HB228 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to pardons and paroles; to amend Sections 15-22-26, 15-22-28, 15-22-37, and 15-22-43, Code of Alabama 1975, to require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to give weighted consideration to an inmate's age when determining whether to grant parole, to require the board to hold a rehearing once parole is denied for certain inmates, to provide for appellate relief for a prisoner with a serious chronic health condition who was denied parole in certain circumstances; to require the board to hold a medical parole hearing within a specified period of time of an inmate becoming eligible for medical parole; provide for appellate relief for an inmate who was denied medical parole; to amend Section 14-14-5, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that an inmate released on medical furlough may reside in any state; to add Section 15-22-25.5 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that an inmate may attend his or her parole hearing virtually; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Summary

HB228 overhauls Alabama's pardons and paroles system by weighting inmate health, adding rehearings and appellate avenues, expanding medical parole and medical furlough rules (including virtual hearings), and updating related procedures.

What This Bill Does

It requires the Board to give weighted consideration to an inmate's health in parole decisions. For inmates who have served at least 10 years and are age 50 or older and are denied parole, the board must reconsider within two years and provide a detailed plan to improve chances at the next hearing; if the plan is not provided, a new parole hearing must occur within 90 days of denial. It creates appellate relief for prisoners with serious chronic health conditions denied parole and sets timelines for medical parole hearings (within 30 days of eligibility) and appeals for medical parole denials. It also allows inmates released on medical furlough to reside in any state and permits virtual attendance at parole hearings, plus updates to related rules and processes.

Who It Affects

• Incarcerated individuals eligible for parole will be subject to updated guidelines, including weighting based on health and new hearing timelines.
• Inmates who have served at least 10 years and are at least 50 years old and are denied parole will get a required reconsideration within two years and must receive a detailed plan; if not, a new hearing within 90 days.
• Prisoners with serious chronic health conditions denied parole can seek judicial review (appellate relief).
• Inmates eligible for medical parole will have a medical parole hearing within 30 days of eligibility and can appeal denied medical parole.
• Inmates released on medical furlough may reside in any state, expanding where they can live while on furlough.
• Inmates may attend parole hearings virtually, increasing access to hearings.
• The Department of Corrections, the Governor, and the Attorney General are involved in new notification and oversight provisions, and victims and their families may have input in guidelines and decisions.

Key Provisions

• Weighted consideration of an inmate's health in parole determinations.
• Rehearings within two years after denial for prisoners meeting criteria (10+ years served and age 50+), with a requirement of a detailed plan to improve parole chances.
• If the board does not provide a detailed plan, a new parole hearing must be held within 90 days of denial.
• Appellate relief for serious chronic health condition inmates denied parole, including judicial review and specified appeal procedures.
• Medical parole process requiring hearings within 30 days of eligibility and allowance of appellate relief for denials; factors for medical parole include age, illness, and medical records.
• Inmates released on medical furlough may reside in any state; defined procedures for revocation.
• Allowance of virtual attendance at parole hearings.
• Updates to medical furlough and parole guidelines, including required notices to Governor/Attorney General and posting guidelines on the board's website.

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