Families call prisons “drug-infested slums” in annual public hearing, demand reform
Sen. Vivian Figures said state legislators “need to spend some time in these prisons ... without any protection.”
criminal justice
Advocates gather to lobby for parole oversight bill
Advocates say the board is in clear need of oversight considering the precipitous drop in parole approval rates.
New Mobile County district attorney takes office
Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood was officially sworn into office Wednesday.
January 13, 2023
Governor Ivey signs Nick Risner Act into law
It will bar those convicted of using a deadly weapon to kill someone from being released early under Alabama’s “Good Time” law.
April 14, 2022
Alabama Appleseed awards another NFL grant for criminal justice reform work
The NFL noted the nonprofit's success in freeing Ronald McKeithen from a life sentence in March.
Opinion
Opinion
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See recent postsA paperwork error could send a veteran back to prison. But there is hope
"Lett is going back in the system. Even though everyone believes he doesn’t belong in the system any longer."
Alabama House passes several criminal justice-related bills
The bills address community corrections, judicial discretion in sentencing and the cost of housing state inmates in county jails.
Two bills would expand community corrections, enhance specialized courts
St. Clair County's drug and veterans courts have a combined 96 percent success rate at preventing recidivism.
Letter to lawmakers: Repeal Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act
165 former judges and prosecutors, professors and public defenders signed on in support of Rep. Chris England's bill to repeal HFOA.
DA defends imprisonment of disabled vet for marijuana charges
West Alabama District Attorney Andy Hamlin defended the court decision to revoke Sean Worsley’s probation, sending the Black disabled veteran to state prison for 60 months on felony marijuana charges. Hamlin spoke to APR in a phone interview about the case. Sean Worsley is a Black disabled veteran who was arrested on felony marijuana charges … Continued