Alabama DOC Faces Flurry of Excessive Force Lawsuits

The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is swimming in legal hot water, having settled over 90 lawsuits related to alleged excessive force by its officers since 2020, according to Alabama Reflector's investigation.

A Tidal Wave of Claims

In total, the ADOC has settled a staggering 124 lawsuits in the last five years. The heart of these cases? Claims that inmates suffered serious injuries at the hands of correctional staff. Think broken bones, head trauma, and even permanent disabilities – nasty stuff detailed in court records.

Show Me the Money!

The ADOC's legal tab has exploded. The report reveals over $17 million spent defending individual officers and settling cases since 2020. Tack on the big-ticket class-action lawsuits, like the one from the U.S. Department of Justice, and total legal costs breach a whopping $57 million.

Case Studies in Controversy

• Ventress Correctional Facility (2018): An officer allegedly fractured a handcuffed inmate's jaw in two places. The ADOC settled for $90,000 and fired the officer.

• Limestone Correctional Facility (2019): A man suffered a traumatic brain injury and permanent hearing loss after allegedly being beaten by multiple officers. His mother received $9,000 after his release and subsequent death.

• Staton Correctional Facility (2018): An inmate was airlifted to a hospital with multiple fractures and internal injuries. The case ended with a $55,000 settlement.

Where Does the Money Come From?

Settlements come from Alabama's General Liability Trust Fund, which covers legal defense and settlement payments for state employees. Bigger lawsuits against state agencies? Those get paid out of the state's General Fund.

A Growing Problem

Many complaints start as handwritten filings from inmates with limited options for reporting abuse. The number of claims has skyrocketed, jumping from 33 in 2020 to 235 in 2023.

Legal Fees vs. Settlements

Between 2020 and 2024, private attorneys defending ADOC employees pocketed nearly $13 million – almost triple the $4.4 million paid out in settlements. The median settlement for excessive force claims? A mere $8,000.

How Does Alabama Compare?

Unfortunately, data comparing Alabama to other states on similar lawsuits isn't readily available.