Statement of Pastor Kenneth Glasgow, Founder, National President of The Ordinary People Society (TOPS) on behalf of the Alabamians for Fair Justice coalition:
“The deaths of three men—Marco Dewayne Tolbert, Steven Davis and Elvin Burnseed— in two weeks at Donaldson Correctional Facility are disturbing, no matter what the circumstances, but this has been an ongoing problem and until we do something about it, it will continue. Too many lives have been lost just since the U.S. Department of Justice’s report in April and it is imperative that lawmakers act to address this crisis. These are human beings. Speaking as a formerly incarcerated person, I know how important it is that we be seen as people. We are not offenders, we are not convicts, or felons. We are people.
This is about fair treatment and fair justice for all people. As courts ruled, and is stated in the DOJ report, the Alabama prison system suffers from excessive violence, incidents of extreme sexual torture, a pervasive drug problem, systematic overcrowding, a shortage of correctional officers, excessive use of force, and institutional corruption. These problems will not be solved without more transparency and they will not be solved through building billion-dollar buildings that provide cover for these problems.
This is why Alabama’s criminal justice system needs true reform, looking at rehabilitation and mental health needs, sentencing reform for habitual offenders and minor drug offenses. We look forward to working with Alabama’s Legislature and Department of Corrections in ensuring Alabama’s prisons are a safe and transformative environment.
While the investigations into these most recent deaths run their course, we hope the results will be completely transparent and provide some insight to help address the continuing crisis in Alabama’s prison system.”
Statement of Sandy Ray, mother of Steven Davis, who died due to injuries sustained from correctional officers at Donaldson Correctional Facility:
“Tell Governor Ivey she will speak to me. She will tell me what happened to my son. Her prison reform is not working. I had to do a closed casket because they beat my son so badly. Maybe she needs to let these hurt families run the prisons. She needs our input. They killed my baby. Tell me why my son is dead.”
PHOTOS ATTACHED
Photo from Steven Davis's funeral in Uniontown, AL , Thursday, October 10, 2019
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Alabamians for Fair Justice is a coalition made up of formerly incarcerated individuals and family members of those currently or recently serving time in Alabama’s prisons, advocates, and civil justice organizations.