100 signatures reached
To: Coffee County Judges and District Attorneys
Urge Coffee County, Alabama, to Send Kenneth Paul McLendon to Dual Diagnosis Rehab Instead of Prison
We, the concerned citizens and supporters, respectfully urge the leadership of Coffee County, Alabama—including the District Attorney, presiding judges, and local officials—to consider rehabilitation instead of incarceration for Kenneth Paul McLendon , who is currently being held in the Coffee County Jail.
Kenneth has cycled in and out of the justice system for years, but during that time, he has never received a proper mental health evaluation or been offered access to a dual diagnosis treatment program that addresses both addiction and underlying mental health issues.
Sending him back to prison, into a system already under federal investigation for inhumane conditions, drug trafficking, and systemic failure, is not only ineffective—it is harmful.
We, the undersigned, ask the leaders of Coffee County to grant Kenneth this one chance—to break the cycle and begin to heal. Let him enter a dual diagnosis rehabilitation center instead of returning to a system that has failed him time and again.
Justice does not always mean punishment. Sometimes it means doing what is right, not just what is routine.
Why is this important?
Why This Matters:
- The Alabama prison system is engulfed in drugs, violence, and trauma—often brought in by staff themselves—and lacks even basic mental health services.
- Kenneth has never been afforded the opportunity to recover, only to be punished.
- A dual diagnosis rehab program would treat both his mental health and substance use challenges, giving him a real chance at stability and success.
- Rehabilitation is more cost-effective and results in lower rates of reoffending than incarceration.