A bill to add oversight to Alabama's parole board has been approved by the House Judiciary Committee. The legislation would create a council to develop parole guidelines while the board would still make individual release decisions, providing written explanations for any departures from those guidelines. The move comes amid concerns over the board's low parole grant rates and a lack of transparency.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a bill to put oversight on the state’s parole board that has garnered significant attention. The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill by Rep. Chris England, a Democrat from Tuscaloosa. The bill now moves to the full Alabama House of Representatives. The bill would create the Criminal Justice Policy Development Council to oversee the development of guidelines for release on parole.
The three board members would continue to decide whether inmates are paroled. However, the board would be required to provide a written explanation when a decision deviates from the guidelines. \\u201cI think it\u2019s a recognition that the current Parole Board and the process itself is broken,\u201d England said after the committee vote. The percentage of inmates being granted parole after their hearing fell from 53% in 2018 to a historic low of 8% in 2023. The rate rose back to about 20% in 2024. Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the dramatic drop in parole grants and have demanded more transparency from the board. The state\u2019s top court recently ruled that the parole board must provide records related to its decisions. England said the bill is a response to those concerns and aims to restore public trust in the parole system. \The bill has been met with mixed reactions. Some supporters argue that it is necessary to ensure fairness and accountability in the parole process. Others, however, have raised concerns that it could limit the discretion of the parole board and make it more difficult for deserving inmates to be released. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
ALABAMA PAROLE BOARD LEGISLATION CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRANSPARENCY
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