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Corrections director: staffing climbs but state remains short of court‑ordered hires
Summary
Director Ham said the Department of Corrections graduated record academy classes in 2025 and now employs about 2,300 officers, but remains roughly 1,800 officers short of Judge Thompson’s order for 2,500 additional hires.
Director Ham, representing the Alabama Department of Corrections, told the committee the agency has increased academy graduations and now employs about 2,300 correctional officers but still falls short of a court‑ordered staffing requirement.
"Judge Thompson in the Bragg's lawsuit has ordered us to hire roughly 2,500 correctional officers above what our staffing was when that order came out," Ham said, adding that the department is still about 1,800 short of that target and continues recruiting and retention efforts.
What the department said: Ham described the types of facilities (many dormitory‑style) and the operational challenges of congregating higher‑risk inmates; he said new facilities and technology can help but cannot replace required in‑person custody and interaction. He also highlighted constituent services and program expansion, noting partnerships with community colleges and vocational training for inmates.
Budget context: Ham said the department is largely level funded in the governor’s recommended budget apart from conditional appropriations for staffing, and thanked lawmakers for conditional supplemental appropriations tied to achieving staffing thresholds.
Next steps: Committee members asked for parole/recidivism comparisons and coordination across criminal‑justice agencies; Ham offered to work with the Bureau of Pardons and Parole and other partners to supply requested data.
