Alabama’s parole grant rate fell to 15% during the month of April according to a new report from the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, marking the board’s lowest monthly parole grant rate since November of 2023.
The rate at which the ABPP grants parole has drawn increased scrutiny in recent years amid the state’s crowded prisons and the board’s failure to comply with its own guidelines, which recommend either for or against an inmate’s release on parole based on a scoring system.
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According to the report, the ABPP granted parole to 40 of 271 eligible inmates during parole hearings held in April, denying 231 for a parole grant rate of 15%, and a conformance rate to their own guidelines of 19%.
The report also shows that conformance rates have been in a steady decline since November of last year. In November of 2024, the ABPP conformed to its guidelines 37% of the time; in December, that dropped to 26%.
The ABPP’s guideline conformance rate has been targeted for years by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, who has filed multiple bills attempting to establish more oversight over the board. While none have yet to be successful, the effort grew bipartisan support this year after Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, filed his own bill to reform the board by both increasing its membership and changing the appointing authority for its chair.
While Chambliss’ bill also failed to pass this year, it gained significant bipartisan support, passing out of a Senate committee, Senate floor and a House committee, but failed to come up for a vote on the House floor. Chambliss told ADN last month that he was “leaning towards” refiling the bill next year.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Alexander Willis and originally published by Alabama Daily News.
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