Alabama Department of Corrections officials announced Wednesday (Jan. 29) that they have begun the process of closing significant portions of Holman Correctional Facility and relocating the inmates who will be left there.
According to WKRG-TV, ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn revealed plans to close parts of the maximum-security facility. Dunn said that to ensure the ongoing safety and security of correctional staff, inmates and public, Holmanโs main facility will close due to maintenance issues.
ADOC is calling this a โdecommissioning process,โ with approximately 422 general population inmates and 195 restricted housing inmates having already been relocated to other ADOC facilities across Alabama.
Approximately 150 of Holmanโs low-risk inmates who are serving life without parole sentences will be moved to the facilities standalone E dorm at Holman (formally the faith-based dormitory) and will continue to work in the prisonโs clothing plant.
Dunn said Holmanโs restrictive housing unit will be modified appropriately to house and serve the facility’s current 145 death row inmates. To make room for incoming inmates, 21 death row convicts have been transferred from Donaldson Correctional Facility to Holman.
โThis will place additional stress on already stressed facilities,โ said Dunn, who noted that although Holman has had issues with violence among inmates, the decision is based off of maintenance safety concerns.
Dunn said there is no risk of threat to the public with the massive transferring of inmates.
ADOC officials did not reveal how long the closure will last or whether it is temporary or permanent.