Staff Reports
On January 31, 2023, the Alabama Department of Corrections released approximately 400 prisoners before the end of their sentences. This move occurred because of a law passed in 2021 to reduce the number of incarcerated people.
Not everyone was pleased with this action. On Monday, February 6, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office asked to stop the release, but a judge refused his request. Marshall was concerned that neither victims nor their families were notified of inmates being released early.
In a statement released on Monday, Marshall’s office stated:
“The attorney general has been a vocal opponent of all efforts to release inmates early and expressed particular concern about act 2021-549 passed in October of 2021. Tomorrow, we will start to see the impact of this new law. Four hundred offenders will be released early to supervision with an ankle monitor, roughly 60% of whom have committed violent offenses against individuals. Large groups of inmates will continue to be released under this law for the next few months.”
His office filed a lawsuit against the Alabama Pardons and Paroles Director Cam Ward and The Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Q. Hamm. According to a report by ABC’s Bobby Poitevint, Director Ward believes the Alabama Pardons and Paroles should be part of the lawsuit. Ward stated, “We’re gonna follow the law. We didn’t push the law or ask for the law. We’re just following the law as it’s written.”
Ward said they are required by law to put ankle monitors on the inmates and provide supervision, check-ins, and drug testing. Check-ins are mandatory and can be unscheduled, and some inmates can be seen more than others based on the inmate’s risk assessment.
Ward said the process is like parole, except these inmates will have ankle monitors on. He said they were ready for the law to go into effect.
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