. 
• The board unanimously approved all but one of the grant applications. The board did not approve a grant for Beacon Children’s Hospital in Luverne, a behavioral health hospital that it says does not meet the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ definition of rural hospital.
• However, the board said they plan to review Beacon Children’s Hospital’s application again, and that it may be approved before a Dec. 1 deadline to issue grants.

Ivey picks Alabama’s newest Supreme Court member

• Gov. Kay Ivey has selected Will Parker to fill a vacancy on the Alabama Supreme Court. Parker has served as general counsel for Ivey for six years.
• Parker will replace Bill Lewis, who was nominated by President Donald Trump for a federal judgeship, on the court.
• Parker is taking over a six-year term that will lapse in 2030. The seat on the court was initially won by Jay Mitchell in 2024. Lewis was appointed by Ivey to replace Mitchell when Mitchell resigned to run for attorney general. 

Announcements

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