>> GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAPPED UP THIS AFTERNOON WITH LAW MAKERS IMPROVING PLANS TO BUILD SEVERAL NEW FACILITIES, RENOVATE OTHERS AND CLOSE SOME PRISONS.

THEY GOT THEIR WORK DONE IN FIVE DAYS.

THIS AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR IVEY SIGNED THE PRISON CONSTRUCTION BILL AND THE ACCOMPANYING LEGISLATION TO PAY FOR IT INTO LAW.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WORKED WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER ON A PLAN TO BUILD NEW PRISONS AFTER IVEY'S PREVIOUS PRIVATE LEASE DEAL WAS ABANDONED BECAUSE THE BACKERS PULLED OUT.

THE GOVERNOR SAID OFTEN SHE WANTED AN ALABAMA SOLUTION TO PRISON PROBLEMS OUTLINED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT.

SHE FEELS THAT NEW CONSTRUCTION IS THE PLACE TO START.

THE GOVERNOR STOOD THIS AFTERNOON WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS INCLUDING THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF THE SENATE AND THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET CHAIRS OF BOTH CHAMBERS.

SHE AND ALABAMA CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER THANKED ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED FOR WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE PRISON PLAN.

>> FOLKS THIS IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR STATE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

[APPLAUSE] >> FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, WE HAVE WORKED TO ADDRESS ALABAMA'S LONG-STANDING PRISON INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES.

THESE CHALLENGES WERE DECADES IN THE MAKING, AND WHILE WE WORK DILIGENTLY TO SOLVE THEM, IT TOOK A LOT OF HARD WORK.

>> TRANSFORM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE DOING IT.

WE THINK IT WILL HELP US WITH RESPECT TO DOJ AND THE OTHER LITIGATION BUT THE PRIMARY REASON IS BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND THAT IT'S WHAT OUR STATE NEEDS.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.

>> THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE PRISON CONSTRUCTION LEGISLATION ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER LAWMAKERS GAVE IT FINAL APPROVAL TODAY.

EVEN THOUGH LAWMAKERS GOT THE PRISON CONSTRUCTION PLAN DONE, IN A WEEK, THE DEBATES OVER THE ISSUE WAS EXTENSIVE.

LEGISLATORS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE HAD THEIR OWN PARTICULAR CONCERNS AS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS FOR US TONIGHT.

>> THE SPECIAL SESSION HAS ONE TARGET, FIXING ALABAMA'S PRISON SYSTEM.

>> NO, I DON'T AGREE THAT WE CAN BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF THIS ISSUE.

BUT I THINK WITH THE COMMITMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, YOU KNOW, HOSPITAL BEDS, AND REHABILITATION SERVICES, THIS IS A MUCH MORE POSITIVE APPROACH.

>> PHASE ONE OF THE PROJECT INCLUDES REPLACING TWO MEN'S PRISONS, PHASE TWO INCLUDES REPLACING THE WOMEN PRISON AND REPAIRING OTHER MEN'S FACILITIES.

>> THESE TWO PROJECTS WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS, A GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATION, AND THE APPROPRIATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

PHASE TWO PROJECTS ARE THE RENOVATION OF EXISTING DOC FACILITIES IN LIMESTONE AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW WOMEN'S FACILITY.

>> WE'RE SITTING HERE AS LEGISLATORS TRYING TO GET A BUILDING BUILT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LAWSUIT AGAINST US BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK I KNOW WE GOT A WEEK TO DO THIS.

WE NEED MORE INFORMATION FROM THE COMMISSIONER.

>> HOUSE BILL 4, THE CONSTRUCTION BILL IS PASSED.

>> FROM THE USE OF DIFFERENT FUNDS, FROM THE REASONABLE BOND ISSUE TO THE RESCUE PLAN FUNDS TO THE GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS, SO WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE COVERED ALL THE BASES >> THE PROPOSAL FACES MORE DEBATE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

>> HOW DID WE GET TO THE FACILITIES THAT WERE SELECTED?

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

WHY IS TUTWILER NOT IN THE FIRST PHASE.

MIND YOU, HOW I FEEL ABOUT TUTWILER IS THIS, THIS IS THE ONE THAT THE FEDS CAME DOWN ON US THE HARDEST.

>> DEBATE ENDS AND A VOTE FOLLOWS.

HOUSE BILL 4 IS APPROVED.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL", I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> HOW TO PAY FOR THE BIG CONSTRUCTION PLAN WAS THE SUBJECT OF SOME VERY POINTED DISCUSSIONS THIS WEEK.

FUNDING WILL COME FROM A MIX OF A 750 MILLION DOLLARS BOND ISSUE, 150 MILLION DOLLARS AND AVAILABLE GENERAL FUND BUDGET CASH AND 400 MILLION IN FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY.

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS IN PARTICULAR HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE LATTER SAYING THAT MONEY SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO PANDEMIC NEEDS.

BUT SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF JASPER SAYS HE'S CONFIDENT IN THE STATE'S ABILITY TO SPEND SOME TO HAVE STIMULUS FUNDS -- SOME OF THE STIMULUS FUNDS ON PRISONS.

>> I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE ACTION OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE FOCUS OF THE GOVERNOR, THAT THIS IS A VERY SMART WAY TO USE THOSE RESOURCES.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOCATING THAT WILL GO TO ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT NEEDS, AND WE'RE VERY COGNIZANT OF THOSE NEEDS AND RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.

>> THERE WAS ALSO AN ALTERNATIVE PRISON CONSTRUCTION PLAN INTRODUCED THIS WEEK, ONE THAT PROPOSED THAT THE TWO MEGA MEN'S PRISONS BE BUILT HOUSING FEWER INMATES.

IT WAS AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT BY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BILLY BEASLEY OF CLAYTON WHO SAID HIS EFFORT WOULD AMONG OTHER THINGS HELP KEEP OPEN SOME LOCK UPS THAT WOULD CLOSE INCLUDING A COUPLE IN HIS OWN DISTRICT.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IN THE SENATE HAS EVER SEEN THE DESIGN.

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO 4,000 INMATES?

IS IT GOING TO BE A HIGH-RISE?

OR IS IT GOING TO BE -- SOMEBODY SAID THERE WERE GOING TO BE PODS.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY INMATES THERE'S GOING TO BE IN A POD.

AND THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT THERE WOULD BE AN ELEVATION WHERE THEY HAVE CAMERAS AND THEY COULD KIND OF SEE WHAT THE INMATES WERE DOING AND DON'T BE SURPRISED.

THEY DO FIGHT IN THE PRISON.

>> PRISONS IN BEASLEY'S DISTRICT INCLUDE VENTRESS AND FOUNTAIN, BOTH IN BARBOUR COUNTY.

THERE WERE A PAIR OF PRISON REFORM BILLS ON THE CALL OF THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

ONE OF THEM PASSED, AND ONE OF THEM DIDN'T.

IN OUR IN DEPTH REPORT TONIGHT, "CAPITOL JOURNAL" KAREN GOLDSMITH TAKES A CLOSER LOOK.

>> ALABAMA GOVERNOR IVEY AND LEADERS IN THE ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ALABAMA SENATE SAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE'S PRISON PROBLEM, WE HAVE KICKED THE CAN FAR TOO LONG.

NOW, WE PICK IT UP.

PICKING IT UP INCLUDED ADDRESSING TWO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM MEASURES.

HOUSE BILL 1, BY REPRESENTATIVE JIM HILL SAYS OFFENDERS SENTENCED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1, 2013, CAN REQUEST TO HAVE THEIR SENTENCES RECONSIDERED, USING THE SAME GUIDELINES ALLOWED FOR THOSE SENTENCED AFTER THAT DATE.

>> THE MOTION MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFENDANT HAS DEMONSTRATED BEHAVIOR DURING INCARCERATION THAT WOULD INDICATE FITNESS FOR RESENTENCING.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS A RIGHT TO BE HEARD.

THE COURT MAY IMPOSE A REDUCED SENTENCE.

>> WHAT THIS PARTICULAR BILL IS ABOUT IS ABOUT EQUITY.

>> THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DEBATED THE BILL FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR AND PASSED IT, BUT THE FULL HOUSE DID NOT PASS THE PLAN.

IT DIED.

UNDER THE SECOND REFORM MEASURE, INMATES INCARCERATED BEFORE 2015 WHO ARE REACHING THE END OF THEIR SENTENCE CAN BE RELEASED EARLY, BUT INTO THE CUSTODY OF THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLE.

THOSE LOCKED UP AFTER 2015 ALREADY FALL UNDER THIS PROVISION.

>> TO ME, FOLKS, SUPERVISION AFTER RELEASE IS PARAMOUNT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> THE BILL PASSED AND IS NOW HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK FOR HER SIGNATURE.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL", I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> WITH THE PRISON SPECIAL SESSION IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR NOW, LAWMAKERS LOOK TO LATE OCTOBER WHEN GOVERNOR IVEY IS EXPECTED TO CALL THEM BACK TO MONTGOMERY AGAIN TO TACKLE REAPPORTIONMENT.

IT IS SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T GET DONE IN THE REGULAR SESSION BECAUSE CRUCIAL CENSUS INFORMATION WAS DELAYED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

THIS WEEK A FEDERAL LAWSUIT WAS FILED THAT CONTENDS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS DRAWN IN 2011 UNFAIRLY DILUTE THE STATE'S MINORITY VOTING STRENGTH BY PACKING MOSTLY BLACK VOTERS INTO A SINGLE DISTRICT, EVEN THOUGH THEY CONSTITUTE ONE FOURTH OF ALABAMA'S POPULATION.

THE SUIT PROPOSES SPREADING VOTERS IN DISTRICT 7, MORE EVENLY INTO TWO DISTRICTS.

SENATOR ROGER SMITHERMAN OF BIRMINGHAM IS ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE LEGAL ACTION AND HE SPOKE TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL".

>> THAT'S IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR CONSTITUTION, AND IT TALKS ABOUT WHOLE COUNTIES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP OF WHERE THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS SET OUT, IT GOES RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY AND TAKES OUT A PORTION OF THE PEOPLE AND SENDS US ALL THE WAY DOWN TOWARD THE BLACK BELT, AND THEN EVERYBODY ELSE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY IS JUST THERE, AND THEN THEY'RE SENT DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

BUT THE STATE CONSTITUTION CLEARLY TALKS ABOUT YOU SHOULD KEEP COUNTIES WHOLE.

>> SENATE MINORITY LEADER SINGLETON OF GREENSBORO ALSO AMONG THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE LAWSUIT.

THEY ARE BOTH HOPING THE CONCERNS THEY HAVE LAID OUT IN THE LAWSUIT CAN BE ADDRESSED IN A SPECIAL SESSION ON REAPPORTIONMENT LATER THIS MONTH.

>>> A NEW STATE LAW THAT ALLOWS FOR THE HOME DELIVERY OF BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITS WENT INTO EFFECT THIS WEEKEND.

BUT THAT DIDN'T MEAN THAT ALABAMIANS COULD IMMEDIATELY START ORDERING ALCOHOL TO BE DELIVERED.

FIRST COMES THE LICENSING PROCESS AND THE PROPER TRAINING FOR RETAIL, MANUFACTURERS, AND THIRD PARTY BUSINESSES.

REPRESENTATIVE OF GADSDEN SPONSORED THE LEGISLATION AND HE SPOKE TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL".

>> YOU HAVE COMPANIES THAT ARE ALREADY SET UP TO DO THIS, THEY WILL BE ONE OF THE ONES THAT WILL BE LICENSED QUICKER THAN OTHERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TRAINING IN PLACE AT THIS TIME, AND THEY HAVE THE PROCESS IN PLACE AT THIS TIME, SO COMPANIES, WHETHER A SMALL COMPANY OR A LARGER COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO START DOING THIS, IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER FOR ABC TO PROCESS EVERYTHING.

>> THE STATE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARD HAS SAID IT IS HARD TO SAY FOR SURE WHEN HOME DELIVERY WILL ACTUALLY START BECAUSE LICENSE APPLICATIONS WILL TAKE TIME TO REVIEW AND BUSINESSES WILL HAVE TO FINALIZE THEIR DELIVERY OPERATIONS.

IT IS THE SAME PROCESS THE ABC WENT THROUGH IN AUGUST WHEN A NEW LAW ALLOWING THE HOME DELIVERY OF WINE FROM MANUFACTURERS AND CERTAIN WINE CLUBS WENT INTO EFFECT.

THE LAST PART OF ALABAMA'S 10 CENTS A GALLON GAS TAX INCREASE WENT INTO EFFECT TODAY.

IT ADDED ON THE FINAL 2 CENTS A GALLON THAT MOTORISTS WILL PAY AT THE PUMP.

A 2 CENTS A GALLON INCREASE WAS IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR, AND THE INITIAL 6 CENTS A GALLON INCREASE WAS PUT INTO EFFECT IN 2019.

IT'S PART OF AN INITIATIVE GOVERNOR IVEY CALLED REBUILD ALABAMA THROUGH WHICH SOME 320 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN REVENUE FROM THE GAS TAX WILL GO TOWARDS IMPROVING ROADS AND BRIDGES ACROSS THE STATE.

ESTIMATES ARE THAT SOME 950 PROJECTS HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED FUNDING.

IT'S PART OF THE FIRST GAS TAX INCREASE IN THE STATE SINCE 1992.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, REPRESENTATIVE JIM HILL OF MOODY IS BACK IN STUDIO WITH US.

JUDGE, WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> YOU SPONSORED THE TWO PRISON REFORM MEASURES WHICH WENT BEFORE LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK, NOT UNFAMILIAR BILLS BECAUSE BOTH HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED PREVIOUSLY BY THE LEGISLATURE, RIGHT?

ONE GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE AND WAS SENT TO THE SENATE AND BOTH PROVED TO BE, I DON'T KNOW, A LITTLE MORE CONTROVERSIAL THAN WE MIGHT HAVE ANTICIPATED.

>> SORT OF A LITTLE MORE SCRUTINIZED.

THEY BOTH ACTUALLY GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE IN THE REGULAR SESSION.

NOW, ONE OF THEM DEALT WITH WHAT WE CALL A LOOKBACK -- THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL RESENTENCED BASED ON THE LAW AS IT IS NOW, THE SENTENCING GUIDELINES AS THEY ARE NOW, AS OPPOSED TO SENTENCE PRE GUIDELINES PRE-2013.

THAT ONE DID NOT GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

I DO PLAN ON REFILING IT IN JANUARY.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT SOME MORE AND SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH IT BECAUSE IT DID -- IT PASSED THE HOUSE AND ACTUALLY GOT OUT OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, JUST NEVER GOT TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE LAST SPRING.

>> YOU CALL IT THE KIRBY LOOKBACK -- KIRBY IS THE NAME OF A CASE.

>> IT CERTAINLY IS.

IT'S THE NAME OF A CASE WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL SUED BASICALLY SAYING HE HAD BEEN TREATED DISPROPORTIONATELY BECAUSE OF THE TIME IN WHICH HE WAS SENTENCED AND SO THERE WAS A LOOK BACK OR A REVISIT.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE IT RETROACTIVE THE 2013 ACCEPT TENSING LAW TO THOSE -- SENTENCING LAW TO THOSE HAD BEEN SENTENCED BEFORE THAT; RIGHT?

>> TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY.

NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEED THAT IT WOULD BE LOOKED BACK.

THEY WOULD FILE A PETITION WITH THE COURT.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WOULD BE SERVED WITH THAT PETITION.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONCUR OR OBJECT.

THE JUDGE WOULD THEN JUST LOOK AT THE FACTS THAT WERE BEFORE THE JUDGE, WHETHER -- HOW THE INDIVIDUAL HAD DONE IN PRISON, WHAT WAS HIS -- WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM SINCE THE POINT IN TIME OF HIS SENTENCING THAT WAS PRE-2013, PRE-THE PRESUMPTIVE GUIDELINES.

>> TALKING ABOUT NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS, RIGHT?

ONLY WOULD HAVE INVOLVED ABOUT 700 OR SO INMATES, WOULD IT NOT OUT OF OVER 17,000 TOTAL.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT IS CORRECT.

IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN PRISON TODAY, IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE 250, 300.

SOME OF THOSE THAT WERE SENTENCED THEN ARE NOW OUT OF ON SOME TYPE OF PAROLE.

YOU WOULD NOT HAVE LOOKED BACK AT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS AT THIS POINT IN TIME NOT INCARCERATED.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED?

I MEAN, YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE DURING THE REGULAR SESSION, BUT DIDN'T GET OUT OF THE HOUSE IN THE SPECIAL SESSION.

>> YOU KNOW, I NEVER REALLY ASKED PEOPLE EXACTLY WHY THERE WAS AN OPPOSITION TO IT, BUT THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY IN MY CAUCUS AN OPPOSITION TO GOING FORWARD WITH THAT BILL AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

>> I KNOW A LOT OF SUPPOSITION HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THEN, PEOPLE SAYING YOU DON'T WANT TO APPEAR TO BE SOFT ON CRIME, SO TO SPEAK.

DO YOU THINK THAT BILL INDICATED IN ANY WAY BEING SOFT ON CRIME?

>> NO, I THINK IT'S CONSISTENT.

TREATING PEOPLE THE SAME WAY FOR THE SAME THING THAT GOT THEM THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IT REALLY SHOULDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF YOU WERE SENTENCED IN 2012 OR 2013, IF THE SITUATION THAT GOT YOU THERE, THE CRIME THAT GOT YOU THERE, IT OUGHT TO BE CONSISTENT.

>> AND AS YOU POINTED OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR CONVERSATION, FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORRIED, IT WASN'T AN AUTOMATICALLY GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD, YOU HAD TO APPLY.

YOU WEREN'T GUARANTEED OF BEING RESENTENCED.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IF YOU HAD ASKED PRIOR TO THIS TIME, UNDER THE OLD KIRBY TYPE LAWS, AND IT WOULD BE TURNED DOWN, YOU COULD NOT EVEN BE CONSIDERED.

>> YOU WILL BRING THIS BACK IN THE REGULAR SESSION?

>> I WILL.

>> WELL, I'M ASKING YOU TO LOOK INTO YOUR CRYSTAL BALL HERE, BUT MAYBE THE THIRD TIME MIGHT BE THE CHARM?

>> I HOPE SO.

I HOPE SO.

>> PRISON REFORM HAS OFTEN BEEN POINTED TO AS NEEDING TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH PRISON CONSTRUCTION, AT LEAST BY SOME.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT PHILOSOPHY GENERALLY?

>> I DO.

I DO.

I THINK -- I JUST THINK WE NEED -- YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS IN THIS STATE WE TOOK THE THREE STRIKES YOU'RE OUT, WE'RE TOUGH ON CRIME.

WE'LL LOCK THEM UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEY, AND THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IT GOT US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

WE'RE OVERCROWDED.

WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED.

I THINK WE HAVE PRISONS THAT ARE JUST INADEQUATE TO DEAL WITH THE TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE NOW HAVE IN PRISON, AND WE -- I'M FOR THE PRISON CONSTRUCTION BILL.

I THINK THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.

>> UH-HUH.

WE START THERE, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD; RIGHT?

>> YES, I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

>> THESE REFORM BILLS THE TWO THAT WERE BEFORE YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES THIS WEEK IN THE SPECIAL SESSION, YOU SPONSORED BOTH OF THEM AS YOU DID DURING THE REGULAR SESSION.

YOU ALSO HELPED SHEPHERD THEM THROUGH THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, WHERE YOU SERVE AS CHAIR.

THE OTHER ONE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY WHICH DID GET OUT OF THE HOUSE WAS THE ONE THAT DEALS WITH MANDATORY MONITORING OF INMATES.

TELL US ABOUT THAT ONE.

>> IN 2015, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL THAT SAID FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, FROM 2015 FORWARD, WE WILL NOT LET SOMEONE EOS, THAT MEANS END OF SENTENCE, IF THEY EOS, IF THEY END THEIR SENTENCE IN PRISON, WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED FROM PRISON, THEY ARE RELEASED WITH NO SUPERVISION.

THEY'RE RELEASED WITH NO MONITORING.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT -- THERE'S NO LOOK.

THERE'S NO WATCH OVER THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

SO IN 2015, WHAT THE LEGISLATURE SAID, AND THE GOVERNORS AGREED WITH, WAS WE'RE GOING TO RELEASE PEOPLE FROM PRISON TO THE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT THEY END THEIR SENTENCE SO THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME MONITORING AND SOME TEACHING AND SOME WATCHING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

WHERE DO THEY LIVE?

WHERE DO THEY WORK?

WHAT ARE THEY DOING AT THIS POINT IN TIME?

THAT WAS THE 2015 BILL UNFORTUNATELY OR WHATEVER IT WAS 2015 FORWARD.

WHAT THE BILL DOES IS MAKE IT RETROACTIVE, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT -- TWO ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS IN THIS BILL.

ONE IS A NON-DRIVER'S LICENSE IDENTIFICATION CARD.

PEOPLE NEED THAT WHEN THEY GO TO WORK.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE IDENTIFICATION CARD SO THEY ARE TO BE GIVEN A NON-DRIVER'S LICENSE IDENTIFICATION CARD, BUT THE SECOND ONE IS IT TASKS THE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PLACING ELECTRONIC MONITORING ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS SO THAT IT'S EASIER TO KEEP UP WITH THEM.

>> ONE OF THE PHILOSOPHIES HERE BEING I ASSUME TO CUT DOWN ON RECIDIVISM BECAUSE IF WE MONITORED THESE FOLKS, WE CAN HELP THEM IN NOT RETURNING POSSIBLY TO PRISON.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

WE HAVE FOUND AND DATA HAS SHOWN THAT MONITORING PEOPLE AFTER RELEASE, BUT BEFORE EOS, AFTER RELEASE, BUT BEFORE THEY END THEIR SENTENCE CAN REDUCE THE RECIDIVISM BY UP TO 40%.

THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER, WHEN YOU FIGURE THAT WE ARE RELEASING OR WE'RE EOSING 3 OR 400 PEOPLE A YEAR.

IT IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER.

>> JUDGE, WHEN WE COME BACK, IN THE REGULAR SESSION NEXT YEAR, I KNOW THAT YOU HAD A PRETTY AMBITIOUS AGENDA OF REFORM BILLS LAST YEAR.

WE MENTIONED THESE THAT WERE INTRODUCED THIS WEEK.

WILL YOU BE BACK WITH MORE?

>> I WILL BE BACK WITH SOME OF THE ONES THAT I HAD.

I WANT TO RESPLIT SENTENCES.

I UNDERSTAND -- RIGHT NOW A JUDGE CAN SPLIT A SENTENCE, 15 YEARS, SPLIT, SERVE FIVE, BALANCE ON PROBATION.

HOWEVER, IF THAT INDIVIDUAL DOES HIS FIVE YEARS, GETS OUT, AND THEN IS REVOKED, THE ONLY OPTION IS THE 10, REVOKE FOR THE WHOLE 10.

MAYBE WHAT HE DID WAS NOT WARRANTING A 10 YEAR REVOCATION OR SENTENCE.

WHAT I WANT TO DO IS ALLOW THE JUDGES THE DISCRETION TO SPLIT THAT TEN YEARS INTO SMALLER SEGMENTS, BASED ON WHAT THE INDIVIDUAL'S DONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US HAVE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS IN EVERY CIRCUIT IN THE STATE.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS IS IN A LARGE NUMBER OF CIRCUITS BUT SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL.

AGAIN, ANOTHER TOOL THAT PEOPLE CAN USE OTHER THAN SIMPLY INCARCERATING SOMEONE.

SO THAT'S AT LEAST TWO OF THEM.

THERE'S -- YES, I HAD SEVERAL OTHERS.

>> DO YOU THINK, THOUGH, THAT GIVEN THE PRISON CONSTRUCTION BILL GETTING OUT THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RENEWED INTEREST IN SOME OF THESE OTHER REFORM MEASURES?

>> I DO.

I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE NEED TO DO.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE -- THAT WE NEED TO BUILD PRISONS, BUT THERE'S ALSO NO QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHO DO WE HAVE IN PRISON?

THERE'S ALWAYS ATTENTION, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND PEOPLE IN INCARCERATION.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THAT TENSION.

SO I THINK PUTTING MONITORS ON PEOPLE, PUTTING THEM IN COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, WHERE THEY CAN BE RANDOMLY DRUG SCREENED.

IN OTHER WORDS, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP UP WITH AND WATCH WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING HELPS TO EASE THAT TENSION, AND IT ALSO HELPS TO INCREASE AND ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH REALLY IN A LOT OF WAYS IS THE NAME OF THE GAME.

>> REPRESENTATIVE JIM HILL OF MOODY IS CHAIR OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

THANKS AS ALWAYS.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP >> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME ON.

I ENJOYED IT.

>> YOU BET.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ALABAMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS ENGLAND IS TUSCALOOSA IS BACK IN STUDIO WITH US.

REPRESENTATIVE, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO BE SEEN.

>> WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONCE AGAIN.

LET'S BEGIN OF COURSE WITH PRISONS.

YOU HAVE LONG BEEN SKEPTICAL OF BUILDING NEW PRISONS WITHOUT MEANINGFUL REFORM ATTACHED.

>> RIGHT.

>> SOME REFORM MEASURES WERE ATTACHED THIS WEEK, REFORM MEASURES THAT YOU VOTED FOR IN THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THIS WEEK BUT I THINK YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T THINK THEY WENT NEARLY FAR ENOUGH.

>> THEY DON'T.

IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO CHANGE DECADES WORTH OF NEGLECT WITH A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT REALLY DON'T GET TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER.

ALTHOUGH, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE CONCEPT, THE IDEA BECAUSE I THINK IT IS NECESSARY CONSIDERING THAT WE ARE THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OVERCROWDED.

WE HAVE SEVERAL FEDERAL LAWSUITS PENDING AGAINST US.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.

>> BRICK AND MORTAR YOU HAVE SAID BUILDING I THINK YOUR WORDS WERE SHINY NEW PRISONS TO HOUSE THE SAME OLD PROBLEMS.

>> YEAH.

>> WEREN'T GOING TO BE ANY SORT OF SOLUTION, EVEN THOUGH THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE NEW PRISONS SAY THEY WILL.

>> THE SECOND THOSE BUILDINGS OPEN, WE'LL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

STILL BE OVERCROWDED.

STILL BE UNDERRESOURCED.

STILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE WORKING IN THEM.

AND SOME OF THE SAME ABUSES, CORRUPTION, AND MANY OTHER THINGS WILL STILL EXIST WHEN THESE BUILDINGS OPEN.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

I THINK THE OTHER PART THAT'S KIND OF -- THAT NEEDS TO BE MENTIONED IS THIS IS A PHASED APPROACH.

THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO WHAT IS REQUIRED IN PHASE TWO, ONCE WE REACH 60% OF COMPLETION IN PHASE ONE.

THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT SOME NEW LEGISLATORS IN FOUR YEARS ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED OR TASKED WITH GOING BACK AND BORROWING MORE MONEY TO BUILD TUTWILER, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH IS PART OF PHASE TWO OR TO BORROW MORE MONEY TO REHAB FIVE FACILITIES THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE LAID OUT IN THE BILL TO BE REHABBED.

SO THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, ONCE WE COMPLETE THIS PLAN, AND 2025 ROLLS AROUND, WE'LL STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS.

WE WILL STILL BE OVERCROWDED, UNDERRESOURCED, UNDERSTAFFED AND MISMANAGED, AND BY THE WAY, THAT'S FOUR YEARS FROM NOW.

-- THREE AND HALF YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO UNTIL THEN?

ARE WE JUST GOING TO ALLOW THE SAME HUMANITARIAN CRISIS TO CONTINUE WITHOUT ANY REAL REFORM MEASURES TO DEAL WITH IT AS WE GO FORWARD?

SO I MEAN, THERE'S SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS THERE, AND IN MY OPINION, THIS PLAN IS JUST US PUNTING THE BALL -- PUNTING THE CAN JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER THAN WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE THAT MAYBE MORE REFORM MEASURES MIGHT COME UP IN THE REGULAR SESSION?

>> NO.

I THINK IT WILL BE DISCUSSED.

BUT ALL THE MOMENTUM WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE BUILDINGS.

FROM NOW ON, EVERY TIME YOU ASK A QUESTION ABOUT OUR PRISON SYSTEM AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT, THE ANSWER'S GOING TO BE WELL WE'RE BUILDING PRISONS, SO IF YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT ABOUT THE CORRUPTION IN OUR CURRENT FACILITIES?

WE'RE BUILDING PRISONS.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED RIGHT NOW?

WELL, WE'RE BUILDING PRISONS.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S A CULTURE OF CORRUPTION THERE?

THERE'S NO LEADERSHIP.

YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSIONER WHO IS IN CHARGE, WE'VE GOTTEN WORSE EVERY SINGLE YEAR UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP.

THE ANSWER WILL BE WE'RE BUILDING NEW PRISONS.

SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY MORE MOMENTUM OR AN APPETITE FOR CONTINUED REFORM UNTIL THE FEDERAL COURTS TELL US THAT WE HAVE TO.

>> YOU HAVE LONG CALLED FOR CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER JEFF DUNN TO BE FIRED, HAVE YOU NOT?

>> YES, I MEAN AT THIS POINT, SINCE WE'VE GOTTEN DOJ REPORT, WHERE IT DETAILED ALL THE CORRUPTION WITHIN OUR SYSTEM, EVERY TANGIBLE MARKER HAS GOTTEN WORSE, MORE VIOLENCE.

THERE'S BEEN MORE SUICIDES.

THERE'S BEEN MORE CORRUPTION.

SO YES, I THINK THAT'S LONG OVERDUE.

>> ON OUR SHOW LAST WEEK, HOUSE MINORITY LEADER ANTHONY DANIELS ALSO SAID HE THOUGHT THAT THE PARDONS AND PAROLE BOARD SHOULD BE FIRED AS CORRECTING SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH HIM.

I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS.

LIKE YOU COULD TRACK OUR PROGRESS, IN 2013, SENTENCING GUIDELINES WERE MADE PRESUMPTIVE.

THEN IN 2015, WE ADOPTED A VERY EXPANSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM PACKAGE, AND YOU COULD SEE OUR PRISON POPULATION INCREMENTALLY DECREASE.

UP UNTIL 2019, WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHAIR WAS APPOINTED OF PARDONS AND PAROLE, SINCE THEN WE HAVE LOST ALL PROGRESS.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, FOR WHATEVER REASON, A RACIAL DISPARITY HAS DEVELOPED IN WHO GETS PARDONS AND WHO GETS PAROLED.

SO I THINK THE SYSTEM IS FUNDAMENTALLY BIASED.

AND IT IS BROKEN.

IT IS ALSO ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE YOU START TALKING ABOUT BUILDING NEW PRISONS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, LET'S ALSO TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR A MOMENT.

YOU HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH USING FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY TO BUILD THESE PRISONS.

>> I DO.

SIMPLY PUT, ALABAMA'S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE PLAN, IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT, HAS BEEN ONE OF THE WORST, AND IT'S -- AND THE RESULTS REPRESENT THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND EFFORT.

RIGHT NOW, LAST YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, THERE WERE MORE DEATHS IN ALABAMA THAN BIRTHS, WHICH IS AMAZING TO THINK ABOUT.

BUT THIS YEAR, AS WE SIT HERE, ALABAMA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST COVID DEATH RATES IN THE COUNTRY, SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT WE COULD FIND A BETTER WAY TO SPEND AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY THAN ON BUILDING PRISONS CONSIDERING HOW URGENT OUR NEED IS EVERYWHERE ELSE WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC.

>> THOSE WHO SUPPORT USING THAT MONEY HAVE POINTED TO THE FACT THAT IT IS A LEGITIMATE USE OF IT TO REPLACE LOST REVENUE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> THAT'S A REALLY LIBERAL VERY CREATIVE WAY TO LOOK AT LOST REVENUE, CONSIDERING THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR DECADES.

AND THERE WAS A FEDERAL LAWSUIT IN PLACE PRIOR TO US GETTING THIS AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY, BUT FOR, YOU KNOW, IF YOU FEEL LIKE -- OBVIOUSLY THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION ARE CONFIDENT THAT THIS WILL BE SUPPORTED BE I THE FEDS -- SUPPORTED BY THE FEDS, BUT IF IT'S NOT, WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY IT BACK.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, LET'S SPEND THESE LAST FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE STATE PARTY FOR A MINUTE.

WE'RE UP AGAINST AN ELECTION YEAR NEXT YEAR.

I KNOW THAT A LOT OF EYES ARE ON THE PARTY RIGHT NOW WHERE CANDIDATES ARE CONCERNED.

OFF LOT OF DOWN BALLOT -- YOU HAVE A LOT OF DOWN BALLOT CANDIDATES RIGHT NOW BUT TOP BALLOT RACES NOT SO MUCH.

HOW DO YOU FEEL WHERE THE PARTY IS AT THIS POINT?

>> THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE INTERESTED, BUT THE PARTY ITSELF DOESN'T MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR CANDIDATES.

THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE EXPLORING REALITIES OF RUNNING STATEWIDE.

IT IS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO.

THE CLIMATE ITSELF IS CHALLENGING.

ALTHOUGH THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE WE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS, THE LARGEST TURNOUT IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY HISTORY FOR DOUG JONES WHEN HE RAN FOR SENATE, THE REALITIES ARE STILL THERE.

THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO ARE KIND OF MEASURING -- DOING THEIR OWN COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS TO SEE IT IS WORTH IT, IF IT IS POSSIBLE AND THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED, BUT AGAIN, THE PARTY WON'T BE ANNOUNCING CANDIDATES BEFORE THEY'RE READY TO TELL EVERYBODY THEY ARE RUNNING.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE WHO HAVE SAID THAT THE LACK OF CANDIDATES TOP TIER RACE CANDIDATES SO FAR IS MAYBE INDICATIVE OF A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM WITHIN THE STATE PARTY.

DO YOU LOOK AT IT THAT WAY AT ALL?

>> NO, I THINK IT IS MORE INDICATIVE OF THE CURRENT CLIMATE WE LIVE IN.

ALABAMA IS -- IT'S BEEN A RED STATE, SO OUR PROCESS ISN'T NECESSARILY FROM ELECTION CYCLE TO ELECTION CYCLE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT IT AS A FIVE TO TEN-YEAR INVESTMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, INVESTING IN FOUNDATION AND BUILDING IT SO EVENTUALLY WE CAN FILL EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE CANDIDATES ON A MAP THAT YIELDS THOSE SORTS OF RESULTS >> WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

VERY QUICKLY BEFORE WE CLOSE, I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON A LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED THIS WEEK REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT THAT SEEKS TO CREATE ANOTHER MAJORITY MINORITY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

TWO OF YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE ARE AMONG THE PLAINTIFFS IN THIS LAWSUIT.

VERY QUICKLY WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK -- THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR RACIAL GERRYMANDERING IN OUR HISTORY IN ALABAMA.

BASED UPON THE NUMBERS AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE STATE ITSELF, OFTEN TIMES GOING THAT ROUTE THROUGH A LAWSUIT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN ACHIEVE CERTAIN RESULTS, SO I WILL BE WATCHING IT JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT WE'LL STILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND INVEST WHATEVER RESOURCES WE HAVE TO TRY TO GET A FAIR MAP THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TOO.

>> ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION IS COMING ON REDISTRICTING IN LATE OCTOBER.

DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPECTATIONS GOING IN?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

BUT OF COURSE THE LAST PLACE THAT ANYBODY WANTS THE LEGISLATURE TO BE IS IN SESSION, AT ANY OTHER TIME THAN WHEN WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.

>> IT IS ALWAYS A POLITICAL PROCESS, AND YOU EXPECT IT TO BE SO AGAIN.

>> YEAH, AGAIN, WHEN WE COME DOWN HERE FOR REDISTRICTING, IT USUALLY TAKES A LONG TIME.

IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE PROCESS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, ALABAMA HAS A VERY SORTED HISTORY OF RACIAL GERRYMANDERING.

WE LOST A LAWSUIT IN THE LAST DECADE IN THE LAST REDISTRICTING.

IT IS SOMETHING WORTH WATCHING AND BEING FULLY INVESTED IN.

>> THE CHAIR OF THE ALABAMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM TUSCALOOSA.

ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH IS BACK IN STUDIO WITH US.

NICE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW AGAIN.

>> GREAT TO BE BACK ON.

>> A BUSY WEEK FOR YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES UP STAIRS THIS WEEK THE TOPIC OF COURSE WAS PRISONS, CONSTRUCTION BILL, REFORM MEASURES WERE ON THE TABLE.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OVERALL?

LET'S START WITH THE CONSTRUCTION FIRST OF ALL.

>> YEAH, I THINK CONSTRUCTION'S NEEDED.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, SITUATION WE'RE IN WITH THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT, IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO SOLVE.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN A PROPONENT ALL ALONG OF US ACTUALLY OWNING THE FACILITIES INSTEAD OF LEASING THEM, THAT'S ONE DIFFERENCE I HAVE WITH THE GOVERNOR BUT GLAD THAT HER AND THE LEGISLATURE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT GETTING THIS PLAN PASSED.

IT BOILS BACK TO COMMON SENSE IN BUSINESS OR, YOU KNOW, BUYING A HOME.

WOULD YOU RATHER AFTER 30 YEARS OWN THE ASSET OR WOULD YOU RATHER PAY SOMEBODY ELSE THROUGH LEASE AND NOT OWN IT?

I THINK IT IS THE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, FISCAL POLICY TO OWN THE ASSET.

SO GLAD THAT WE'RE GOING TO BOND IT PLUS USE SOME FEDERAL MONEY PLUS, YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMY IS DOING WELL, SO WE'RE ABLE TO PUT SOME MONEY DOWN, AND I THINK IT IS GOING TO CERTAINLY BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, YOU KNOW, TOWARDS SOLVING OUR PRISON PROBLEM IN ALABAMA.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT USING SOME OF THE FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY FOR THIS EFFORT.

THERE WERE THOSE WHO SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT, THAT IT WAS AN OVERREACH, BUT OTHERS SAY WE'RE PERFECTLY WITHIN OUR RIGHTS THAT WE'RE USING IT UNDER THE INTENTS IT WAS DESIGNED FOR AND THAT IS REPLACING LOST REVENUE; RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE IN ALABAMA BECAUSE PEOPLE GOT BACK TO WORK OUR REVENUE STREAM.

I THINK OUR JOB AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IS FIND OUT HOW WE CAN BEST USE THAT MONEY, AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING SITUATIONS IN OUR STATES AND A GOOD USE OF MONEY.

AND I SUPPORT IT 100%.

>> THE REST OF THE FUNDING MECHANISM, 785 MILLION DOLLARS BOND ISSUE AND 150 MILLION DOLLARS APPROPRIATION FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET WHICH WILL ESSENTIALLY BUILD THE NEW MEN'S MEGA PRISON IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BORROW AS MUCH AS WE HAD ANTICIPATED.

THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

>> YEAH, I THINK A COUPLE REASONS; RIGHT?

I THINK ONE OBVIOUSLY USING THE FEDERAL MONEY, TWO, CONSTRUCTION PRICES HAVE COME BACK DOWN.

THAT'S A POSITIVE.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED TO BUILD THIS THREE TO FIVE MONTHS AGO, PRICES AT ALL-TIME HIGH.

THEY ARE BACK AND STABILIZED WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

I THINK ALSO RATES ARE LOW, RIGHT?

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, THEY ARE HISTORICALLY LOW, I THINK IT IS CERTAINLY -- MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I'VE BEEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

I REMEMBER IN THE HOUSE, MOST HAD A CONSENSUS ON WHAT TO DO, AND THEN THE SCANDAL BROKE WITH GOVERNOR BENTLEY AND KILLED THAT PLAN.

I'M READY TO SOLVE IT AND PUT IT BEHIND US AND MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK IT IS A GREAT PLAN.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE LEADERS IN THE HOUSE, THE SENATE, GOVERNOR IVEY FOR COMING UP WITH A GOOD PLAN AND I THINK -- I'M EXCITED ABOUT SOLVING THE ISSUE FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA AND MOVING ON.

>> ONE OF THE RECURRING ARGUMENTS DURING THIS DISCUSSION THIS WEEK WAS ARE NEW PRISONS GOING TO SOLVE ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS?

THEY WON'T, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL AGREEMENT AT LEAST AMONG REPUBLICANS THAT THEY ARE WHERE WE NEED TO START.

>> NO DOUBT.

I THINK OUR FACILITIES ARE A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM.

ANYBODY WHO HAS TOURED THEM KNOWS THAT.

WE HAVE OUTDATED FACILITIES, NOT UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE NEED TO DO.

IT WILL GIVE US MORE BEDS, BETTER SCENARIO.

YOU WON'T HAVE THE ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL, YOU KNOW, ALL KIND OF OFFICERS GETTING HURT, RIGHT, IN THE PRISONS, AND A LOT OF THAT IS KIND OF POOR DESIGN.

SO TECHNOLOGY CAN FIX THAT.

IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO NOT USE AS MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEM WITH TECHNOLOGY, YOU KNOW, OPEN GATES WITH CONTROL SYSTEMS.

WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR FACILITIES, AND SO -- I THINK THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY AND MODERNIZE IT.

I THINK IT IS A GOOD PLAN.

>> THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT OVER CONDITIONS IN OUR PRISONS ADDRESSES AMONG MANY THINGS VIOLENCE, BETTER SECURITY UNDER NEW TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED FACILITIES COULD GO A LONG WAY, DON'T YOU THINK IN ADDRESSING VIOLENCE?

>> NO DOUBT.

I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THAT.

BUT TALKING TO COMMISSIONER DUNN, I THINK CERTAINLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, THERE'S OTHER STATES AND I WANT TO COMMEND HIM FOR THE RESEARCH HE'S DONE, YOU KNOW, YEARS OF RESEARCH, HONESTLY LOOKING AT WHAT'S THE BEST WAY.

I THINK HE HAS A GOOD PLAN.

IT CERTAINLY WILL PROTECT INMATES AS WELL AS OUR OFFICERS IN THE PRISONS.

>> OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP IN LITIGATION OVER OUR PRISONS, MENTAL HEALTH, MEDICAL SERVICES BEHIND BARS AND BOTH ARE ADDRESSED SOMEWHAT WITH SPACE BEING ALLOTTED IN THESE NEW FACILITIES WHICH COULD OFFER EXPANDED SERVICES.

>> I THINK ONE THING, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HOSTED THE NATIONAL LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HIGHLIGHTED THAT OTHER STATES WERE IMPRESSED WITH IS HOW IN SOME OF OUR PRISONS WE ACTUALLY TRAIN PRISONERS FOR THE WORKFORCE, RIGHT?

THE IDEA IS THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET OUT.

LET'S GET THEM TRAINED FOR A 21ST CENTURY JOB, AND I THINK HAVING THESE FACILITIES THAT ARE BIGGER, HAVE MORE SPACE, IT'S IMPORTANT THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THE DRUG ISSUE IS IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET SOMEONE OFF OF DRUGS AND, YOU KNOW, HELP THEM BEAT THEIR DRUG PROBLEM, THEN CERTAINLY THEY CAN GO BE A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY AND IF YOU ARE A DRUG DEALER YOU PROBABLY NEED TO BE IN JAIL.

YOU KNOW, BUT IF IT'S SOMEBODY WITH A DRUG ISSUE, AN ADDICTION, LET'S TRY TO HELP THEM OVERCOME THAT WHERE THEY CAN OVERCOME IT AND NOT NEEDING DRUGS ANYMORE.

>> WRAPPING UP OUR EFFORTS FOR RECIDIVISM IS CONCERNED HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEY IN THIS CONVERSATION; RIGHT?

>> YEAH, NO DOUBT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY COMES TO JAIL, THAT HEY, THIS IS A BAD PLACE.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO COME BACK.

SO THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE HELP THEM NOT COME BACK?

THE BEST WAY TO KEEP SOMEBODY FROM GOING BACK TO PRISON IS A GOOD PAYING JOB, AND SO THAT'S WHERE I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO FOCUS A LOT OF MY EFFORTS AS YOU KNOW, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS A BIG PART OF MY PLATFORM, AND I THINK GETTING PEOPLE TRAINED ACROSS THE STATE OF ALL AGES IS IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH.

>> INGRAM STATE UP IN DATESVILLE HITS THE MARK WHERE THIS CONCERNED.

TRAINING INMATES FOR JOBS ONCE THEY GET OUT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB.

THAT WAS THE PROGRAM I WAS REFERENCING EARLIER.

I THINK IF YOU DO THAT AND YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE STATE, IT'S CERTAINLY -- IT CERTAINLY WORKS, RIGHT?

OTHER STATES ARE LOOKING AT THAT AS A MODEL.

I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING.

>> DO YOU THINK OBVIOUSLY THOUGH THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO REVISIT REFORM AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH, THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.

I THINK CERTAINLY THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

ON REFORM, I MEAN, THAT'S A TOUGH ISSUE; RIGHT?

THERE'S GOT TO BE A DETERRENT TO CRIME; RIGHT?

ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL PUSH BACK ON A LITTLE BIT IS I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO ACTUALLY DO A CRIME, THERE NEEDS TO BE A PUNISHMENT.

OUR SOCIETY IS PUSHING THIS THING THAT BASICALLY HEY, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT, EVEN ALABAMA BECAUSE OF LACK OF SPACE, A LOT OF TIMES IF YOU DO COMMIT A CRIME, YOU END UP NOT SERVING TIME, AND SO I THINK THERE'S GOT TO BE A DETERRENT.

I KNOW FOR ME GROWING UP I WAS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO FOLLOW THE RULES, FOLLOW OUR LAWS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE.

I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO JAIL.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT FEAR STAYS THERE.

ON THE SAME TOKEN, WE WANT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES IN ALABAMA.

SO IF SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, DID SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IF IT IS A DRUG ISSUE, AND IT IS JUST AN ADDICTION THING, LET'S HELP THEM GET OVER IT.

IF IT IS A MENTAL HEALTH THING, LET'S GET THEM PROPER TREATMENT WHERE THEY CAN GO BE A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY.

SO EACH CASE IS UNIQUE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE A BROAD BRUSH ON IT.

IT REALLY IS.

CERTAINLY THERE'S SOME REFORMS THAT ARE NEEDED, BUT ALSO WANT TO BE CAREFUL WE DON'T GO TOO FAR.

>> DID YOU THINK THE RESENTENCING BILL THAT WAS ON THE TABLE IN THIS SPECIAL SESSION AND ALSO PASSED THE HOUSE AT LEAST DURING THE REGULAR SESSION WAS THAT A LITTLE TOO FAR FOR YOU?

OR WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS FAIR, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS TIME I THINK IT WILL BE SOMETHING WE CERTAINLY LOOK AT.

I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE ISSUES AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, TALK TO JUDGES, RIGHT?

TALK TO DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND FIND OUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE FRONT LINES, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO THEY THINK?

I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY FAIR.

>> PRISON REFORM OBVIOUSLY MANY HAVE CONTENDED NEEDS TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH CONSTRUCTION, AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE THOSE OBVIOUSLY WHO AREN'T HAPPY WITH MORE REFORM NOT HAVING GONE HAND IN HAND AT LEAST WITH THE CONSTRUCTION BILL IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT OVER, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT IS NOT OVER, AND I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE.

I THINK EDUCATION'S THE KEY; RIGHT?

SO I THINK WE'VE GOT TO GET STUDENTS EARLY ON.

I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN PRE-K. WE GOT TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN K THROUGH 12 BECAUSE THE WAY WE, YOU KNOW, STOP OUR PRISON POPULATION FROM GROWING IS WE CHANGE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE CHANGE THE CULTURE.

WE BREAK THE GENERATIONAL, YOU KNOW, CYCLE OF POVERTY AND CRIME, AND SO I'M FOCUSED ON OUR CHILDREN.

THEY ARE THE FUTURE.

THEN MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE OUR KIDS THAT ARE IN SCHOOL NOW, GIVE THEM HOPE, WHERE THEY ARE NOT HAVING TO COMMIT CRIMES.

IF WE CAN DO THAT, WE CAN CHANGE ALABAMA AND GIVE THEM -- BECAUSE EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, HAS SOMETHING THEY ASPIRE TO BE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, MY VISION AND GOAL FOR ALABAMA IS HOW CAN WE GET THOSE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, INTO THAT ROLE AND NOT, YOU KNOW -- AND TRY TO GET AWAY FROM CRIME.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, VERY QUICKLY, REPRESENTATIVE CONNIE ROE OF JASPER ANNOUNCED SHE WON'T SEEK REELECTION FOR HER HOUSE SEAT TO GO WORK FOR YOUR OFFICE?

>> SHE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS HOUSE MEMBER, GREAT LEADERSHIP, COULD HAVE BEEN SPEAKER POTENTIALLY IF SHE WANTED TO.

GREAT LEADERSHIP.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOMEBODY LIKE THAT, THAT WANTS TO SERVE OUR STATE, WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE HER ON OUR STAFF.

I THINK SHE WILL DO TREMENDOUS WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA AND BE A DYNAMIC LEADER FOR OUR STATE, AND, THE THING I LOVE ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE ROE IS SHE'S HIGH ENERGY.

SHE'S GOT GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE AND WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH THEIR LIFE.

WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE HER ON OUR STAFF.

>> SHE WOULD SERVE AS YOUR SENIOR ADVISOR, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH.

SHE WILL BE STARTING JANUARY 1.

WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER ON THE TEAM.

>> A LEAP OF FAITH HERE, I GUESS, ASSUMING YOU WILL BE RE-ELECTED AND THERE'S EVERY EXPECTATION I GUESS ON YOUR PART AT THIS POINT THAT YOU WILL BE?

>> YEAH.

I STILL GOT A YEAR LEFT.

I STILL GOT TO CONTINUE THE TERM I'M IN.

SHE WILL COME ON AND HAVE A FULL YEAR.

I'M RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

IF PEOPLE OF ALABAMA THINK WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB, I WILL CERTAINLY GET RE-ELECTED AND APPRECIATE REPRESENTATIVE ROE'S CONFIDENCE IN ME AND THE JOB.

THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT; RIGHT?

EVERYBODY IN ALABAMA NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE OUR STATE.

THAT'S WHAT WE PLAN ON DOING.

>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU BET.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> FINALLY ON THE BROADCAST TONIGHT IT IS OUR WEEKLY CHECK ON THE PANDEMIC IN ALABAMA.

OUR USUAL GUEST STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. HARRIS IS ON A MUCH NEEDED VACATION THIS WEEK, BUT THE EVER CAPABLE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT AND CEO DR. DON WILLIAMSON IS HERE.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> LET'S BEGIN WITH HOSPITALIZATIONS.

THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN BUT STILL NOT GOOD.

ABOUT 1300 IN THE HOSPITAL?

>> RIGHT, WE'RE DOWN 50 PLUS PERCENT FROM OUR PEAK IN LATE AUGUST, 1321 IN THE HOSPITAL.

THAT'S OBVIOUS IMPROVEMENT.

ICU USAGE DOWN ABOUT 40% FROM ITS PEAK AS IS VENTILATOR USAGE.

BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS.

NUMBER ONE, 1300 IN HOSPITAL IS SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN IT WAS IN LATE JUNE, EARLY JULY, WHEN WE HAD 200 IN THE HOSPITAL.

SECONDLY, OUR ICU AND VENTILATOR USAGE, WHILE THEY'RE IMPROVING, WE STILL HAVE ROUGHLY 400 PEOPLE ON VENTILATORS AND ALMOST 600 PEOPLE IN THE ICU.

AND I THINK THAT MEANS TWO THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE SEVERITY OF THE ILLNESS THAT DESPITE A 50% DECLINE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS, WE'RE NOT YET SEEING THAT EITHER IN THE ICU OR PEOPLE ON VENTILATORS.

THE OTHER THING THAT UNFORTUNATELY IT SAYS IS JUST LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENED TO PEOPLE WHO GO ON VENTILATORS, AND WHAT THEIR OUTCOME IS, I FEAR WE'VE GOT AT LEAST 200 MORE DEATHS THAT WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH JUST TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE HOSPITAL NOW.

WE'RE STILL ADMITTING BETWEEN 100 AND 200 NEW PATIENTS EVERY DAY.

>> BECAUSE AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG STATISTICALLY SPEAKING OF THOSE, WHAT, 300 PLUS THAT ARE ON VENTILATORS RIGHT NOW, ONLY A THIRD MIGHT GET OFF OF THEM?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR HOSPITALS, WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM PHYSICIANS IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT ABOUT 30% OF THE PATIENTS THAT THEY PUT ON VENTILATORS GET OFF.

AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST SO UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, VACCINES, MONO CLONAL ANTIBODIES ARE OUT THERE AND THEY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

>> THE INCREASE IN OUR DEATH RATE WHICH HAS BEEN AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION HAS LARGELY BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE LOWER HOSPITALIZATION COUNT.

PATIENTS ARE DYING OFF.

>> I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS GOING ON THAT ARE DRIVING DOWN HOSPITALIZATIONS.

NUMBER ONE, WE ARE SEEING FEWER NEW CASES DIAGNOSED EACH DAY.

NOW, THAT'S A RELATIVE SUCCESS, IN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT AT THE 4,000 OR 5,000 A DAY THAT WE WERE IN AUGUST.

WE'RE STILL SEEING ALMOST 2,000 NEW CASES A DAY, AND YOU CAN PREDICT THAT 10% OF THEM ARE GOING TO END UP IN THE HOSPITAL IN ABOUT SEVEN TO TEN DAYS.

SO IT'S BETTER, BUT IT'S NOT GREAT.

THAT'S ONE THING.

SECONDLY, MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, WHEN USED IN THE FIRST TEN DAYS AFTER THE ON SET OF SYMPTOMS REDUCED THE RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 70 AND 85 PERCENT.

THEY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF OUTCOME.

THOSE ARE TWO POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE IMPROVING OUR HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE THIRD, WHICH IS MORE PATIENTS WITH COVID ARE DYING IS REDUCING HOSPITALIZATIONS.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT THE WAY WE WANT IT TO WORK, BUT AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE NOW SINCE AUGUST THE 12TH HAD AT LEAST 30 DEATHS A DAY, EVERY DAY, SINCE AUGUST THE 12TH.

SO THAT'S SEVEN WEEKS.

AND IN THOSE SEVEN WEEKS, WE'VE HAD 2250 DEATHS IN THOSE SEVEN WEEKS, THAT'S 32% OF ALL THE DEATHS THAT HAVE OCCURRED THIS YEAR, SEVEN WEEKS THOUGH ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR ROUGHLY 18% OF THE YEAR.

SO PEOPLE ARE DYING AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN YOU WOULD PREDICT JUST BASED ON THE PASSAGE OF TIME.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE BENEFITS, THE BENEFITS OF THE ANTIBODIES, HOW MUCH HAS IT HURT US THAT OUR SUPPLY HAS BEEN CURTAILED?

>> WELL, AT THIS POINT, WE AREN'T HEARING MAJOR PROBLEMS.

IT WAS ONLY REDUCED 18% FOR THE LAST WEEK.

IT IS A SOURCE OF GREAT CONCERN, ESPECIALLY IF FOR ANY REASON OUR NUMBER OF CASES INCREASED.

SHOULD OUR NUMBER OF CASES INCREASE, WITH LESS MONOCLONAL AVAILABLE, I FEAR THAT PATIENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN KEPT OUT OF HOSPITAL WILL END UP HOSPITALIZED BECAUSE THEY WON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE.

>> THE BIG UNKNOWN IS WILL WE CONTINUE TO SEE THIS DECREASE IN CASES?

>> WELL, SURE, I MEAN, I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN OTHER PLACES, AND IT SEEMS THAT THE DELTA VARIANT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN.

IT TENDS TO RUN ABOUT A TWO-MONTH COURSE.

IT SPIKES, AND THEN IT GOES DOWN.

IT DOESN'T TEND TO GO DOWN AS QUICKLY AS IT WENT UP.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT.

OUR CURVE IS A LITTLE BROADER NOW THAN IT WAS IN JANUARY.

SO I WOULD EXPECT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE DECLINE IN THE DELTA VARIANT.

I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.

ONE IS, WHAT'S OUR HOSPITALIZATION GOING TO BE IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER?

ARE WE GOING TO BE BACK AT 200?

I HOPE SO.

IF NOT, THEN I WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S INFLUENZA GOING TO DO ON TOP OF THE DELTA VARIANT AND ITS HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY IF WE DON'T SUCCEED IN GETTING MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED, I THINK THE OTHER CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS SIX MONTHS FROM NOW?

DO WE HAVE ANOTHER SPIKE OF A DIFFERENT VARIANT?

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THEY ARE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT I WOULD NOT SAY BY ANY MEANS THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN COVID BEHIND US.

I FEAR WE STILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO DO WITH COVID IN THE COMING DAYS AND MONTHS.

>> IS IT STILL SAFE TO SAY THAT MOST OF THE NEW CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AMONG THE UNVACCINATED?

>> OH, YEAH, 85% OF THE PEOPLE IN HOSPITAL ARE EITHER UNVACCINATED OR ONLY PARTIALLY VACCINATED.

THE OVERALL MAJORITY, 80 OF THE 85 PERCENT ARE TOTALLY UNVACCINATED.

ONLY 15 PERCENT, 14 PERCENT ON SOME DAYS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA OUT OF, SAY, UAB, 91 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE ON VENTILATORS ARE UNVACCINATED >> WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO, AN INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN THE VACCINATION RATE HERE IN ALABAMA, BUT I SAW THIS WEEK THAT THAT NUMBER STARTING TO SLIP DOWN.

DOES IT SORT OF VARY ACCORDING TO THE CASE COUNT?

>>I THINK IT DOES.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT DRIVES PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR, WHAT DRIVES PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED, THE BEST MEASURE, THE BEST DRIVER FOR PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED IS ACTUALLY KNOWING SOMEONE WHO HAS COVID OR HAVING A FAMILY MEMBER WITH COVID OR KNOWING SOMEONE WHO DIED.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT TEND TO DRIVE THE VACCINATION.

SO IF YOU LOOK BACK TO JULY AND AUGUST, OUR VACCINATION RATES WENT UP AS OUR CASE RATES WENT UP, AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WERE GETTING COVID.

NOW THAT COVID IS GOING DOWN, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FEW ICU BEDS, AND PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS IS NOW BEHIND US, I THINK THE PRESSURE FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED IS UNFORTUNATELY DIMINISHING.

I FEAR THAT'S GOING TO LEAVE MORE PEOPLE SUSCEPTIBLE.

>> WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, BUT BRIEFLY, BOOSTER SHOTS ARE NOW IN FULL SWING.

ARE YOU ENCOURAGED?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, I THINK FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO QUALIFY FOR A BOOSTER, GETTING A BOOSTER IS ONE ADDITIONAL WAY THAT YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR RISK OF CERTAINLY BEING HOSPITALIZED OR ENDING UP ON A VENTILATOR IN AN ICU AND PROBABLY THE BOOSTER WILL DRAMATICALLY REDUCE YOUR RISK OF EVEN GETTING INFECTED OR ILL >> THE BOOST THEIR'S AVAILABLE NOW -- THE BOOSTER THAT'S AVAILABLE NOW IS THE PFIZER VACCINE.

DO WE FULLY EXPECT THAT MODERNA AND J & J WON'T BE FAR BEHIND?

>> I THINK MODERNA WILL PROBABLY COME FIRST AND THEN PROBABLY J & J WILL FOLLOW BEHIND.

>> SHOULD YOU MIX AND MATCH?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STUDIES GOING ON OVERSEAS ON THIS MIX AND MATCH IDEA.

IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE RECOMMEND.

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU GET YOUR BOOSTER, WITH THE PRODUCT THAT YOU GOT YOUR FIRST TWO SHOTS WITH.

>> SHOULD YOU WAIT SIX MONTHS AFTER THE LAST SHOT?

>> YES, THE RECOMMENDATION IS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE SECOND SHOT.

THE IMMUNE FUNCTION APPEARS TO WANE, SO BEING BOOSTED AT THAT POINT GIVES YOU ANOTHER STIMULUS TO YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM AND GENERATES MUCH HIGHER NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODY TITERS.

>> THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, DOCTOR, ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU BET.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THE USS ALABAMA FIRST SERVED IN THE ATLANTIC THEATER BUT WAS BETTER KNOWN FOR TAKING JAPANESE ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC BETWEEN 1943 AND 45.

DURING THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA, THE ALABAMA STATE OF THE ART RADAR ALERTED THE FLEET TO INCOMING AIRCRAFT, PROVIDING THE AMERICANS ENOUGH TIME TO SCRAMBLE FIGHTERS AND DECIMATE THE ATTACKING FORCE.

LATER THE ALABAMA SERVED DURING THE BATTLE AND ANCHORED IN TOKYO BAY TO UNLOAD ALLIED OCCUPATION FORCES.

IN 1964 THE STATE TOOK POSSESSION OF THE BATTLESHIP.

SCHOOLCHILDREN RAISED MONEY IN NICKELS AND DIMES TO HELP BRING THE SHIP TO MOBILE AND CREATE BATTLESHIP MEMORIAL PARK.

THE PARK FEATURES THE ALABAMA, THE WORLD WAR II ERA SUBMARINE, AND AN AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT COLLECTION.

BATTLESHIP MEMORIAL PARK IS ONE OF THE STATE'S MOST VISITED ATTRACTIONS.

>> THAT'S IT "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:30, WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE AND OUR GUESTS WILL INCLUDE SENATOR ROGER SMITHERMAN OF BIRMINGHAM WHO WILL LOOK AHEAD TO THE NEXT SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON REAPPORTIONMENT AND HIS BEING ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS IN A REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT.

THE SENATOR OF ANNISTON WILL TALK WITH US ABOUT LOTTERY PROSPECTS NEXT YEAR HE SAYS HE WON'T SPONSOR ANOTHER GAMING BILL.

REPRESENTATIVE OF JASPER WILL JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT GIVING UP HER LEGISLATIVE SEAT NEXT YEAR TO BECOME SENIOR ADVISOR TO WILL AINSWORTH.

REPRESENTATIVE TOMMY HAINES OF BRYANT WILL BE HERE TO DISCUSS HIS BILL DEALING WITH POTENTIAL LAWSUITS OVER THE PRESIDENT'S VACCINATION MANDATE.

STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. HARRIS WILL JOIN TO US TALK ABOUT THE LATEST ON THE PANDEMIC.

FOR ALL OF US AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL", THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DON DAILEY.

GOOD NIGHT.