Alabama Parole Guidelines Under Scrutiny by Lawmakers
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Joint Prison Oversight Committee convened on Wednesday to address serious concerns regarding the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles’ proposed scoring guidelines, which are now nearly three years overdue. Lawmakers criticized the “corrupted” data on which the guidelines were based, highlighting numerous omissions in the scoring criteria.
The guidelines, intended to score parole-eligible inmates across six categories, could potentially make it harder for inmates to receive parole. Critics, including Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, pointed out that vital factors such as health, age, and work release participation have not been included to enhance an inmate’s chances.
Hill emphasized the need for oversight, arguing that if the board decides against a recommendation, an explanation should be provided. He voiced frustration with the board’s low compliance with its own guidelines, reporting that it saw adherence rates of only 12% in fiscal year 2023 and about 27% this fiscal year.
Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, underscored the concerns over the integrity of the scoring data, referencing incidents where board chair Leigh Gwathney altered inmate scores at her discretion, calling it problematic.
Although some lawmakers support the proposed guidelines, viewing them as positive improvements, critics, including England and Jerome Dees from the Southern Poverty Law Center, deem the changes superficial—arguing they simply attempt to justify a low parole grant rate that fell to 10% last fiscal year.
As the parole board invites public comment until July 4, it remains to be seen if the guidelines will be amended or adopted in their current form, amid calls for better accountability and transparent criteria in the parole process.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
