ADOC WEEKLY COVID-19 UPDATE
The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) issues COVID-19 reports every Tuesday that detail new information recorded over the previous week (previous Monday – Friday). The Department’s website dashboard is updated with this information shortly after our weekly COVID-19 report is issued.
The following information is up to date as of November 19, 2021:
UPDATE ON VISITATION & WORK RELEASE/WORK CENTER ACTIVITIES
Download Visitation Protocols
BACKGROUND:
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the ADOC has been cautious and methodical in its approach resuming operations and activities – balancing the need to protect the health and safety of those who live and work in our facilities with continued access to resources that are vital to inmate rehabilitation.
As access to programs/services and sustained connections are two important keys to successful reentry into society upon release, the ADOC made significant efforts to provide inmates with new tools that enabled ongoing rehabilitation and communication. This includes launching video visitation services, as well as Personal Education Devices (PEDs) that offer highly secure digital educational, rehabilitative, and communication resources, across the entire state.
Under the guidance of experts and per recommendations from relevant health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), in the summer of 2021, the ADOC carefully began the process of allowing non-essential personnel back into our facilities.
First, the ADOC resumed in-person visits with legal counsel. Later in the summer of 2021, the Department began allowing a limited number of volunteers into our facilities to help ADOC staff facilitate rehabilitative, educational, and vocational training programs.
Most recently, between October 9 – 11, 2021, the ADOC initiated a pilot program to resume modified in-person visitation and work release programs at the following three (3) facilities:
- Birmingham Women’s Community-Based Facility
- Elba Community-Based Facility/Community Work Center
- North Alabama Community-Based Facility/Community Work Center
Thanks to the safety protocols and restrictions put in place upon initiating this pilot program, it has been a success.
NEW UPDATE:
We are pleased to share that the ADOC has reached a point where it is safe, at this time, to expand modified visitation and work release/work center activities statewide effective December 4, 2021.
As COVID-19 still poses a significant risk in a correctional environment, several safety protocols and restrictions will be in place and must be adhered to as we expand these activities statewide. This information has been communicated to ADOC staff and the inmate population directly.
It is important to note that the ADOC may pause visitation or job assignments at any given facility upon any extenuating circumstances to include: an increase in community infection rates with warning from the ADPH; an increase in inmate infection rates at a given facility; and, an increase in staff infection rates at a given facility.
Also effective on December 4, 2021, the ADOC will lift restrictions limiting the number of volunteers per organization who can enter our facilities to help staff administer programs. All previous requirements for volunteers will remain in effect.
INMATE POPULATION
The ADOC has confirmed that one (1) additional inmate has tested positive for COVID-19:
- Draper Quarantine Intake Facility (Elmore, Alabama) – one (1) inmate
Newly identified positive case(s) may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. All existing quarantine protocols held in-place or newly implemented as recommended by the ADOC’s contracted State Medical Director are being maintained at each facility where newly identified positive inmate(s) are currently housed.
A total of two thousand two hundred three (2,203) cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among our inmate population throughout the course of the pandemic, seventy-six (76) of which currently are active.
Inmate Vaccine Update
The ADOC offers COVID-19 vaccines to all inmates who wish to get vaccinated. The Department has confirmed that sixteen (16) additional inmates have been vaccinated:
- Easterling Correctional Facility (Clio, Alabama) – four (4) inmates
- Holman Correctional Facility (Atmore, Alabama) – one (1) inmate
- Kilby Correctional Facility (Montgomery, Alabama) – five (5) inmates
- Limestone Correctional Facility (Harvest, Alabama) – three (3) inmates
- North Alabama Community-Based Facility/Community Work Center (Decatur, Alabama) – three (3) inmates
A total of eleven thousand nine hundred eighty-three (11,983) inmates have been vaccinated through the Department.
The ADOC also has received one thousand three hundred sixty-two (1,362) inmates who were fully vaccinated prior to intake into our system.
ADOC STAFF
The ADOC has confirmed that no additional staff members have self-reported a positive test result for COVID-19.
A total of one thousand two hundred fifteen (1,215) cases of COVID-19 have been self-reported by staff members throughout the course of the pandemic, three (3) of which currently are active.
Staff Vaccine Update
The ADOC offers COVID-19 vaccines to all staff members who wish to get vaccinated. The ADOC has confirmed that no additional staff members have been vaccinated through the Department.
A total of eight hundred eighty (880) staff members have been vaccinated through the Department. The Department does not report the number of staff who have been vaccinated through a community provider.