Criminal justice coverage in the Heart of Dixie follows the justice system as a whole — courts, sentencing, incarceration, bail, prosecution and the reform efforts that move through the legislature and courts. Reporting runs through Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.
A 367-page audit by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts documents obstacles auditors faced in obtaining records from the Alabama Department of Corrections.
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November 9, 2026
Lawrence Pleads Guilty to Felony ForgeryAlabama state Rep. Kelvin Lawrence avoids prison time through a pretrial diversion program and deferred sentence.
November 9, 2026
Alabama Supreme Court Upholds $900,000 Walmart VerdictThe state's highest court affirmed a Baldwin County jury award tied to a fatal Gulf Shores crash involving an underage buyer's alcohol purchase.
November 7, 2026
Ben McGough Sworn In as Second Circuit DAMcGough takes over prosecution in Butler, Crenshaw and Lowndes counties after Charlotte Tesmer's retirement.
November 6, 2026
Alabama Executes Michael Shannon Taylor by Lethal InjectionTaylor, 54, was put to death for the 1991 murders of Ivan and Lucille Moore in their Gadsden home.
November 3, 2026
Robertson Pledges Crime Focus in Attorney General BidThe Republican nominee for Alabama Attorney General outlined her public safety strategy at a Shelby County Republican Party gathering in Pelham.
October 27, 2026
Alabama Prison Builder Misses Completion DeadlineCaddell Construction faces penalties as the $1.25 billion project in Elmore County remains unfinished.
October 24, 2026
Alabama Supreme Court Dismisses Unemployment Benefit LawsuitThe court ruled there is no longer a live dispute after finding that all plaintiffs received payments or final claim decisions.
October 20, 2026
Phillip Ensler Unveils Alabama Lieutenant Governor PlatformThe Democratic nominee focuses his campaign on education, infrastructure, and prison reform across the state.
October 20, 2026
Governor Ivey Commutes Toforest Johnson's Death SentenceThe death row inmate will serve life in prison without parole following the governor's decision on his 1998 conviction.
October 16, 2026
Alabama Withholds $14.2 Million From Prison ContractorThe state is penalizing Caddell Construction for failing to meet the October 15 completion deadline for a new prison.
Coverage takes in court proceedings and sentencing outcomes, prison conditions and populations, prosecutorial policy, wrongful conviction proceedings and the reform legislation that moves through Montgomery. Alabama's corrections system has faced extended federal scrutiny over conditions and capacity, producing a sustained accountability coverage strand that has continued across multiple administrations. Capital punishment cases generate their own long-running coverage arcs, given the length of the appellate process and the level of public and legal attention each case draws. Sentencing disparities and access to counsel in rural counties contribute ongoing stories that extend well past any single legislative session or court term.
