New ACLU of Alabama Report Shows Severe Backlog of Parole Eligible People in Alabama Prisons
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Today, the Campaign for Smart Justice with the ACLU of Alabama released a new report revealing a severe backlog of people in Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) facilities who are eligible for parole but who have not had a hearing.
Based on an analysis of data available in an online inmate database maintained by ADOC, the report shows that close to 4,000 people, or 15 percent of the overall population currently incarcerated in Alabama prisons, were eligible for a parole hearing before April 1, 2020.
“The parole board’s inaction since September is reflective of a system led and run by people who aren’t interested in releasing anyone from prison,” said Randall Marshall, Executive Director of ACLU of Alabama. “Other states have switched to remote parole hearings during this crisis. People incarcerated in Alabama prisons cannot afford to lose a meaningful chance at parole. Their lives literally depend on it.”
Full report online is here: https://alabamasmartjustice.org/report/parole-hearing-backlog
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