COVID cases continues to rise in the Alabama inmate population

Published 1:48 pm Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The number of inmates in the Alabama Department of Corrections’ (ADOC) is continuing to rise.

Sylvester Hartley, a 60-year-old inmate serving a life-without-parole sentence for three counts of first-degree kidnapping out of Escambia County at the St. Clair Correctional Facility, passed away Aug. 21.

Hartley, who suffered from several advanced, underlying medical conditions, was admitted to a local hospital July 4 after showing symptoms of COVID-19. He tested positive for the virus upon admission. 

Hartley’s condition improved, and he was discharged from the hospital to St. Clair’s infirmary. However, upon his condition worsening, he was readmitted to the hospital for critical care July 25. He remained in the hospital until his passing.

Hartley is the seventh inmate in St. Clair County to die after testing positive. The ADOC has had 332 inmates test positive and 78 of those cases remain active.