SB67 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Corrections reform, criminal penalties and sentencing revised, alternative community corrections programs required, specified treatment and supervision practices by Board of Pardons and Paroles required, criteria for release required, sanctions for violations by parolees and probationers, mandatory supervision periods for inmates, Secs. 13A-8-3.1, 13A-8-4.1, 13A-8-8.1, 13A-8-18.1, 13A-8-24, 13A-9-3.1, 13A-9-6.1, 15-22-26.1, 15-22-36.3, 15-22-57 added; Secs. 12-25-32, 12-25-33, 13A-5-3, 13A-5-6, 13A-5-9, 13A-5-11, 13A-5-13, 13A-7-7, 13A-8-3, 13A-8-4, 13A-8-5, 13A-8-8, 13A-8-9, 13A-8-10.2, 13A-8-10.3, 13A-8-18, 13A-8-19, 13A-9-3, 13A-9-4, 13A-9-6, 13A-9-7, 13A-9-14, 13A-12-211, 13A-12-212, 13A-12-213, 13A-12-291, 14-14-5, 15-8-8, 15-18-171, 15-18-172, 15-18-174, 15-18-176, 15-18-180, 15-18-182, 15-22-24, 15-22-26, 15-22-28, 15-22-29, 15-22-31, 15-22-32, 15-22-33, 15-22-36, 15-22-36.2, 15-22-51, 15-22-52, 15-22-53, 15-22-54, 29-2-20, 36-18-25 am'd.

Summary

SB67 overhauls Alabama's corrections system with new crime classifications, expanded community corrections, stronger parole and probation frameworks, and more treatment and victim-notification requirements.

What This Bill Does

It creates a new Class D felony and reclassifies several offenses, and revises driver license suspension rules for drug offenses. It establishes the Alabama Sentencing Commission to develop voluntary sentencing standards, use validated risk and needs assessments, and publish annual reports on sentencing and time served. It expands community punishment and corrections programs with funding, planning requirements, and an emphasis on evidence-based practices and risk-based supervision. It overhauls parole and probation by giving the Board of Pardons and Paroles more tools to sanction violations, establish release guidelines, create administrative hearing officers, and require victim notification for parole decisions; it also sets up a medical furlough program for certain inmates and broadens DNA collection and data use. Additionally, the bill addresses victims' notice, driving privileges for offenders, and various support programs such as a small-business pilot for ex-offenders and coordination with federal custody as applicable.

Who It Affects

• Offenders and inmates: Includes Class C/D felons, individuals subject to revised penalties, parolees and probationers, and juveniles who may be detained under new rules, affecting sentencing options, supervision levels, and potential releases or furloughs.
• State and local agencies and crime victims: Affects the Department of Corrections, Board of Pardons and Paroles, county community corrections programs, the Alabama Sentencing Commission, law enforcement, and crime victims who gain expanded automated notification and other rights under the reforms.

Key Provisions

• Create Class D felony and reclassify certain offenses; revise driver license suspension provisions for drug offenses.
• Establish the Alabama Sentencing Commission to develop voluntary sentencing standards, validated risk and needs assessments, and truth-in-sentencing guidelines; require annual reporting and data collection.
• Expand community punishment and corrections programs with a formal framework, funding mechanisms, program plans, and performance-based reimbursements; emphasize evidence-based practices and risk-based treatment and supervision; include veteran services.
• Reform parole and probation processes: use validated risk and needs assessments, impose sanctions for violations, establish parole release guidelines and early release policies, create administrative hearing officers, and require victim notification for parole decisions; limit certain confinement time and require due process in revocation proceedings.
• Enhance victim notification: expand automated victim notification system, establish a task force and Oversight Council, require notices to victims and representatives, and fund the notification system.
• Medical furlough program: allow furloughs for geriatric, permanently incapacitated, or terminally ill inmates with discharge plans and annual reporting; require medical documentation and coordination with health agencies.
• DNA and offender identification: expand mandatory DNA sampling rules to more offenses and arrestees, with protocols for collection, storage, and lawful use.
• Ex-offender small business pilot: ADECA to run a pilot program to train and fund recently released individuals to start small businesses, with evaluation and sunset.
• Hardship driving licenses: create a Class D hardship license program allowing limited driving privileges for inmates released to work release or community corrections, subject to rules and fees.
• Federal custody and other provisions: provide for release/reassignment related to federal sentences and allow cooperation with faith-based or nonprofit treatment facilities where appropriate.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Prisons and Prisoners