HB243 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Neil RaffertyRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Parole, to revise the criteria for parole consideration, Secs. 15-22-24, 15-22-26, 15-22-37 am'd.

Summary

HB243 would revise Alabama's parole criteria and update the language, emphasizing risk-and-needs assessments and structured guidelines while keeping board discretion intact.

What This Bill Does

It changes how parole decisions are made by requiring the Board of Pardons and Paroles to use validated risk and needs assessments and a set of factors (like prior record, offense severity, and potential for future violence) to guide initial parole decisions. It also updates supervision and treatment to be risk-based, with case planning, frequent contacts, and evidence-based programs, and adds training requirements for parole officers and coordination with the Veterans Affairs system. The bill preserves the board’s discretion in granting parole, requires clear reasons for decisions, and adds guidelines for discharging parolees before the full maximum term under certain conditions.

Who It Affects

• Incarcerated individuals eligible for parole, who will be evaluated under revised criteria and risk/needs assessments before parole decisions are made.
• Parolees and probationers under supervision, who will be governed by risk-based supervision, treatment plans, and discharge rules, with input from victims and law enforcement incorporated into decision-making.

Key Provisions

• Require use of validated risk and needs assessments to guide initial parole consideration and ongoing supervision, considering factors such as prior record, offense severity, potential for future violence, victim input, and rehabilitation progress.
• Establish board guidelines for initial parole dockets that prioritize risk levels and include input from victims, prosecutors, and law enforcement, along with other criteria linked to risk reduction.
• Mandate risk-based supervision and treatment for parolees and probationers, including case planning, unscheduled contact as needed, and connections to evidence-based programs; include coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans.
• Set training requirements for all parole and probation officers (assessment, case planning, risk reduction, mental health, and core correctional practices) and allow discharge from parole supervision before the maximum term under defined conditions.
• Require the board to articulate reasons for parole approvals or denials, maintain guidelines that do not guarantee parole as a right, and permit non-substantive technical updates to code language.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Pardons and Paroles Board