Two Alabama Correctional Officers Placed On Leave After Inmate Deaths, Including One At Holman

December 10, 2019

Two correctional officers have been placed on leave follow the deaths of two inmates, including one at Holman Correctional in Atmore.

Holman Correctional Facility inmate, 48 year old, Willie Leon Scott, of Birmingham, was pronounced deceased on December 6 at Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery.  Scott was serving a sentence of life without parole out of Jefferson County for murder.  His injuries were the result of an incident that occurred on December 4 at Holman Correctional Facility. The circumstances related to Scott’s death are also the subject of an ongoing Intelligence and Investigations Division (I&I) investigation.

I&I law enforcement agents are also investigating the death of a 55 year old Ventress Correctional Facility inmate, Michael Smith of Fairfield, who, after being removed from life support, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at Dale Medical Center on December.  Smith’s cause of death is pending final autopsy results and the findings from I&I’s ongoing investigation.

Two two corrections officers were immediately placed on mandatory leave while I&I’s law enforcement agents investigate the case. While details regarding these cases are limited at this time, additional information will be made available at the conclusion of the investigations, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections.

“My department is taking swift and substantive action to create safer working and living conditions, better ensure policy adherence, and deter unacceptable behavior by both inmates and ADOC staff,” said ADOC Commissioner Dunn.

“To address use of force concerns, we are implementing an action plan and dispatching ADOC’s Training and Professional Development Division instructors to teach an on-the-job procedure refreshment course within our prisons to our correctional officers,” said Matthew Brand, ADOC Associate Commissioner of Administrative Services. “This action plan also integrates and expands ADOC’s Training, Professional Development, and Leadership Academy.”

“As with any case, we fully are committed to thoroughly and impartially investigating all the facts and allegations surrounding any inmate’s death,” said Arnaldo Mercado, ADOC I&I Director. “Upon completion of these investigations, the I&I Division will refer these matters to the appropriate district attorney’s office for review and consideration. We hold each member of our staff to the highest standards of law enforcement.  Any ADOC employee who commits a violation will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

Comments

One Response to “Two Alabama Correctional Officers Placed On Leave After Inmate Deaths, Including One At Holman”

  1. Vickie Cross on December 14th, 2019 9:28 am

    I hate if someone was involved in this. But I pray for his family, they are hurting. But I believe in an eye for an eye. He murdered someone and the victims family has suffered too. I say if you kill someone, you deserve death too. And not years in jail with free food,room,heat,air conditioning and medical care. Your family can even see you. But your victim does have it this nice..

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