M says more prisoners are going into Kilby than out during the pandemic, which prisoners in Ventress have also said.
Asked for comment on whether more people have been put in prison or released since March, and to an inquiry on whether more prisoners have been transferred into or out of Ventress and Kilby, Rose writes in the ADOC's email, "movement between our facilities has been limited with few exceptions as a result of COVID-19; however, security and healthcare exemptions are granted as needed, including at Ventress Correctional Facility and Kilby Correctional Facility. We do not disclose when, where, or how many transfers occur between our facilities as this information compromises security."
Asked how the restriction on visitations has impacted him and other prisoners and their families, especially as the rest of the State has reopened while the lockdowns and restrictions on the prisons have remained in place, he replies, "I haven't seen my family since January " Ah, man. I got a newborn, man. I've been wanting to see him, play with him, have my family keep their eyes on me. And all I can do is talk on this phone."
M also says the phones in Kilby are supposed to be available until around midnight during the pandemic, but that officers in Kilby have recently been ending phone time an hour or two early each night. "So, they'll take that privilege [away] on their own," he says.
The ADOC's email response for comment on this article does not address HTR's inquiry as to whether the ADOC is aware of officers cutting phone time short on any evenings in Kilby recent weeks or months.
Elaborating on further problems caused by the overcrowding, T says, "Psh, man, it's like a sardine can in here, with no air."
Describing the conditions of the dorms, he continues, "It's like you're walking down the street in the middle of New York " trash everywhere."
Asked what kind of trash, he replies, "Like, whatever stuff didn't make it to the trash can, cigarette butts, bathrooms ain't ever cleaned up. They've been threatenin us to clean up now, because they know somebody's about to come through here," presumably to investigate or inspect the prison.
M describes the constant work that goes into keeping the toilets clean, which is done by unpaid prisoners. There are simply "too many people. As soon as you clean it up, in the next hour or so, it'll look like that again, because there's a lot of folks in here. Some folks don't like to clean up. Some got cleaning skills. Some don't like to clean up, don't care about little stuff."
M was incarcerated once before, also in Alabama, many years ago. Asked how the prison conditions compare between his previous and current sentences, "It done got worse," he says, and repeats, "It done got worser."
His first time incarcerated was around 15 years ago, he says, "and the [officers] were still doing it then. It just got worser. I'm talkin bout worse," he repeats, "and the inmates are worser too."
He adds: "In the prison, we're like - we're like, it's already a graveyard in here, and you're just waitin on your time to be laid down to rest."
M also notes that it's "way more crowded" this time than last time he was incarcerated, because "they ain't lettin nobody go. So, you think of where everybody's at."
M continues on the current overcrowding and living conditions. "Shoot, it's overcrowded. They ain't lettin nobody go. They ain't givin nobody no breaks. Like, the feds, they let their " non-violent cases go. I don't know why the governor of Alabama wouldn't let hers go - you know - due to the virus. I'd rather be at home with my family right now. I don't have long. I've got like, possibly, 20 months left, probably less than that " But at the same time, they ain't even pushin that issue to even let nobody go. It's like we - like we're here making them money " That's what it feels like," says M.
"We're their crop, man," he adds.
"As long as they keep us here, man, they get money " from the government, and wherever else they get money from, because some of them ain't servin no purpose with being still here. There should be alternative programs, like, for people to go to and generate money in the county, or somethin like that, instead of just bein - just being a bed number. That's all you is. Yeah. I ain't served no purpose since I've been here. I'm just here. I'm up on a Judge's order, but I really wish the Governor would say something about releasing all nonviolent inmates, and especially the ones that are ordered by the Judge - you know - and it'd help the crowding that's around here," he explains.
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