SB155 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Prison reform, periods of confinement for parole and probation violations clarified, mandatory release dates required, identification of alternative community corrections programs clarified, services for veterans, legislative committee reporting requirement extended, Secs. 12-25-32, 12-25-36, 13A-4-1, 13A-4-2, 13A-4-3, 13A-5-6, 13A-8-4.1, 13A-8-8.1, 13A-8-10.25, 13A-8-18.1, 15-18-8, 15-18-172, 15-22-24, 15-22-26.2, 15-22-29, 15-22-29.1, 15-22-32, 15-22-52, 15-22-54, 29-2-20 am'd.

Summary

SB155 would reform Alabama's corrections system by clarifying confinement for parole/probation violations, establishing mandatory release dates and expanded community corrections, enhancing veteran services, and updating penalties and reporting.

What This Bill Does

The bill clarifies how long confinement can be imposed for parolee and probationer violations and requires a written violation report before confinement. It updates monetary thresholds for certain theft-related offenses and aligns penalties for criminal solicitation, attempt, and conspiracy with Class D felonies. It allows two to three 24-hour confinement periods for violations by both the Board of Pardons and Paroles and judges, with limits tied to the offender's current supervision term. It expands community corrections options, tasks the Department of Corrections with identifying local alternatives (including veterans services), and extends officer training and reporting deadlines. It also introduces truth-in-sentencing standards to set minimum and extended terms (extended term at 120% of the minimum plus one year of post-release supervision) and moves toward mandatory release dates and related enforcement.

Who It Affects

• Parolees and probationers who could face clarified confinement for violations (including written violation reports, potential 2–3 day confinements, and supervision during and after confinement).
• State and local corrections agencies and services (Board of Pardons and Paroles, Department of Corrections, counties with community corrections programs, and the Department of Veterans Affairs) plus veterans services (including Veterans Treatment Courts) that gain new duties, training requirements, referral responsibilities, and program options.

Key Provisions

• Clarifies periods of confinement for parolees and probationers and requires a written violation report before confinement.
• Raises or adjusts predicate monetary values for theft of property in the third degree, theft of lost property in the third degree, theft of services in the third degree, and receiving stolen property in the third degree (generally to a $500–$1,499 range).
• Aligns criminal penalties for solicitation, attempt, and conspiracy with Class D felony offenses.
• Authorizes the Board of Pardons and Paroles and judges to impose two to three 24-hour confinement periods for violations, with limits applying to the offender's current supervision term.
• Extends the deadline for training probation and parole officers regarding new requirements.
• Clarifies that the Department of Corrections releases defendants sentenced to certain confinement periods and that released individuals are supervised as parolees; designates the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify veteran services, including Veterans Treatment Courts.
• Extends the Legislative Prison Joint Task Force reporting deadline from 2016 to 2017 and includes provisions related to truth-in-sentencing standards to be developed by the Alabama Sentencing Commission (minimum/extended terms; post-release supervision).
• Expands and clarifies alternatives to community corrections programs and requires the Department of Corrections to identify local alternatives (including veterans-related services) and to coordinate with Veterans Affairs.

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

Subjects

Corrections Department