Alabama Lawmakers Express Mixed Views on Updated Parole Guidelines

The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles recently proposed updated parole guidelines following legislative pressure and a budget amendment that withheld funding until the guidelines were revised. The new guidelines, designed to aid parole decisions using factors such as offense severity and inmate behavior, were met with mixed reactions from lawmakers during a Joint Prison Oversight Committee meeting. Republican lawmakers acknowledged progress and the importance of updating the guidelines, while Democratic Rep. Chris England criticized the process, stating the board delayed for years and used insufficient data, producing the guidelines only after funding threats. Alabama's parole rate has significantly declined from 53% in 2018 to a historic low of 8% in 2023, prompting concern and calls for reform. The committee also discussed efforts to improve communication within the Alabama Department of Corrections and updates on prison construction projects. These developments come amid ongoing public testimony highlighting issues within the prison system and parole decision-making.