HB57 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Pardons and Parole Board, to create the Criminal Justice Policy Development Council, to specify membership of the council, to specify the duties of the council, require the board use parole release guidelines, parole proceedings revised, Sec. 15-22-26 am'd.

Summary

HB57 would create a Criminal Justice Policy Development Council to develop validated risk/needs assessments and guidelines for parole and inmate classification, and require the Parole Board to use parole release guidelines with explanations for deviations and potential appellate review.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates a Council to oversee development and implementation of risk/needs assessments, parole guidelines, and inmate classification guidelines. It requires the Board of Pardons and Paroles to use parole release guidelines in its decisions and to clearly explain any deviations from those guidelines. It provides appellate relief for prisoners harmed by guideline departures and updates current law to formalize these processes, including reporting requirements and a finite lifespan for the Council unless extended. It also sets timelines for updating systems and adopting guidelines and outlines reporting and implementation steps once the guidelines are adopted.

Who It Affects

• Prisoners and parolees: their parole decisions would be guided by formal parole release guidelines, with a right to appeal deviations and required explanations for any departures.
• Board of Pardons and Paroles and Department of Corrections: they must use the guidelines, implement the new systems, provide explanations for deviations, and report progress to the Legislature.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Criminal Justice Policy Development Council with specific members: Executive Director of the Alabama Sentencing Commission, Secretary of the Department of Corrections, Director of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and Director of the Legislative Services Agency.
• The council appoints a chair and vice chair by a set date; members serve without compensation but may receive expense reimbursements.
• By October 1, 2024, the council must update the inmate classification system, create/adopt parole guidelines, and adopt a validated risk and needs assessment for the felony offender population; may contract with third parties for development.
• The council may meet as needed and must submit quarterly progress reports to the Legislature starting October 1, 2022; the council stands dissolved January 1, 2025 unless extended.
• Amends Section 15-22-26 to require parole release guidelines to be used as an aid, with decisions subject to a board’s rules and public safety goals.
• Departures from parole release guidelines require a detailed written explanation to the prisoner and other stakeholders; prisoners may appeal deviations within 30 days via the Montgomery County Circuit Court, with a limited, non-jury review of the parole file.
• If parole is granted, prisoners remain under custody terms set by the board until the maximum term ends or they are pardoned; the guidelines do not create a guaranteed right to parole.

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

Subjects

Criminal Justice