Crime in Alabama

African Americans remained nominally free but segregated, impoverished, imprisoned over the slightest suspicion and with few options but to flee the state to northern latitudes or the newly conquered West.

The resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan during the 19th century reinforced institutionalized White supremacist ideals and facilitated greater incidents of crime and violence in the state.

The Ku Klux Klan gained significant political and Social control during the period between 1920 and 1930 in Birmingham, leading to an increase in Nightriding which involved kidnappings, floggings and even lynchings.

Bombs were placed under the Church killing four children: Cynthia Wesler, Carole Robertson, Addie Collins and Denise McNair.

In 2002, Bobby Frank Cherry was convicted of murder and received a life prison sentence from his involvement in the bombing.

[7] Attempts to prevent increased crime from organisations such as the Ku Klux Klan include the 'highly secretive and extra-legal domestic covert action program' COINTELPRO-WHITE HATE aimed at exposing and disrupting Klan activities in the United States and Alabama.

[9] Alabama had the third highest homicide rate in the US in 2016, with 407 violent deaths categorized as murder or manslaughter, according to statistics released by the FBI.

In 2011, Lt. Michael A. Smith, a senior officer involved in the beating of an inmate, Rocrast Mack, was charged with intentional murder.

The case was later deferred to federal prosecutors, with Smith and three other prison officials faced civil rights offenses.

[16][17] In 2017, the United States governor, Kay Ivey, awarded grants totaling $646,513 to aid non-profit organizations in southeast Alabama to support victims of crime.