Female Chain Gang Notion The Last Straw

Alabama’s prison commissioner, who had drawn national attention for steps that included reinstituting chain gangs for male prisoners, resigned Friday after the governor squashed his suggestion that female prisoners ought to be put on chain gangs as well.

“There will be no woman on any chain gang in the state of Alabama today, tomorrow or any time under my watch,” Gov. Fob James said in a two-paragraph statement announcing the resignation of the commissioner, Ron Jones.

Jones said Thursday that he was considering putting women on chain gangs in response to a federal lawsuit by male inmates who were contending that the chains were discriminatory because women did not have to wear them.

Jones, whom James named commissioner in February 1995, will return to his previous job as warden of the Elmore Correctional Facility. He could not be reached for comment. The governor named Joe Hopper as acting prison commissioner.

Hopper was prison commissioner from 1981 to 1983 during James’ first administration.

The female chain gang idea may have been one too many headlines for Jones, who once ordered pink jumpsuits for male inmates who masturbate in front of female guards and visitors.

He had the chain gangs breaking rocks. He said he supported caning to discipline inmates. A state employees union official said Jones had used a racially charged word, which Jones denied.

“I think this was just the last straw when he came with the women chain gangs,” said state Sen. Jack Biddle, vice chairman of the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee

Biddle said James had no choice but to accept the resignation that came after talk show host Rush Limbaugh used the news of the female chain gangs Friday to say that women now had equality in Alabama.

In the chain gangs, five inmates linked by the ankles with lightweight but strong chains walk around chopping weeds or picking up paper on interstate highways.