Alabama – Justice In Focus, a collaborative campaign led by Alabama Values that is designed to encourage Alabamians to rethink public safety, is hosting a community briefing on Monday, October 14th, at 6pm. The first briefing, Locked In: Reimagining Parole In Alabama will be led by Alabama Justice Initiative’s Deputy Director, Veronica Johnson, and feature the ACLU of Alabama’s Legal Director Alison Mollman, Southern Poverty Law Center Senior Policy Associate Katie Glenn, Alabama CURE Board Member Pat Vandermeer, and John Woods—who has been directly impacted by Alabama’s parole system. The briefing will be livestreamed on Alabama Values website, as well as Alabama Values social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.
“Rethinking public safety in Alabama means addressing the broken parole system that keeps too many people locked in without a fair chance at rehabilitation,” said Anneshia Hardy, Executive Director of Alabama Values. “We must focus on solutions that prioritize justice, equity, and the well-being of our communities.”
Alabama’s parole system has faced amplified scrutiny in recent years, with the parole approval rate dropping to a staggeringly-low 8% in 2023. This drop in parole came while the Alabama Department of Corrections was facing a still-ongoing lawsuit for prison overcrowding. The parole rate has risen slightly in 2024, but there are still many issues with the state’s current system. Some of the state’s top legal and policy experts will be meeting with those who’ve experienced the system first-hand to inform Alabamians on the issues with the parole system to date, and what can be done to improve the situation.
“Alabama’s parole system has tools in place to determine if someone should be released or remain in prison,” shares the briefing’s moderator Veronica Johnson, “Oftentimes they don’t take their own advice when it comes to releasing people.” Alison Mollman, Legal Director with ACLU of Alabama, notices similar characteristics about the present parole rate in the state, sharing that “There are people incarcerated in Alabama who pose no risk to public safety and have earned the opportunity to be released on parole. We must pay attention to what’s happening with our parole system in Alabama to ensure that these individuals can safely and responsibly come home.”
Residents, publications, and legislators across the state agree that the parole system must find a new path forward. Locked In: Reimagining Parole in Alabama turns to those closer to the problem to find the answers. Register for the livestream here.
