SB244 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Pardons and Paroles Dept., mandatory supervised release of inmates, apply certain sentencing provisions to certain defendants, add'l compensation to probation and parole officers in certain circumstances, and to provide that certain employees of the Board of Pardons and Paroles be authorized to perform add'l duties, Sec. 15-22-26.2 am'd.

Summary

SB244 would expand when inmates near release are placed under board supervision, provide extra leave pay to probation and parole officers, and give Pardons and Paroles staff broader duties with director approval.

What This Bill Does

It changes mandatory supervised release so inmates near the end of their sentence are released to Board of Pardons and Paroles supervision within defined timeframes before release, and this applies regardless of when they were sentenced (except for certain child sex offenses). It creates a new compensation rule allowing merit-classification probation and parole officers to be paid for unused annual leave beyond 480 hours, up to 80 hours per year. It allows Pardons and Paroles employees to perform additional duties with authorization from the Director, including investigations, risk assessments, court cooperation, victim information registration, voter eligibility reporting, probation-related work, and recommendations on terminating supervision.

Who It Affects

• Inmates under the Department of Corrections who are near the end of their sentence; they would be released to Board of Pardons and Paroles supervision for a defined pre-release period (timing depends on sentence length) and is not limited by when they were sentenced (with certain child sex offense exceptions).
• Probation and parole officers (merit classification) and other Board of Pardons and Paroles employees; they could receive payment for accrued unused leave beyond 480 hours (up to 80 hours/year) and may take on additional authorized duties such as investigations, risk assessments, court cooperation, victim information handling, voter eligibility reporting, and probation supervision-related tasks.

Key Provisions

• Amendment to Section 15-22-26.2 establishing pre-release supervision windows based on sentence length: ≤5 years (3-5 months before release), >5 and <10 years (6-9 months), and ≥10 years (12-24 months), with applicability regardless of when sentenced; excludes sex offenses involving a child; requires notice to victims and interested parties; releases to intensive program under Article 2, and applies to those in DOC custody regardless of sentencing date.
• Section 2 allows merit-classification probation and parole officers who are certified as law enforcement officers to be paid for unused annual leave beyond 480 hours, up to 80 hours per year, at the regular pay rate.
• Section 3 authorizes any Pardons and Paroles employee, with Director approval, to perform specific duties including prisoner investigations and reporting, risk assessment, cooperation with courts, victim information registration, voter eligibility investigations, probation-related investigations, and recommendations to terminate authority or supervision.
• Effective dates: Section 1 takes effect January 31, 2021 (subject to funds); Section 2 takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage; Section 3 takes effect immediately after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Pardons and Paroles