Family was denied seeing incarcerated loved one who had brain surgery

An incarcerated man’s family was left outraged after he was sent to a hospital following an assault, and they were not allowed to visit him even after he underwent brain surgery.

Adam Klifton Bond was hospitalized at UAB Hospital after being hit with a pipe and stabbed at Donaldson Correctional Facility, according to his mother, Rebecca Crafton, and his aunt, Barbara Anne Turner. They found out about Bond’s attack and hospitalization from an incarcerated person, not the facility. Turner said Bond repeatedly warned that he was in danger, but his concerns were ignored by guards.

The account aligns with the initial report from AL.com. Crafton and Turner revealed that Bond was eventually transferred back to Donaldson for one night before being moved to another facility. Bond was in the hospital for over 12 days, during which Crafton and Turner struggled to get any information about their loved one’s condition.

Crafton explained that those 12 days were some of the most excruciating for her as a mother. She “begged” and “pleaded” to see Bond, but Donaldson’s warden, Phyllis Morgan, did not allow visitation. Also, Turner and Crafton were given very limited information about Bond’s status during his hospitalization.

The ADOC’s visitation policy regarding outside hospital visits states that “an inmate confined to an outside hospital may only be allowed a visit if the attending physician states that an inmate is in a terminal/life-threatening situation and the Warden, or his/her designee, approves the visit.”

Crafton and Turner learned that Bond underwent multiple brain surgeries, but they never talked to a doctor, and it appears no doctor deemed Bond’s life to be threatened. Regardless, Crafton felt the policy was flawed because a mother should be able to see her child in the hospital.

“Something with that policy needs to change, and it needs to change now,” Crafton said.

APR spoke to Rep. Debbie Woods regarding Senate Bill 113, which she originally sponsored in the House. Woods said that as long as the Warden granted visitation, then her bill should apply, but that was not something the Senate or House could decide on. While the bill still does not specifically exclude prisons, Woods reiterated it would still be a decision left up to the warden or prison.

“I think the answer is as long as that person has been granted visitation rights from a warden, then absolutely the bill applies,” Woods said.

Turner said those 12 days were very taxing on both her and Crafton, who reached out to media, politicians, and anyone to try and bring attention to Bond’s situation.

“We’ve been going back and forth for 12 days,” Turner said. “Probably no sleep, and we’re just exhausted and drained. We’ve been heartbroken for 12 days.”

Bond moved back to Donaldson

Bond was released from UAB Hospital on the evening of Saturday, November 18, and transferred back to Donaldson, the same facility where he was attacked.

Neither Crafton nor Turner were informed of this by Morgan or the facility. It was Bond who informed them upon his arrival back at the facility.

“Nobody told us anything; [Bond] called,” Crafton stated. “He’s in terrible shape. He can’t make decisions for himself and needs rehabilitation.”

Crafton, Turner, and their attorney learned that Bond had suffered at least two strokes and undergone brain surgeries. They are still trying to obtain his medical records.

Bond’s swift transfer back to prison mirrors the case of Daniel Williams, who was moved back to prison after being removed from a ventilator. This decision is typically made by healthcare provider YesCare to reduce hospital costs.

According to Crafton, Bond’s speech was impaired, and he seemed to have memory issues, initially forgetting his daughter’s identity. Bond described his injuries, including paralysis on one side, damage to his left eye, an injured arm, and stab wounds. He now uses a wheelchair due to partial paralysis.

APR inquired about Bond’s status with ADOC after his return to Donaldson. ADOC responded, “The LESD investigation into the possible inmate-on-inmate assault of Klifton Adam Bond is ongoing. We cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.”

ADOC also stated they couldn’t reveal Bond’s location for security reasons. However, an inmate search indicated that Bond had been moved from Donaldson to another facility.

Crafton believes Bond should receive rehabilitation at least weekly. She feels someone must be held accountable for the attack on her son, especially since he had warned about being in danger.

“[ADOC] caused this,” Crafton asserted. “They allowed it to happen.”