Sick Prisoners Could Be Released

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - House and Senate committees have
approved bills that would allow Alabama prisons to release some
terminally ill inmates.
Prisons Commissioner Richard Allen told lawmakers some of the
prisoners are so weak they can't get out of bed, while others are
mentally incapacitated and don't know who they are.
Allen said the measure would affect about 125 to 150 of the
prison system's about 25,000 inmates. He said it costs the system
as much as $6 million a year to care for these mostly elderly
prisoners.
Inmates convicted of capital crimes or sex offenses would not be
eligible for release.
The proposal passed the House Government Appropriations
Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday. It was one
of the issues Gov. Bob Riley included as priorities for the special
session.