The Alabama prison nicknamed the slaughterhouse of the South

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Designed for 581 inmates, the William C. Holman Correctional Facility has faced decades of extreme overcrowding and violence. From nationwide prison strikes to federal investigations, this facility in Atmore holds a reputation as one of the most volatile institutions in the United States.

Opened in December 1969 for $5,000,000, the facility was originally intended to house 520 medium-custody inmates. However, legislative changes regarding long-term penalties for drug crimes caused populations to climb throughout the 1970s. By 1975, federal judges William Brevard Hand and Frank M. Johnson Jr. even ordered Alabama authorities to stop sending prisoners to Holman and three other facilities because they were holding approximately 3,800 people despite a combined design capacity of only 2,212.

The prison's history is marked by significant unrest. In 1985, a large-scale riot saw 22 men taken hostage, and in 2016, the facility became the epicenter of a U.S. prison strike that spread to over 10 states. During that same year, the Department of Justice initiated an investigation into conditions for both staff and prisoners. The facility has been nicknamed the 'Slaughterhouse' and 'House of Pain' by inmates due to frequent stabbings, including the death of Correctional Officer Kenneth Bettis in September 2016.

Operational challenges have further destabilized the institution. By 2016, significant personnel shortages plagued the jail, as documentation showed just 72 of the 195 staff required for daily tasks were on duty. By 2020, severe deterioration of underground utilities led the state to announce the closure of most of the site, though the death row and execution chamber remained. While many inmates were relocated, the facility continues to serve as the site for all state executions in Alabama.

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