Ala. prisons fight order to release inmate records

By: Associated Press | Alabama's13.com
Published: November 19, 2008

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama's prison system is fighting a court ruling that requires it to release details about its investigation into the death of a state inmate last year.

The Department of Corrections says it plans to appeal a judge's order in an open records lawsuit filed by the family of Farron Barksdale. The man was convicted of killing two Athens police officers in 2004, and he died in state custody last year.

A judge in Montgomery ordered corrections officials to provide the man's family with the results of its investigation into Barksdale's death. But the department says it will appeal.

An attorney for the family said Wednesday the prison system hasn't released anything other than medical records. An autopsy found he died from complications of a type of pneumonia.