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Prison Incident and Investigative Reports Must Be Disclosed Under Alabama’s Open Records Act
by David M. Reutter
The Alabama Supreme Court affirmed a trial court’s summary judgment order that held incident and investigative reports created by the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) are subject to the state’s Open Records Act.
Beginning in October 2006, the Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) began seeking …
The Alabama Supreme Court affirmed a trial court’s summary judgment order that held incident and investigative reports created by the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) are subject to the state’s Open Records Act.
Beginning in October 2006, the Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) began seeking …
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More from this issue:
- Appalling Prison and Jail Food Leaves Prisoners Hungry for Justice, by David Reutter
- Washington Jail a Modern-Day Debtor’s Prison, by Gary Hunter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Food Problems Contribute to Riot at Kentucky Prison, by David Reutter
- Swine Flu Scare Leads to Unrest at Overcrowded Massachusetts Jail, by Matthew Clarke
- Illinois Prisoners Sue over Soy-Based Food, by Brandon Sample
- Oklahoma Courts Collecting Fines, Costs at Expense of Justice
- Parole Denials Based Upon Assumptions; Tough Policies Threaten Public Safety at Great Cost, by David Reutter
- CCA Loses Contracts for 9,754 Prison Beds in 18 Months; More Losses Looming
- Missoula County Jail Agrees to Settle Excessive Force Suit for $490,000
- New York Passes Legislation Making HIV, AIDS and HCV Prisoner Care a Department of Health Responsibility, by Christina Hernandez
- $491,668 Settlement in Class-Action Suit Against Spokane County Jail, by Matthew Clarke
- Crisis in Reverse: Counties Struggle with Dwindling Jail Populations, by Gary Hunter
- Retired New York Supreme Court Justice Sentenced to Prison for Sex Trafficking, by David Reutter
- Florida Jail Prisoner Paralyzed by MRSA Sues Prison Health Services
- Indiana DOC Changes Sexually Explicit Publication Policy Due to Class-Action Suit, by David Reutter
- Eighth Circuit: Shackling Pregnant Prisoner During Labor Unconstitutional, by Matthew Clarke
- State of Washington Settles Parolee’s Unlawful Detention Suit for $39,695.10
- Son, Wife of U.S. Congressmen Get Prison Time, by Brandon Sample
- Death Row Prisoner Loses Suit Challenging BOP’s Ban on Face-to-Face Media Interviews
- $300,000 Settlement in New York City Jail Prisoner’s Slip and Fall Accident
- Arkansas Prisoner Almost Dies After Being Left in Feces, by Justin Miller
- Virginia DOC K-9 “Training” Results in Animal Cruelty Charges, by David Reutter
- Kinship Care More Beneficial Than State Foster Care for Children of Incarcerated Parents, by Jimmy Franks
- Illinois Prison Officials Fail to Report MRSA Infections
- New York Voters Okay Prison Slave Labor for Nonprofits
- Guards Suspended, Fired in Prostitution Probe at CCA-Run D.C. Jail
- Three Prisoners Raped at Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion
- Indian Country Gets Stimulus Money ... to Build More Jails, by David Reutter
- Washington DOC Agrees to Settle Inadequate Medical Care Suit for $55,000
- Florida County Jail Discontinues Medical Co-Pay Policy, by David Reutter
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- Georgia Grand Jury Critical of Ticket-Fixing Scam
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- Indiana Indemnification Statute Not Retroactive; Prisoner’s Estate Unable to Collect $56.5 Million Judgment, by David Reutter
- Prison Incident and Investigative Reports Must Be Disclosed Under Alabama’s Open Records Act, by David Reutter
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- News in Brief:
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More from David Reutter:
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026
- Nevada Prisoners, Families Call Out Predatory Tablet Program, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit: Error in Granting Judgment Prior to Adjudging Spoliation Motion, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Idaho Legislature Moves to Hide Execution Protocol from Judicial Scrutiny, Sept. 1, 2026. Disclosure of Records, Discovery, Public Records, State Legislation, Method of Execution.
- New Mexico Supreme Court Holds Corrections Department Regulations Do Not Exempt Use-Of-Force Documents from Public Records Disclosure, Aug. 1, 2026. Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Public Records Act, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Authority and Jurisdiction.
- Oregon Supreme Court: Jail Credit Statute Focuses Upon Legal Custody Not Physical Custody Location, July 1, 2026. Civil Procedure, Sentencing, Appeals/Appellate Jurisdiction, Criminal Justice, Statutory Construction/Interpretation.
- Ohio Jail Leaders Knew Cameras Were Broken for Four Years Before Fixing Them, July 1, 2026. Jail Misconduct, Security Systems, Disclosure of Records, Wrongful Death, Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of.
- Florida Supreme Court Announces “Results” of Postconviction DNA Testing Under § 925.11 Include Underlying Testing Data Necessary for Expert Analysis, Holding That No Additional Burden Applies Once a Motion for Testing Has Been Granted, June 1, 2026. DNA Testing/Samples, Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Forensic Sciences, Scientific Testimony or Evidence.
- Ohio Supreme Court Rules that Sheriff Did Not Violate Open Records Act and Declines to Award Damages to Prisoner, June 1, 2026. GEO Group/Wackenhut, Contempt (Civil Procedure), Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Public Records Act.
- Oklahoma Supreme Court: Jail Trust Cannot Withhold Requested Records under Law Enforcement Exemption of ORA, May 1, 2026. Summary Judgment, Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Public Records Act, Statutory Construction/Interpretation.
- California Oversight Agency Hasn’t Finished a Single Review of Jail Deaths, Feb. 1, 2026. Corrections Audits, Medical Records, Disclosure of Records, State Legislation.
- Over $222,000 in Legal Costs and Fees Awarded to HRDC in Florida Records Suit Against Centurion, Dec. 1, 2025. Attorney Fee Awards, Costs, Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Public Records Act.
- $1.8 Million Settlement Reached Following CDCR Data Breach, Nov. 1, 2025. DOC/BOP misconduct, Medical Records, Settlements, Class Certification, Disclosure of Records, Class Notice, Public Records, Restitution, Trust Accounts.

