Nation IN BRIEF : ALABAMA : Official Fired Over Female Chain Gangs

Alabama’s prison commissioner, who won praise from tough-on-crime politicians for reviving chain gangs, was fired after announcing plans to put female prisoners in leg irons too. “There will be no woman on any chain gang in the state of Alabama today, tomorrow or any time under my watch,” Republican Gov. Forrest “Fob” James Jr. said in a statement announcing the resignation of Ron Jones. The governor did not know about the idea until he read about it in the papers Friday, his spokesman said. The commissioner, who revived chain gangs for male prisoners last year, will return to his former job of warden at a prison near Montgomery, James said. Jones could not be reached for comment. The prison system has been sued by at least two male prisoners challenging the chain gangs’ men-only status.