Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow
RED BAY-Representative Johnny Mack Morrow sent letters today to Commissioner Jeff Dunn Alabama Department of Corrections and Eddie Cook Jr. Alabama Department of Pardons and Parole with a cc to Governor Kay Ivey.
After the Town Hall meeting Rep. Morrow conducted on Monday, April 2 at Tuscumbia City Hall and hearing the fears and concerns of citizens in district Morrow decided action needed to be taken in this matter.
The purpose of the public hearing was to hear from constituents concerning the Four Way Inn project. The auditorium was completely packed with concerned citizens who described how the Four Way Inn project had completely changed their lives and their neighborhoods. At the public hearing both opponents and proponents were invited to speak, however, no proponent chose to speak.
Rep. Morrow said in the letter, “These are people who I represent in the Alabama Legislature and I am speaking for them by means of this letter. I request that any arrangement between the Four Way Inn, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Pardon and Parole be terminated immediately.”
PREVIOUS STORY HERE
Copies of the letter can be found below 
ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1 1 S. UNION STREET, MONTGOMERY ALABAMA 36130
REP. JOHNNY MACK MORROW STATE HOUSE.’ 334-242-7698
1895 HIGHWAY 28 DISTRICT’. 256-356-8043
RED BAY, ALABAMA 35582
April 10, 2018
Commissioner Jeff Dunn
Alabama Department of Corrections
301 South Ripley Street
P.O. Box 301501
Montgomery, Al. 36130-1501
Dear Commissioner Dunn:
Recently, I have become aware of an attempt to establish a thirty-five (35) parolee re-entry enterprise in Tuscumbia. As you are aware this is in my district and has aroused grave concerns among many of my constituents. While I am uncertain of the direct or indirect role The Department of Corrections and the Pardons and Paroles Board played in this matter, I wish to bring some important information to your attention.
The proposed re-entry enterprise was to be located in the old 4-Way Inn. No renovations making the building suitable for multi-parolee occupancy were completed prior to occupancy. There was no attention to sprinkling the rooms or a central station monitored fire and security alarm. There was no consideration of food preparation areas or laundry facilities for proper hygiene. The security of the area was an incomplete chain link fence with no security cameras or central entrance/exit. The physical plant was inappropriate and incomplete at the time 7 (seven) parolees were home planned to this location. While the condition of this re-entry facility may have been misrepresented, this oversight is disturbing.
The proposed operator of the re-entry enterprise was to be Outreach Re-entry Ministry, a defunct
501C3 managed by five (5) time felon Willie Simpson. Mr. Simpson claimed to have an MBA from Tennessee State University, which was untrue. Mr. Simpson had not engaged the services of any psychologist, social worker, counselor, or trained professional worker. He charged a $220 application fee and $220 a week for the parolee’s home plan living quarters. He made re-entry parolees sign a contract placing him in a position of fiduciary responsibility over their earnings. In effect the total control over the offender’s home plan and work plan placed them in a condition of exploitive involuntary servitude. Outreach Re-entry ministry and Willie Simpson are no longer associated with the 4-Way Parolee project. This leaves two sex offender parolees home planned to the 4-Way without an anticipated program or supervision. Their continued presence at the 4-Way calls into question the judgement placing them there in the first place.
The approximately 10,000 parolees in Alabama represent a formidable task. I cannot find any literature that supports the clustering of any type of sex offender. To the contrary, all references I reviewed finds an increased recidivism rate for clustered sex offenders. Home plans that involve the clustering of sex offenders are contrary to public safety and promote recidivism. The very idea of home planning clustered parolees with no organized plan to reduce recidivism was also contrary to the public interest. The clustering of offenders at the 4-Way placed my constituents at increased risks of being the victim of a repeat crime. Under these circumstances 35% of these clustered parolees participate in a new crime with new victims (35 x 35% = 12 new crimes). Statistics show that most of these victims live within 5 miles of the clustered paroled home plan (my district). Alabama can ill afford to spend nearly a billion dollars on prisons for recycled offenders. If we prevented 50% of Alabama’s parolee recidivism, then we could empty a prison in 5-7 years instead of building more.
On April 2, 2018 I conducted a public hearing at the Tuscumbia City Hall. The purpose of the public hearing was to hear from my constituents concerning the Four Way Inn project. The auditorium was completely packed with concerned citizens who described how the Four Way Inn project had completely changed their lives and their neighborhoods. At the public hearing both opponents and proponents were invited to speak, however, no proponent chose to speak. It is clear that the people who live near the project are afraid and their lives have been seriously disrupted. Children are not allowed to play outdoors and alone anymore in a neighborhood adjacent to the Four Way Inn. In this same neighborhood women told me that they no longer walk alone in the evenings. These are people who I represent in the Alabama Legislature and I am speaking for them by means of this letter. I request that any arrangement between the Four Way Inn, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Pardon and Parole be terminated immediately. I further formally request that in the future I be informed beforehand whenever you are considering a project inside my Legislative District. A time bomb is ticking in my District and law-abiding citizens are gravely concerned for their safety and the safety of their families. I ask that you take immediate action before someone is injured! Thank you for your serious consideration of my request.
Sincerely,
Representative Johnny Mack Morrow
Cc: Honorable Kay Ivey
ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1 1 S. UNION STREET, MONTGOMERY ALABAMA 36130
REP. JOHNNY MACK MORROW STATE HOUSE.’ 334-242-7698
1895 HIGHWAY 28 DISTRICT’. 256-356-8043
RED BAY, ALABAMA 35582
April 10, 2018
Eddie Cook Jr.
Alabama Department of Pardons and Parole
301 South Ripley Street
P.O. Box 302405
Montgomery, Al. 36130-2405
Dear Mr. Cook
Recently, I have become aware of an attempt to establish a thirty-five (35) parolee re-entry enterprise in Tuscumbia. As you are aware this is in my district and has aroused grave concerns among many of my constituents. White I am uncertain of the direct or indirect role The Department of Corrections and the Pardons and Paroles Board played in this matter, I wish to bring some important information to your attention.
The proposed re-entry enterprise was to be located in the old 4-Way Inn. No renovations making the building suitable for multi-parolee occupancy were completed prior to occupancy. There was no attention to sprinkling the rooms or a central station monitored fire and security alarm. There was no consideration of food preparation areas or laundry facilities for proper hygiene. The security of the area was an incomplete chain link fence with no security cameras or central entrance/exit. The physical plant was inappropriate and incomplete at the time 7 (seven) parolees were home planned to this location. While the condition of this re-entry facility may have been misrepresented, this oversight is disturbing.
The proposed operator of the re-entry enterprise was to be Outreach Re-entry Ministry, a defunct
501C3 managed by five (5) time felon Willie Simpson. Mr. Simpson claimed to have an MBA from Tennessee State University, which was untrue. Mr. Simpson had not engaged the services of any psychologist, social worker, counselor, or trained professional worker. He charged a $220 application fee and $220 a week for the parolee’s home plan living quarters. He made re-entry parolees sign a contract placing him in a position of fiduciary responsibility over their earnings. In effect the total control over the offender’s home plan and work plan placed them in a condition of exploitive involuntary servitude. Outreach Re-entry ministry and Willie Simpson are no longer associated with the 4-Way Parolee project. This leaves two sex offender parolees home planned to the 4-Way without an anticipated program or supervision. Their continued presence at the 4-Way calls into question the judgement placing them there in the first place.
The approximately 10,000 parolees in Alabama represent a formidable task. I cannot find any literature that supports the clustering of any type of sex offender. To the contrary, all references I reviewed finds an increased recidivism rate for clustered sex offenders. Home plans that involve the clustering of sex offenders are contrary to public safety and promote recidivism. The very idea of home planning clustered parolees with no organized plan to reduce recidivism was also contrary to the public interest. The clustering of offenders at the 4-Way placed my constituents at increased risks of being the victim of a repeat crime. Under these circumstances 35% of these clustered parolees participate in a new crime with new victims (35 x 35% = 12 new crimes). Statistics show that most of these victims live within 5 miles of the clustered paroled home plan (my district), Alabama can ill afford to spend nearly a billion dollars on prisons for recycled offenders. If we prevented 50% of Alabama’s parolee recidivism, then we could empty a prison in 5-7 years instead of building more.
On April 2, 2018 I conducted a public hearing at the Tuscumbia City Hall. The purpose of the public hearing was to hear from my constituents concerning the Four Way Inn project. The auditorium was completely packed with concerned citizens who described how the Four Way Inn project had completely changed their lives and their neighborhoods. At the public hearing both opponents and proponents were invited to speak, however, no proponent chose to speak. It is clear that the people who live near the project are afraid and their lives have been seriously disrupted. Children are not allowed to play outdoors and alone anymore in a neighborhood adjacent to the Four Way Inn. In this same neighborhood women told me that they no longer walk alone in the evenings. These are people who I represent in the Alabama Legislature and I am speaking for them by means of this letter. I request that any arrangement between the Four Way Inn, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Pardon and Parole be terminated immediately. I further formally request that in the future I be informed beforehand whenever you are considering a project inside my Legislative District. A time bomb is ticking in my District and law abiding citizens are gravely concerned for their safety and the safety of their families. I ask that you take immediate action before someone is injured! Thank you for your serious consideration of my request.
Sincerely,
Representative Johnny Mack Morrow
Cc: Honorable Kay Ivey
