never have been in Alabama, and i find that super interesting.
how does anyone end up borderline illiterate in the US for the last several decades? can kids drop out without passing reading, like drop out as grade schoolers?
I've read thousands of police reports. I would say this is true about their literacy, and their typing skills are equally horrible. They also generally really hate writing reports (which are almost universally never read) and tend to make them as short as possible.
My mother enjoyed a ~30 year career in law enforcement while being able to read at a junior high level. And that’s being generous.
Of course that’s just one anecdote, but just spend some time with deputies in rural Alabama and you’ll see what I mean.