Bessemer correctional sergeants charged over inmate assault
Three supervisors at the William E. Donaldson Facility face criminal charges for failing to act on a warning of an attack that occurred in late October.
By James Foster ·
Three correctional sergeants at the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Alabama, have been arrested. The charges follow an internal review into an incident where an inmate was attacked by other prisoners despite prior alerts to staff.
The Alabama Department of Corrections stated that the investigation focused on events from Oct. 25. Officials determined that supervisors received advance notice of the physical assault. They concluded that the staff members did not take reasonable protective measures to prevent the attack.
The department authorized criminal charges against Neicko White, Michael Underwood, and Devontay Jackson. The specific charge is failure of duty or violation of law by a guard. This legal action was taken after the findings were presented to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Bessemer Division.
White and Jackson were taken into custody on Nov. 5. Underwood was taken into custody the following day, Nov. 6. All three officers were processed at the Jefferson County Jail, Bessemer Division. The issuing magistrate set their bond at $3,000 each.
The case illustrates a specific gap in prison safety protocols where warning systems exist but enforcement by on-duty supervisors is lacking. The department’s decision to move from internal review to criminal charges indicates a determination that the failure to act was a breach of official duty rather than a simple oversight.
