HB 380 - This bill makes significant changes to the operation and membership of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.
(MONTGOMERY) — Attorney General Steve Marshall hailed the passage of legislation today by the Alabama Senate to reform the badly broken Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. House Bill 380, sponsored by Representative Connie Rowe, R-Jasper, passed the Senate by a vote of 25 to 5. The legislation was carried in the upper house by Senator Cam Ward, RAlabaster. The Alabama House of Representatives passed the bill on May 9, by a vote of 73 to 27. It now goes to the Governor for her signature.
(MONTGOMERY)—Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the State of Alabama will pay the maximum damages that may be awarded under state law—$1 million*—to the families of Jimmy O’Neal Spencer’s three alleged murder victims. The families allege that the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles wrongfully paroled and failed to supervise Spencer, resulting in the deaths of Marie Martin, Colton Lee and Martha Reliford.
Attorney General Marshall recused himself and was not a part of the settlement negotiations, having previously known two of the victims.
MONTGOMERY -- Victims of Crime and Leniency (VOCAL), the State’s largest victims’ advocacy coalition, on Tuesday expressed the organization’s full support and the urgent need for legislation reforming the Board of Pardons and Paroles. The legislation has already passed the Alabama House of Representatives.
“We sincerely hope that the Alabama Senate will make this legislation a top priority in the remaining days of the regular session,” said VOCAL Founder, Miriam Shehane. “Victims have waited for years for our state officials to listen to us and pay attention to what is going on at Pardons and Paroles. We’ve finally got an Attorney General and Governor who get it, but they lack the authority to fix this problem. For any real change to occur, we desperately need the reforms proposed in this legislation.”
Read more: VOCAL Calls for Reforms to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 716
Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on Early Parole Hearings and Requiring the Submission and Implementation of a Corrective Action Plan for the Board of Pardons and Paroles.