Alabama Prison Will Transition To Male Only Facility

FCI Aliceville, the federal correctional institution located in Aliceville, Alabama, is preparing for a major transition as the Bureau of Prisons changes the facility from a women’s prison to a men’s institution over the coming months.

Get our free mobile app

The prison, which opened in 2013, currently serves as one of the federal government’s low-security facilities for female inmates. The complex includes both the primary low/mid-security prison and a nearby minimum-security satellite camp. Built to house more than 2,000 inmates, FCI Aliceville became Alabama’s first federal prison designated specifically for women.

Federal officials expect to relocate inmates currently housed at the facility by June 2026 as preparations to accommodate male inmates have begun. The Bureau of Prisons oversees more than 150,000 inmates nationwide, with a significant portion classified as minimum or low-security. Officials say the transition reflects the growing need for additional housing for male inmates within those classifications.

The announcement has surprised both employees and inmates, particularly given the institution's relatively young age. Despite being open for less than 15 years, FCI Aliceville has already experienced several high-profile incidents that brought national attention to the facility.

In February 2016, an F2 tornado struck the prison directly, causing widespread damage across the property. Buildings, vehicles, and staff members' personal belongings were heavily impacted, with debris scattered into surrounding fields; however, no staff or inmates were injured as a result of the storm.

The prison has also faced controversy involving former employees. Over the years, several staff members were arrested or convicted on charges ranging from bribery and giving false statements to sexual misconduct involving inmates.

One of the most widely recognized former inmates at FCI Aliceville was Alice Marie Johnson, whose sentence gained national attention after reality television personality Kim Kardashian advocated for her release.

President Donald Trump later commuted Johnson’s sentence. Following her release, Johnson became involved in prison reform advocacy, and Trump eventually appointed her to a federal role, the "Prison Czar," focused on pardons and clemency issues. Johnson is the first person to hold the official title of "Prison Czar," a position created during Trump's second term as President.

The transition at Aliceville also comes amid broader challenges in federal women’s prisons nationwide. In recent years, multiple women’s institutions have faced scrutiny over safety concerns, staffing shortages, and allegations of abuse, leading to operational changes throughout the federal prison system.