SB528 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

William “Bill” M. BeasleySenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Cam WardBryan Taylor

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Victim notification, responsibility of Pardons and Parole Board to update contact information of victims of certain crimes specified, Sec. 15-22-36 am'd

Summary

SB528 would require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to register crime victims and automatically update their contact information so they receive notice about board actions.

What This Bill Does

The bill makes the board responsible for registering victims and keeping their contact details up to date in an automated notification system. It requires at least 30 days of written notice to victims named in indictments (or their immediate family if the victim is deceased), or to parents/guardians of minor victims, and specifies how notice should be delivered. It also requires probation and parole officers to enter the most recent victim information into the system before sentencing in certain offenses, and mandates due diligence to locate victims or their families if contact information cannot be found, including a certificate of due diligence if location attempts fail. The act directs the board to promptly notify notifying parties after action is taken and allows victims or their representatives to present views, while establishing ongoing duties to update contact information automatically.

Who It Affects

• Victims and their families (or victims’ representatives) who will receive formal, timely notifications about board actions and have their contact information updated automatically.
• The Board of Pardons and Paroles and related agencies (probation/parole officers, sentencing courts, and the Crime Victims Compensation Commission) which gain enhanced duties to register, locate, update, and notify about victims and board actions.

Key Provisions

• The Board of Pardons and Paroles is designated as responsible for registering victims of certain crimes and updating their contact information for automated notifications of board hearings.
• Notice requirements: 30 days' written notice to victims named in indictments (or to immediate family if the victim is deceased) or to the parents/guardians of a minor victim; notice to other registered interested individuals; notice delivered via automated system or direct request.
• Notification scope includes the Crime Victims Compensation Commission and applies after the board’s action with timely electronic notification or public posting.
• Pre-sentencing duty: probation and parole officers must register the most recent victim information into the automated system before sentencing for offenses listed in the bill, and courts must record that information.
• Due diligence: the board must locate victims or their families using specified sources (system data, state records, USPS) and may issue a certificate of due diligence if unable to locate.
• If notice is not arranged or information is not updated for certain offenses, the bill preserves board authority to grant parole or other relief for those offenses while still requiring due diligence.
• Automatic, continual updating of victim contact information is required using a process to be determined by an implementation task force.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses