A proposed bill known as SB156, or the “Second Chance Act,” aims to provide relief to approximately 200 Alabama inmates who have served sentences of at least 25 years under harsh life-without-parole sentences imposed by the Habitual Felony Offender Act. This bill, supported by Governor Ivey, restores a resentencing opportunity to these inmates as long as they did not commit certain serious offenses. The bill considers the inmates’ conduct while incarcerated, allows for input from the district attorney and victims, and expires in 2030.
The issue originated in 2001 when Alabama allowed inmates a limited chance to seek less severe sentences, but this opportunity was revoked in 2014. Previously, inmates faced mandatory life without parole sentences, even for non-violent offenses like stealing a bicycle. The bill seeks to rectify this by granting a second chance at resentencing, accounting for rehabilitation and changing circumstances over time.
The history of this issue involves legal challenges brought by inmates like Jerald Sanders and Junior Mack Kirby to seek fairer sentencing. While some inmates were successful in obtaining release through these legal avenues, many others did not have access to legal representation and missed out on the opportunity for resentencing.
SB156 is framed as a conservative, common-sense solution to rectify past injustices and bring fairness to the criminal justice system. It limits eligibility to non-violent offenders, takes into account behavior while incarcerated, and ensures that public safety is considered. The bill has potential to provide relief to long-serving inmates who have shown positive change during their time in prison, while also addressing concerns regarding escalating costs to taxpayers.
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