The bill amends Sections 15-22-20 and 15-22-37 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to increase the membership of the Board of Pardons and Paroles from three to five members. It introduces new provisions for selecting the board's chair, who will now be elected from among the members by December 1 of each even-numbered year, with the term starting on January 1. Additionally, it requires that at least two members have a minimum of ten years' experience in law enforcement. The process for filling vacancies is revised to involve a nominating committee of key legislative leaders, who will provide a list of five qualified candidates to the Governor for appointment. The bill also mandates the establishment of a limited supervision program for parolees and the development of policies to connect them with recidivism reduction services.

Furthermore, the bill outlines new guidelines for the parole consideration process, focusing on assessing an inmate's criminal history and other individual characteristics to evaluate the likelihood of reoffending. It specifies timelines for future parole consideration based on the nature of the offense and sentence length, such as requiring reconsideration for nonviolent offenders within two years of denial. The bill also mandates the implementation of existing provisions for supervising parolees, establishes criteria for discharging them from supervision, and requires the Director of Pardons and Paroles to maintain transparency by posting relevant policies online. Notably, it removes certain notice requirements related to the board's rule-making processes and stipulates that the Governor must appoint the additional board members by January 1, 2026, with the bill set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 15-22-20, 15-22-37
Engrossed: 15-22-20, 15-22-37