Senator Cam Ward | Alabama Public Radio

House Judiciary Committee to Vote on Prison Construction Plan Tuesday

By Stan Ingold & Associated Press • May 12, 2017

A prison construction plan is headed to a key vote in committee. The House Judiciary Committee will vote Tuesday on the proposal to build, or lease, up to four prisons in the state.

Senator Cam Ward, the bill's sponsor, said the vote is "do or die" for the legislation as lawmakers head into the final week of the legislative session.

State Corrections Commissioner "Risk" Growing Daily in State Prisons

By Stan Ingold • Jan 25, 2017

Alabama Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn told lawmakers the "risk" in Alabama's crowding prisons is growing each day.

Dunn addressed the legislative judiciary committees Wednesday as the Bentley administration tries to build support for an $800 million prison construction bond issue.

Alabama Voters Could Impact Hundreds of Local Laws

By Stan Ingold & Associated Press • Oct 29, 2016

Alabamians in November will vote on a proposal aimed at protecting hundreds of local laws — from sales taxes to annexations to draft beer regulations — from being invalidated because of a legal dispute over legislative procedure.

Senator Cam Ward says hundreds of local laws are vulnerable to court challenges unless lawmakers approve Amendment 14.

Legislature Voices Concern About Prison Plans, State Agrees to Better Serve Disabled Inmates

By Alex AuBuchon • Mar 17, 2016

Governor Robert Bentley’s plan to construct four new prisons is moving on through the state legislature, but not without a few red flags. APR’s MacKenzie Bates explains.

The Senate Budget Committee sent Governor’s Bentley’s prison building plan to the full Senate. The committee approved the bill yesterday in wake of two violent uprisings at a South Alabama prison. Governor Bentley blames the incidents on overcrowding.

Senator Cam Ward says those situations show that the state desperately needs new prisons.

Oil Spill Settlement Concerns, NASA Pluto Stamp

By Alex AuBuchon • Jul 13, 2015

Gulf Coast officials are worried that their communities won't get their fair share of Alabama's $2.3 billion portion of the BP oil spill settlement.

Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft says members of the Gulf Coast Recovery Council have some unanswered questions about the settlement.

The plan would give the council control over $599 million, but about half of that spending would still require federal approval.

Granade Clarifies Ruling, Birmingham to Remove Confederate Monument

By Alex AuBuchon • Jul 2, 2015

A federal judge says Alabama counties must abide by court decisions allowing gay marriage. APR’s Stan Ingold reports U.S. District Judge Callie Granade issued an order updating a previous ruling in favor of same-sex marriage.

Judge Granade says state probate judges can't discriminate against gay couples because the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled gay marriage is legal everywhere. But her order doesn't affect counties that have stopped issuing all marriage licenses.

The judge had put previous decisions on hold to allow time for the justices to rule.

State Prison Overcrowding, Marriage License Confusion

By Alex AuBuchon • Jun 30, 2015

Alabama’s state prisons were built to hold 13,000 inmates. They currently house over 25,000.

That makes Alabama prisons among the most crowded in the nation, and state politicians fear the crowding may soon bring federal intervention to the troubled prison system.

In an effort to relieve some of the overcrowding, lawmakers approved changes to sentencing and probation standards this spring as well as a bond issue for additional prison beds. The changes include the creation of a lower level felony class and the planned hiring of 100 additional probation officers.

Prison reform bill hits Senate floor, Huntsville women's mentoring and Gulf Shores sea turtles

By Alex AuBuchon • Apr 2, 2015

The Alabama Senate will start debating some sweeping changes to the state's prison system today.

Republican Senator Cam Ward is bringing the bill to the Senate floor, which would change sentencing and probation standards to try and reduce prison overcrowding.

The proposed legislation is based on a year of study by the state prison reform task force. One of the main changes is the creation of a new Class D felony level, which will keep low-level, non-violent offenders out of prison entirely.

Obama to speak in Birmingham, Medicaid expansion opposition and Alabama bike summit

By Alex AuBuchon • Mar 26, 2015

President Barack Obama will be in Birmingham this afternoon to talk about the economy.

The President will be speaking at Lawson State Community College on consumer protection issues and the contrast between his vision for the American middle class and Republican efforts to undermine that vision.

According to a White House press release, Congressional Republicans are continuing to roll back progress toward a safer financial system and stronger economy, encouraging the types of abuses that led to the 2008 financial crisis.

Charter school bill in House, prison reform bill headed to Senate, and kids "Kick Butts"

By Alex AuBuchon • Mar 18, 2015

Lawmakers could give final approval very soon to legislation establishing charter schools in the state of Alabama.

The Alabama House of Representatives will debate a bill that would allow charter schools in the state this afternoon. That bill is expected to spark a filibuster from Democrats and other opposed lawmakers.

Charter schools are public schools that have freedom from the curriculum and regulation requirements placed on other public schools. Alabama is one of eight states without charter school legislation currently in place.

Marriage appeal denied, Mobile Aerofest and APS closure

By Alex AuBuchon • Feb 5, 2015

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals all but ensured gay marriage in Alabama yesterday.

The court announced that they will not act on any appeals until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on same-sex marriage nationally.

In Alabama, that means judges can begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses on Monday, assuming the U.S. Supreme Court doesn't issue a stay before then.

Prison Reform, UA's Smoke Free Campus and The Offseason

By Stan Ingold • Jan 5, 2015

A state task force will weigh options this month for how to relieve severe overcrowding in Alabama prisons.

Committee members say the ideas will likely include sentencing changes, building new facilities to house inmates and increased resources for probation and parole.

Prison Reform Task Force Chairman Cam Ward says he hopes to have legislation ready in February.

Leader Of Alabama Task Force To Testify In DC

By The Associated Press • Jul 3, 2014

State Sen. Cam Ward of Alabaster will be in Washington on July 15 to speak to a congressional subcommittee about making changes in prisons.

Ward is chairman of Alabama's new Prison Reform Task Force. The House Judiciary Committee's crime subcommittee invited him to speak at a hearing on prison reform, and Ward accepted.

Study Begins On Alabama Prison Overhaul

By The Associated Press • Jun 10, 2014

Gov. Robert Bentley has announced an attempt to overhaul the state's severely overcrowded prison system.

Bentley said Tuesday the state's prisons are filled to nearly twice their collective capacity. The Justice Reinvestment Initiative, a partnership between the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Department of Justice, will examine the system and suggest reforms.

The review comes after a series of stark criticisms. The Department of Justice has called conditions unconstitutional at Alabama's only prison for women.

Gov. Bentley Against Switching To Electric Chair In Ala.

By The Associated Press • May 5, 2014

Gov. Robert Bentley says he's against switching back to the electric chair to resume executions in Alabama.

Speaking in Shelby County on Monday, Bentley said he's personally opposed to the idea of resuming electrocutions.

A key legislator on prison issues, state Sen. Cam Ward, says giving up the state's current method of lethal injection involves too many legal hurdles.

The state attorney general's office says executions are at a standstill because the prison system has run out of one of the three drugs used in its lethal injection system.

New Bill Designed To Strengthen Open Meetings Law

By The Associated Press • Jan 16, 2014

Two Republican legislators have the backing of Gov. Robert Bentley in pursuing a bill to strengthen Alabama's open meetings law.

The bill introduced by Rep. Mike Hill of Columbiana and Sen. Cam Ward of Alabaster says Alabama's Open Meetings Act applies to the Legislature, legislative committees, and committees and subcommittees of governmental bodies that exchange information among a quorum of members.

Ward, Williams Won't Seek Alabama's 6th District

By The Associated Press • Oct 2, 2013

Republican state Sen. Cam Ward of Alabaster and Republican Rep. Jack Williams of Vestavia Hills say they will seek re-election to the Legislature rather than running for the 6th Congressional District.

Ward and Williams were among several Alabama politicians who said they were considering the 6th District race after Republican incumbent Spencer Bachus of Birmingham announced Monday that he would not seek re-election next year.

Ward and Williams said Wednesday they were honored by the encouragement they received, but now is not the time to go to Washington.

Blackwell A Possible Contender For Bachus Seat

By The Associated Press • Sep 30, 2013

Possible U.S. House candidates are coming forward following Rep. Spencer Bachus' decision against seeking re-election for Alabama's 6th District congressional seat.

Republican state Sen. Slade Blackwell of Mountain Brooks says he is considering the opportunity to run for the position, and his final decision will be based on his family.

Walker County minister Stan Cooke says people are encouraging him to switch from the GOP lieutenant governor's race to a House campaign. But he is leaning toward staying with the lieutenant governor's campaign.

Ala. Bills Make It Easier To Prosecute Elder Abuse

By The Associated Press • Apr 7, 2013

Alabama lawmakers have passed bills that would make it easier to criminally charge people who abuse, neglect or financially exploit the elderly.

The sponsors say they expect the governor to sign one of the bills into law once the two slightly different versions are reconciled.

The Senate sponsor, Republican Sen. Cam Ward of Alabaster, says only one word in the measure that passed the Senate is different from the House-passed version sponsored by Republican Rep. Paul DeMarco of Homewood.