Finding 2
Deaths from Violent Conditions
Extreme overcrowding, understaffing and the flow of illegal drugs all drive unprecedented violence in Alabama prisons.
Our investigation tracked 71 homicides in the prisons, including stabbings, beatings, and strangulations, between 2019-2024.
In 2019, a three-year investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice found that Alabama has the highest prison murder rate in the nation.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
The DOJ concluded that incarcerated people in Alabama are enduring torture, assaults and rapes “at all hours of the day and night.”
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Since then, violent deaths in Alabama prisons have surged, with annual homicides now more than seven times higher than a decade ago.
Under the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment, prison staff are responsible for keeping incarcerated people safe from harm.
But in Alabama, it’s often reported that prison staff encourage men to carry knives for self-protection.
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The DOJ noted this in its investigation.
“Prisoners at Bibb said that “everyone” has knives and prisoners need a weapon to stay alive.
One prisoner stated that “bib is a place where you have to fight the day you arrive or you’ll be a bitch, so you get a knife.
Another recounted being warned by officers when he arrived at Bibb that he would “need a knife for protection”
In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Alabama for refusing to correct violations of the Eighth Amendment in its prisons, including the failure to protect incarcerated people from violence and sexual abuse.
Alabama has spent over $20 million continuing to fight the lawsuit in court.
Elvin Burnseed
Homicide by strangulation
Elvin Burnseed served 35 years in Alabama prisons. A missed cry for help ended in his murder.
In October of 2019, Elvin Burnseed, a 53-year old man from Dothan, Alabama, was found dead on the floor of his cell block in Donaldson prison. Elvin had been strangled, but no one witnessed the murder.
During his autopsy, the pathologist found a note folded up in the back pocket of his white prison pants.
The note appeared to be a call for help to the prison administration - Elvin knew someone was going to try to kill him.
He had written, “In fear of my life. Big Red C-37 got a hit on me.”
Five years later, ADOC closed the investigation into Elvin’s murder. A prison spokesperson said suspects were developed, but “due to insufficient evidence,” the District Attorney declined to prosecute anyone for the crime.
