HB134 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tim WadsworthRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Pardons and Paroles Board, prisoners, pardon, parole, or conditional release of, Executive Director to certify official order within 30 days, Sec. 15-22-37 am'd.

Summary

The bill would require the Executive Director of the Board of Pardons and Paroles to certify every official pardon, parole, or conditional release order within 30 days and directs the board to adopt rules governing supervision, treatment, and discharge of parolees.

What This Bill Does

It adds a 30-day deadline for certifying official orders granting pardons or paroles. It also directs the Board to adopt rules for a limited, risk-based parole supervision program, referrals to recidivism-reduction services, a rewards-and-sanctions system for parole compliance, guidelines that protect the board's discretion in release decisions while using risk assessments, and procedures to discharge parolees before their maximum term under certain conditions, with regular review every two years when appropriate.

Who It Affects

• Executive Director of the Board of Pardons and Paroles — required to certify official orders within 30 days.
• Board staff and the Board itself — tasked with adopting and applying new rulemaking on supervision, treatment, and discharge of parolees.
• Prisoners seeking pardons, paroles, or conditional release, and parolees — impacted by the certification timeline and new supervision, treatment, and discharge rules.

Key Provisions

• Section amending 15-22-37 to require certification of every official order granting pardon, parole, or conditional release within 30 days by the executive director.
• Board shall adopt rules for a limited supervision program using validated risk and needs assessments, including transfers to administrative parole and reporting requirements.
• Board shall develop policies for screening, assessment, and referral to recidivism-reduction services (e.g., cognitive behavioral intervention, substance abuse treatment).
• Board shall establish a rewards-and-sanctions matrix for parolee compliance and proportionate sanctions for violations, as part of supervision.
• Guidelines must retain the board’s discretion in individual parole release cases and include provisions to reconsider parole for certain nonviolent offenders within two years after a denial, using risk assessments and other factors.
• Provisions to implement supervision and treatment requirements for parolees (15-22-24(k)-(l)).
• Establish criteria and procedures to discharge parolees from supervision before the full maximum term, with at least biennial reviews if conditions are met (no violent offense, debts paid, etc.).

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

Subjects

Pardons and Paroles