In Alabama prisons, is a dog’s life worthier than human lives? 

Published by AL.com and The Birmingham News August 5, 2019

By Beth Shelburne

This past week the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) held a memorial service honoring Jake, a K-9 narcotics detection officer that died after he was exposed to a synthetic drug during a raid at Staton Correctional Facility.

There were printed programs, and an enlarged photograph was displayed of Jake, a gorgeous Belgian Malinois, posed with his partner, K-9 Sergeant Quintin Jones. There was a white wreath of flowers next to Jake’s headstone, a 21-gun salute and a commendation from Governor Kay Ivey presented by ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn. Any mention of the epidemic murders, suicides and assaults that happen on ADOC’s watch were conveniently absent from the pageantry of the event.