SB215 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Rodger SmithermanTom Whatley

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

The bill creates a Criminal Justice Policy Development Council to develop and oversee parole guidelines and risk assessments, requires the parole release guidelines to be used in parole decisions with explanations for any departures, and updates parole procedures and appellate rights.

What This Bill Does

It establishes a new council to guide risk/needs assessments, parole guidelines, and inmate classification, with specified members and reporting duties. It requires the Board of Pardons and Paroles to use parole release guidelines in decisions and to explain any deviations, offering appellate relief for affected prisoners. It also amends parole guidelines to be an aid (not a guarantee) and sets up a structured process for review, approval, and appeals, plus reporting and implementation timelines.

Who It Affects

• Incarcerated individuals awaiting parole or facing parole decisions, who would be governed by the new guidelines and could appeal deviations from those guidelines.
• Parole board, Department of Corrections, and related state agencies, which must implement the new council, adopt and apply guidelines, provide explanations for deviations, report progress to the Legislature, and potentially contract for development work.

Key Provisions

• Creation of the Criminal Justice Policy Development Council with specified members and a process to elect a chair and vice chair; requires quarterly progress reports to the Legislature and possible dissolution in 2025 unless extended.
• Mandates that the Board of Pardons and Paroles must use parole release guidelines in parole decisions, explain any departures in writing, and allow appellate review for deviations.
• Amends Section 15-22-26 to treat parole guidelines as an aid, require them to be actuarially based and reviewed every three years with public input, and specify factors to be considered (risk, reentry progress, victim input, risk-reduction participation, conduct, offense severity, and prisoner statements).
• Provides an appellate process for departures from the guidelines, including notice to prisoners, a Montgomery County circuit court venue, non-jury review of the parole file, and a final circuit court decision.

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