Alabama 2024 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB30

Introduced
2/6/24  
Introduced
2/6/24  

Caption

Pardons and Parole Board; Criminal Justice Policy Development Council created; provide for membership, duties; require use of parole release guidelines; parole proceedings revised; provide for appellate review

Impact

The legislation revises existing statutory frameworks concerning parole release, making it imperative for the Board of Pardons and Paroles to adhere to the new guidelines unless a clear rationale for deviation is provided. This shift is anticipated to enhance the consistency and transparency of parole decisions. Additionally, if a prisoner is adversely affected by such deviations, the bill facilitates appellate relief, allowing them to appeal decisions they believe are unjust or unsupported by the newly established guidelines.

Summary

House Bill 30 aims to establish the Criminal Justice Policy Development Council, which is responsible for the creation and implementation of risk and needs assessments for offenders, as well as guidelines pertaining to parole and inmate classification. The council's formation is part of a broader effort to reform the criminal justice system in Alabama, ensuring that decisions regarding parole are rooted in empirically validated practices. Under the proposed legislation, the Board of Pardons and Paroles would be mandated to follow these new guidelines when making parole decisions.

Contention

Despite its potential benefits, the bill has stirred some debate regarding its implications for judicial discretion and inmate rights. Critics may express concerns that the mandated adherence to standardized guidelines may inhibit the ability of the parole board to make case-by-case judgments based on unique circumstances surrounding individual offenders. Others argue that the requirement for providing detailed explanations for deviations could overload the parole process and create delays, conflicting with swift justice principles. Supporters, on the other hand, view it as a necessary step to ensure that parole decisions are equitable and grounded in data rather than subjective considerations.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

AL HB40

Pardons and Parole Board, to create the Criminal Justice Policy Development Council, membership, duties, require the board to use parole release guidelines, parole proceedings revised, provide for appellate review

AL HB16

Relating to criminal justice; to create the Criminal Justice Policy Development Council; to specify the membership of the council; to specify the duties of the council; and to amend Section 15-22-26, Code of Alabama 1975, to require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to use parole release guidelines; to revise certain parole proceedings; and to provide appellate review of certain parole decisions.

AL SB215

Pardons and Parole Board, to create the Criminal Justice Policy Development Council, to specify membership of the council, to specify the duties of the council, require the board use parole release guidelines, parole proceedings revised, Sec. 15-22-26 am'd.

AL HB57

Pardons and Parole Board, to create the Criminal Justice Policy Development Council, to specify membership of the council, to specify the duties of the council, require the board use parole release guidelines, parole proceedings revised, Sec. 15-22-26 am'd.

AL SB56

Pardons and Paroles; medical parole revised; appellate review created; medical furlough release requirements revised

AL HB299

Pardons and Paroles, requirements for release on parole further provided for, apply for appellate relief when parole denied in certain circumstances, require medical parole hearing held within a certain time frame, allow an inmate released on medical furlough place of residence

AL SB324

Pardons and Paroles Board; increase members on board; further provide for selection of chair; parole consideration guidelines after denial of parole established

AL HB06723

An Act Concerning Reform Of Parole Release And Revocation Practices And The Membership Of The Board Of Pardons And Paroles.

AL SB304

Pardons and Paroles; mandatory supervised release of inmates; terms of revocation revised; exception created

AL HB228

Relating to pardons and paroles; to amend Sections 15-22-26, 15-22-28, 15-22-37, and 15-22-43, Code of Alabama 1975, to require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to give weighted consideration to an inmate's age when determining whether to grant parole, to require the board to hold a rehearing once parole is denied for certain inmates, to provide for appellate relief for a prisoner with a serious chronic health condition who was denied parole in certain circumstances; to require the board to hold a medical parole hearing within a specified period of time of an inmate becoming eligible for medical parole; provide for appellate relief for an inmate who was denied medical parole; to amend Section 14-14-5, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that an inmate released on medical furlough may reside in any state; to add Section 15-22-25.5 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that an inmate may attend his or her parole hearing virtually; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

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