Montgomery, Ala. (WDNews) – Lawmakers of the Alabama Joint Prison Committee are calling for changes to the parole system, arguing that public safety should be the top priority.
Committee Representative Chris England said current trends show inmates classified as low-risk are actually less likely to be paroled than some considered medium-risk, suggesting the system may be misaligned with its own guidelines.
“The lower the risk you are, the less likely you are to be paroled,” England noted during the May 28 meeting.
Another committee member added that physical health should also be a factor, saying individuals who are no longer physically capable of committing crimes should not remain in prison.
The push comes as HB40, a bill sponsored by Rep. England, proposes creating a Criminal Justice Policy Development Council to implement validated risk assessments and mandatory parole guidelines. If passed, the Board of Pardons and Paroles would be required to follow these guidelines or provide written justification for any deviations.
The bill also allows inmates to appeal decisions that fall outside the new criteria.
The move is partly in response to public comments made during legislative sessions, with lawmakers trying to sort fact from misinformation while aiming to improve transparency and reduce costs, especially in inmate healthcare, which reportedly costs the state around $250 million a year, as stated during the meeting.
HB40 was scheduled to go into effect June 1, 2025, if passed. Right now, it is “Currently Indefinitely Postponed.”
In terms of legislation, the bill is removed from the current legislative process with no set time to reconsider it.
