An Alabama Department of Corrections veteran says she's using her position as deputy commissioner of women's services to improve worker education and inmate safety in women's prisons.
The Montgomery Advertiser reports the state Department of Corrections appointed Wendy Williams to serve as a deputy commissioner in April. Williams oversees the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women, the Montgomery Women's Facility and Birmingham Work Release.
Federal officials have criticized Tutwiler and the state Department of Corrections for reports of sexual harassment and abuse.
Williams says before her position was created administrators of male and female facilities reported through the same chain of command, despite differences in inmate needs.
Department Commissioner Kim Thomas says the goal in creating Williams' position was using gender-responsive practices to help guide oversight of women's correctional facilities.