Senate Bill 316 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Larry StuttsSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Prisons; Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, prison oversight coordinator position established; investigation of correctional facilities, required; Corrections Oversight Board, established

Summary

SB316 would create a Prison Oversight Coordinator within the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, establish a Corrections Oversight Board, and require inspections and investigations of Alabama's correctional facilities to improve oversight and accountability.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates a Prison Oversight Coordinator to monitor inmate care, safety, and facility conditions in Department of Corrections facilities and to coordinate prison oversight efforts. It requires inspections of all correctional facilities with a schedule and a tiered safety/compliance system, and it directs the coordinator to report findings publicly (with redactions) to key officials and the new Corrections Oversight Board. It also establishes a Corrections Oversight Board to oversee the coordinator, hold public hearings, and require accountability, including investigations of complaints with protections for complainants and a process for the Department of Corrections to respond with corrective action plans.

Who It Affects

• Incarcerated individuals and correctional facility staff, who would be subject to inspections, safety evaluations, and rights protections, and who could file complaints that the oversight coordinator may investigate (with confidentiality) and who would interact with the coordinator during visits and meetings.
• The Department of Corrections and related state agencies (including the State Bureau of Investigation and district attorneys), which would oversee compliance, respond to reports, cooperate with investigations, and participate in enforcement and prosecution where appropriate.

Key Provisions

• Establish Prison Oversight Coordinator within the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, appointed by the Chief Examiner, with authority to hire up to two assistants to perform duties.
• Require initial and ongoing inspections of all Department of Corrections facilities, classify each facility's safety/compliance level into Tier 1-3, and publish inspection findings and remedial recommendations (redacted as needed).
• Create the Corrections Oversight Board with diverse members from the Legislature and community, authorize annual public hearings and quarterly meetings, and ensure public input on inspections and findings.
• Authorize the Prison Oversight Coordinator to investigate complaints about conditions, policies, or misconduct (with protections against retaliation), refer matters to appropriate resources, and require the Department to provide a corrective action plan in response to findings.
• Grant the Coordinator broad access to facilities and records, protect confidentiality of sensitive information, allow confidential interviews and communications with inmates and staff, and coordinate with the State Bureau of Investigations and prosecutors for criminal cases as needed (effective October 1, 2026).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Feb 19, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Incarceration