SB324 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Pardons and Paroles Board; increase members on board; further provide for selection of chair; parole consideration guidelines after denial of parole established

Summary

SB324 would expand the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles to five members, make the board choose its own chair, and add detailed guidelines for parole decisions after parole denial.

What This Bill Does

Increases the Board of Pardons and Paroles from three to five members and requires diversity and at least two members to be current or former law enforcement with 10 years’ experience in violent-crime work. Shifts chair selection from the Governor to the board itself, with the chair chosen from among board members and beginning duties on January 1 after being selected by December 1 of even-numbered years. Creates a formal vacancy/appointment process using a nominating committee (led by the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate) to submit five nominees to the Governor for Senate confirmation; allows interim appointments if needed and outlines how confirmations work when the Senate is in or out of session; mandates continued nominations until a vacancy is filled.

Who It Affects

• Incarcerated individuals and parolees, who would experience new parole supervision programs, clearer rules for when parole is reconsidered after denial, and structured timelines for future parole hearings.
• The Board itself and state leaders (Governor and legislative leaders) who would oversee changes to board composition, leadership selection, appointment processes, and rulemaking.

Key Provisions

• Board size increased from three to five members, with diversity requirements and at least two current or former law enforcement officers with a minimum of 10 years of experience in violent-crime investigation or related duties.
• Chair selection moved to be decided by the board; the chair presides over meetings and begins service January 1, with a selection completed by December 1 of each even-numbered year.
• Vacancies filled by the Governor from a list of five nominees chosen by a board nominating committee (composed of the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate), with Senate advice and consent and interim appointment rules.
• Terms set at six years; members serve until their successors are appointed and confirmed; provisions for vacancies to be filled for the remainder of an unexpired term; compensation and oath requirements included.
• Board may adopt rules relating to parole, pardons, and related matters, including a program of limited supervision, risk/needs assessments, referral to recidivism-reduction services, a rewards/sanctions matrix, and clear guidelines preserving board discretion in release decisions; includes specified timelines for parole reconsideration after denial (e.g., up to two years for nonviolent offenses with sentences of 20 years or less, up to five years for other cases, up to 10 years for life-violent offenses, and up to 180 days for medical parole).
• Discharge and supervision criteria, procedures for discharging parolees before the maximum term, and periodic review (at least every two years) if conditions are met; board rules subject to limited Administrative Procedure Act provisions and must be posted on the board’s website; notices to the Governor and Attorney General are required.

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

Subjects

Incarceration