A Guidebook to Parole in Alabama

In October 2018, Governor Kay Ivey issued an Executive Order making some changes to what was then called the Parole Board.¹ District Attorneys and Victims’ Advocate groups had criticized the Parole Board for releasing an individual on parole who was later charged with a serious crime.² Governor Ivey replaced the chairperson of the Parole Board and ordered the Parole Board to develop a Corrective Action Plan. The Parole Board has prepared two Corrective Action Plans in response to the Governor’s request.

In the spring of 2019, Alabama lawmakers passed a law making further changes to parole in Alabama. Known as HB 380 or Act No. 2019-393 (“2019 Parole Bill”), the law restructured the Parole Board and revised the process for early parole consideration, among other changes. It did not change the calculation of initial parole consideration dates.³ The Board of Pardons and Paroles was also formally renamed the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. As a result, this Guidebook uses “Parole Bureau” to refer to the agency that was once called the Parole Board. You may still hear people refer to the agency as the “Parole Board,” or use "Parole Board" to refer specifically to the three-person board that makes parole decisions.

How did the 2019 Parole Bill change the structure of the Parole Bureau?

The 2019 law allows the Governor to appoint a “Director of Pardons and Paroles” to oversee the Parole Bureau. The law also requires that one of three members of the Parole Bureau must have significant experience in law enforcement. Specifically, the law states that one member of the Bureau must have at least ten years of experience working for a law enforcement agency that investigates violent crimes or supervises people who have committed violent crimes. Finally, the law made some changes to how new members of the Parole Board are chosen. Appointments are made by the Governor and approved by the Senate.⁴

How does the 2019 Parole Bill affect my initial parole consideration?

Initial parole consideration dates are calculated in the same way they were before the HB 380 passed. For more information on initial consideration dates, refer to Section II of this guide.

Did the 2019 Parole Bill do anything else to change the Parole Bureau?

In addition to these changes, the law also expanded some requirements for telling victims about upcoming parole dates. The changes are meant to ensure that people designated as victims, victims’ representatives, or other interested parties have advance notice of upcoming hearings.⁵

This section describes the major changes made by the 2019 Parole Bill. Other elements of the bill are reflected throughout the Guidebook. However, it does not describe every single provision of the bill. For full text of the bill, refer to your institution’s law library.

This section of the Guidebook provides basic background information on how parole works in Alabama and how the Parole Bureau is structured. It includes information on the history of parole in Alabama, the structure of the Parole Bureau, and the basic process for learning if and when you are eligible for parole. Like other sections of this Guidebook, it is organized to respond to the most common questions people may have about these topics. While parole exists in most prison systems, each state operates its parole system differently. This section addresses the way parole works in Alabama.

What is parole? What are parole decisions based on?

Parole is an opportunity offered to some people convicted of crimes to serve part of their sentence outside of prison while still under correctional supervision. Not all people convicted of crimes or serving time in prison are eligible for parole. Not all people eligible for parole will be granted parole. People who are released on parole can be sent back to prison if their parole is revoked.⁶ Most people on parole have to follow certain rules, like reporting to a parole officer or staying drug free. Failure to follow the rules of parole can result in someone being sent back to prison, even if that person didn’t commit a new crime.⁷

In Alabama, the Parole Bureau reviews each parole applicant’s case and decides whether to grant parole. The decision on who gets parole is made entirely by the Parole Bureau. If the Parole Bureau grants parole, the parole applicant will usually be released from the prison facility onto parole, while still being under the legal custody of the state.

Parole is not supposed to be granted simply for good conduct or behavior while in prison. An applicant must meet the guidelines that the Parole Bureau has set.⁸

The Parole Bureau must consider:

• The applicant’s likeliness to re-offend, which should be based on a risk and needs assessment.
• The applicant’s plans for reentry, and progress made towards completing that plan.
• Input from the victim(s), the victim’s family, prosecutors, and law enforcement.
• The seriousness of the applicant’s underlying offense and prior criminal history.

The Parole Bureau also considers an applicant’s conduct while in prison. This could include disciplinary history, jobs worked, programs completed, or other relevant factors from an applicant’s time incarcerated in ADOC.⁹

What is the difference between probation and parole?

Probation is similar to parole. People on probation are also under supervision of the state without being in prison. However, probation is usually ordered by a Court instead of prison time, whereas parole is granted by the Parole Bureau after people have served part of their time in prison. The Parole Bureau makes decisions about parole. Judges decide whether to place someone on probation.¹⁰

How many people are on parole in Alabama?

According to the United States Department of Justice, there were over 8,500 people estimated to be on parole in Alabama at the end of 2016, a slight increase from previous years. In that same year, over 2,500 people were estimated to have been newly placed on parole in Alabama.¹¹

What is the Parole Bureau? Who sits on it?

In 1939, the Alabama legislature created a three-member Board of Pardons and Paroles with power over all matters of pardons, paroles, restoration of rights, forgiveness of fines and forfeitures. The authority of the Parole Bureau has been changed several times since then.¹²

The Parole Board is currently made up of three members. Their job is to assess the risks and needs of parole applicants being considered for parole. These members are appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates created by a committee of Alabama judges and legislators. The members are usually confirmed by the Senate. If the Senate is not in session when the Governor makes a nomination, the nomination is approved on an interim basis until the Senate can convene. If the Senate adjourns without voting on a nominee, that nominee is confirmed.¹³

At least one voting member of the Parole Board must have at least ten years of experience in a law enforcement agency that investigates violent crimes or supervises people convicted of violent crimes. Members of the Parole Board serve six-year terms.¹⁴ Current members of the Parole Board are listed on the Parole Bureau’s website.¹⁵

The Parole Bureau also has a Director of Pardons and Paroles who acts as chief executive. The Director oversees all operations and creates policies for the Parole Bureau. The Governor appoints the Director.¹⁶

Who works at the Parole Bureau other than the three Bureau members?

The Parole Bureau has a large staff, split into divisions based on the different tasks of the Parole Bureau. The staff is primarily divided into four programmatic sections split across the Parole Bureau’s central office in Montgomery and several field offices in counties across Alabama.¹⁷ For a full list of the Parole Bureau’s field offices, see Appendix E. The four program sections are:

Bureau Operations – This section includes units that do much of the work of the Parole Bureau, like deciding hearing dates and parole eligibility, telling relevant parties about upcoming hearings, interviewing applicants, and coordinating releases for people granted parole. Institutional Parole Officers are part of this section. This section is also responsible for taking calls from victims, parole applicants’ family members, members of law enforcement, and other stakeholders.¹⁸

Field Services – This is the section of the Parole Bureau responsible for supervising people on parole (and probation) once they are released into the community. Field Services operates over sixty field offices throughout the state, spread over 14 districts. Field Services also reviews the files of people on parole, reviews reported violations, and is responsible for drug testing and other tasks.¹⁹

Special Populations and Programs – This is the section of the Parole Bureau that oversees the LIFE Tech Transition Center, which is the agency’s only residential facility, as well as seven Day Reporting Centers and other special programs.²⁰

Interstate Compact Unit– This section is in charge of overseeing the transfer of people on parole (and probation) to other states through the Interstate Compact, as well as supervising people on parole and probation in Alabama who have come from other states.²¹

Who is eligible for parole? Am I eligible for parole if I am serving a split sentence?

The Parole Bureau can grant paroles to all eligible persons in prison. If you are serving a split sentence, you must serve the mandatory time of the split sentence.²²

For example, if your judge sentenced you to “20 years, split 5” you must serve the entire five years in prison. During those five years, you will not be eligible for parole. After five years, you will be released on probation for the remainder of your sentence. This also applies to consecutively applied split sentences. For example, if you have three charges and your judge sentences you to “15 years, split 3” for each of the sentences, served consecutively, you will have to serve three years for each conviction, or nine years total. During those nine years, you will not be eligible for parole.²³

For other sentences, the Parole Bureau has established guidelines for deciding when an incarcerated person will be eligible for parole consideration. See the next question for more details.

When will I be eligible for parole? How many years of my sentence must I serve before I have a parole hearing scheduled?

If you have more than one sentence, not including split sentences, your parole will be determined by the longest running sentence. This is called your “controlling sentence.”

If you are receiving “good time” (also called correctional incentive time) on your controlling sentence, your eligibility for parole will be considered according to this chart.²⁴

What if my controlling sentence is not eligible for good time?

If you are not receiving “good time” on your controlling sentence, then parole will be considered when you have served one third of your sentence or ten years, whichever is less, unless the Parole Bureau finds another time more appropriate.²⁵

Are there certain crimes that are exceptions to the rules explained on the previous page?

Yes. If you were convicted of the following Class A felonies after March 21, 2001, you must serve 85 percent of your sentence, or 15 years, whichever is less:

• Rape I
• Kidnapping I
• Murder
• Attempted Murder
• Sodomy I
• Sexual Torture
• Robbery I with serious physical injury
• Burglary I with serious physical injury
• Arson I with serious physical injury²⁶

For example, if you are serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for one of the above listed convictions, you will have to serve 15 years before you are eligible for parole consideration.

Can I be considered for parole earlier than the above schedule indicates?

The Parole Bureau does allow you to apply for early parole consideration. However, this process was severely limited by the 2019 Parole Bill. As a result, it is much harder to be granted early parole consideration. The process for applying for early parole is explained below.

What is the new process for applying for early parole?

After serving at least five years of your sentence, you can submit a request for earlier parole consideration. You can make such a request once per year.

Under the 2019 Parole Bill in order to apply for early consideration, parole applicants must show “by clear and convincing evidence” that they are more likely than not to be granted parole. Applicants must also show that they would have been given early consideration under previously existing policies.

The law further describes in general detail what it means to show “by clear and convincing evidence” that someone is more likely than not to be granted parole. This includes:

• Showing that the parole applicant has been in prison for a certain amount of time. The Parole Bureau Rules specify that you must serve a minimum of five years before applying for early parole.
• Showing that the parole applicant has completed certain programs while in ADOC custody. The law does not state which programs this means. The Parole Bureau Rules state that you must provide a certificate of program completion.
• Providing a “statement of support” from an ADOC staff member.
• Showing that the parole applicant has no violent disciplinaries in ADOC for a period of time prior to the application for early consideration. The Parole Bureau Rules specify that an applicant cannot have any disciplinaries within the prior three years and no violent disciplinaries during the applicant’s present incarceration.
• A determination that the parole applicant’s risk of re-offense is medium or low. This determination must be made through a “validated risk and needs assessment conducted by a trained probation and parole officer.”²⁷

Are there additional requirements for applying for early parole consideration NOT included in the 2019 Parole Bill?

While not included in the 2019 Parole Bill, the Parole Bureau Rules currently also specify certain requirements for early parole consideration requests, which must be made in writing. The Rules say that an applicant must include a letter of support from one or more of the following:

• The office that prosecuted the applicant’s case,
• The victim or victim’s representative,
• The Attorney General’s Office,
• The sentencing judge or the judge that replaced that judge, or
• A law enforcement official from the county of conviction.

The Rules further state that requests for early parole consideration will be processed by a Review Committee of at least five members, appointed by the Director of the Parole Bureau. If at least three members of the committee decide to grant an early parole consideration, they can move an applicant’s parole consideration to an earlier date, but it cannot be moved up more than three years.²⁸

So, if my early parole application is approved by the Review Committee, will I be granted an early parole consideration date?

Not necessarily. The 2019 Parole Bill also requires that before anyone is given early parole consideration, the Parole Bureau must submit notice to the Governor and the Attorney General within 30 days. The Governor and Attorney General then have 14 days to object to the decision. If the Parole Bureau grants somebody parole through an early parole consideration process without notifying the Governor and Attorney General, that decision can be reversed and parole can be revoked. Basically, the Governor and Attorney General must be given notice and have the chance to object to any early parole consideration.²⁹

What is medical parole? Could I be granted parole based on my age or medical condition?

By law, medical parole can be granted by the Parole Bureau based on certain requirements listed below. Even if you meet the requirements for medical parole consideration, that does not guarantee that medical parole will be granted. Very few people, if any, have received medical parole in Alabama.

According to the Parole Bureau, at least every six months, geriatric, permanently incapacitated and terminally ill patients are put on the next available docket under medical parole if:

• The person is eligible for parole;
• The person has not been convicted of a capital offense or a sex offense; and
• The Department of Corrections certifies that the person is geriatric, permanently incapacitated, or terminally ill. This certification can be based off of time spent in the infirmary, costliness and frequency of outside medical treatment, or severity of a terminal illness, among other considerations.

The Department of Corrections is responsible for giving a list of persons eligible for medical parole to the Parole Bureau. If you are referred to the Parole Bureau for medical parole, you will be entered into the parole hearing docket in the same way as everyone else. You will still have a parole hearing to determine your eligibility for release on parole.³⁰

What is Mandatory Release? How do I know if I am eligible?

You may have heard of people receiving letters from the Parole Bureau saying they are being released on “Mandatory Supervision” or “Mandatory Release.” To the best of our knowledge, Mandatory Release applies to certain people who were sentenced AFTER January 31, 2016. People subject to this policy are released some period of time before their End Of Sentence (EOS) under intensive supervision by the Parole Bureau.

It is our understanding that Mandatory Release was created by a 2015 sentencing reform. Because the provision is relatively new, we don’t know exactly how it works or who is eligible. People subject to mandatory release do not have a parole hearing, but they do have to submit a home plan and they will be subject to intensive monitoring by the Parole Bureau during the period between their release and their EOS.

To the best of our knowledge, you cannot apply for Mandatory Release. People whose conviction includes any sex offense against a child (as defined in Section 15-20A-4 of the Alabama Code) will not be eligible for Mandatory Release. For more information on Mandatory Supervision, see Section 15-22-26.2 of the Alabama Code.

Do I have to apply for parole?

No, once you are eligible for parole, a hearing will be set for you by the Parole Bureau. You don’t have to do anything to start that process.³¹

When will my parole hearing date be set?

Your parole hearing date will typically be listed online as the first of a month for a particular year. For example, if you become eligible for parole in August of 2020, the “Parole Consideration Date” will be listed on ADOC’s website as 08/01/2020. This does not mean that your hearing will occur on August 1, or even that it will occur in August. As your parole hearing approaches the Parole Bureau will set an exact date. Because of the high volume of cases that the Parole Bureau hears, it may schedule your parole hearing several months after your parole consideration date. The Parole Bureau’s website generally lists the next two months of scheduled hearing dates.³²

How will I find out about my parole hearing date?

You should be informed of your parole hearing date by mail several months before your hearing.

What else happens before my hearing?

Several weeks prior to your parole hearing, you should be visited by an institutional parole officer, or IPO. The IPO should conduct a detailed interview with you that may last up to an hour and a half. This interview will consist of questions about your underlying conviction, your disciplinary and institutional record while in ADOC, and other questions related to your behavior.

The IPO will also ask you about any plans that you have for after your release, including possible jobs and places to live. These are known as your home plan and job plan. For more information on home and job plans, see Section III of this Guidebook. If you have not already been informed of your parole hearing date, you can ask the IPO during this interview. You can also ask your institution’s classification officer in the weeks leading up to your parole eligibility date. You will not know the date of your interview with the IPO beforehand, so you should prepare for it several months in advance of your parole eligibility date.

One way to prepare for an IPO interview is to prepare a “parole packet” of relevant documents from your time in prison. Parole packets are not a requirement for making parole. However, some people choose to include documents such as:

• Certificates from personal and professional development programs, such as Substance Abuse Programs or Job Training/Trade School certificates;
• Letters of support from family, friends, supervisors, work release employers, chaplains, and/or members of the community (note that these people can also submit letters directly to the Parole Bureau);
• Home plan or halfway house acceptance letters; and
• Job plan acceptance letter or offers of employment.

You should make sure that you keep copies of any documents that you provide to the IPO during this meeting. You may consider sending a copy of your parole packet to any supporters or family members who intend to speak on your behalf at the parole hearing. Refer to Section III for more information about how to prepare for parole.

When and where does the Parole Board meet?

At the time this Guidebook is being published, the Parole Board meets at 301 South Ripley Street in Montgomery at 9:00 am, generally on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.³³ However, the Parole Bureau recently announced that it will be moving its offices. The Parole Bureau plans to move from Ripley Street in downtown Montgomery to the Capitol Commerce Center in east Montgomery, just north of Interstate 85. It was reported that this move will be complete in April 2020.³⁴

The Bureau continues to meet until all parole hearings scheduled for the day are complete. The Parole Bureau must hold meetings that are open to the public, and announce who will be considered for parole. This information is listed on the Bureau’s website at paroles.alabama.gov. There is often a line at the Parole Bureau the morning that hearings occur, so anyone attending on your behalf may want to arrive early. Parking around the current location of the Parole Bureau is metered, so your supporters may want to bring quarters.

Do I need a lawyer to go before the Parole Board on my behalf?

You can have a lawyer represent you in parole proceedings, but you are not required to have one, and the court will not appoint you one for free. SPLC’s attorney referral list (see Appendix B to this Guidebook for information on how to request the list) includes some lawyers who handle parole cases. At this time, SPLC does not handle parole cases.

Whether or not you make parole, the days and weeks after your hearing may be very emotional and overwhelming. If your parole application was denied, you may feel confused and upset. If your application was granted, you may feel very happy at first and then frustrated that you have to spend more time in prison, and sad about leaving prison while people you care about have to stay. People may be surprised to learn that they may have to stay in prison for several weeks after making parole, and that the parole can be revoked after it is granted. Whether or not you made parole, there are some things you might want to think about in the days after your hearing. Below, we have tried to answer the most common questions in this period.

Is it possible to appeal a decision made by the Parole Bureau?

There is no possibility for appeal. A denial from the Parole Bureau is final.

When will I be considered for parole again if I am denied?

If the Parole Bureau denies a parole application, it must determine when the case will next be considered. According to the Parole Bureau’s rules, reconsideration (or, your “set off date”) should be at most two years for people with sentences 20 years or less, and at most five years for other cases.⁴¹

How do I find out why my parole was denied?

The Parole Bureau does not always provide a reason for denying parole at the parole hearing, though it will sometimes offer a brief explanation to anyone who is present. However, the Parole Bureau does send a brief letter to the person seeking parole after the hearing.

According to its Rules, the Parole Bureau will provide the parole applicant with a “communication packet” including reasons given for denial.⁴² This often involves a letter with a list of possible reasons, with some reasons checked off. If you do not receive this information from the Parole Bureau within a few weeks of your parole hearing date, you can write to the Parole Bureau requesting information on why your parole was denied.

Ultimately, all parole decisions are in the hands of the Parole Bureau. It is very hard to deal with having your parole application denied. It may happen even if you did everything you could to stay out of trouble and participate in programming.

If I was denied parole, can I request an earlier parole reconsideration date?

If you feel that you have been “set off” for too long and would like to request earlier parole reconsideration, you can make a request for an earlier consideration date. However, you cannot make this request until 18 months after you were denied parole, and you cannot make a request more than once in a year.⁴³ Refer to Section II for the guidelines for making a request for an earlier consideration date.

Note that this process does not apply to geriatric, permanently incapacitated, and terminally ill applicants. For information on medical parole, see Section II of this Guidebook.

How do I prepare for my next hearing if my parole was denied?

While it can be very difficult to hear that parole has been denied, most of the time there will be another chance for parole. You can prepare for your next parole hearing by trying your best to keep a clean disciplinary record, keeping your home plan and job plan up-to-date, and participating in classes, programming, and jobs at your facility, where possible.

Many people fail to get parole at their first hearing, or even first couple of hearings. This is particularly true if someone has been convicted of a crime that carries a long sentence or involved violence, or if there is a lot of opposition from victims or community members.

Many people have been granted parole after a previous denial. If you are feeling depressed as a result of not making parole, it may help to talk to someone about how you are feeling. You may wish to talk to family or friends, or ask to speak with someone from mental health at your institution.

I made parole! How long should I expect to stay in prison before I am released?

Many people are surprised to find out that they are not released immediately after they make parole. On average, people who have been granted parole three to six weeks before they are released.However, you may remain in prison longer.

After you make parole, the Parole Bureau must contact the field office for the county where you listed a home plan. That field office may take about two weeks to investigate your home plan. The field office may deny a home plan if the investigation reveals anything that may result in a violation of the law or your conditions of parole, such as the presence of weapons or if someone with a felony conviction lives in the home. These requirements can vary depending on your underlying conviction. For example, people with certain drug offenses cannot live in public or publicly-subsidized housing.

If your home plan is denied, you will have the opportunity to prepare another home plan, but the process of reviewing the home plan starts over. This can delay release.

Once your home plan is approved, you will be scheduled for release. Releases often occur on Mondays (or the Tuesday after a Monday holiday). In order to find out the exact day of your release, you can have someone contact the Parole Bureau. According to the Parole Bureau’s website: “We cannot give an exact date but you may call 1-334-357-7771 on Wednesday afternoon for the releases scheduled for the following Monday.”⁴⁴

What could slow down my release?

Several factors could slow down your release, according to the Parole Bureau:

• an unsatisfactory home and/or job plan;
• an out-of-state home/job plan;
• needing to submit aftercare plan and/or mental health program;
• a requirement to attend substance abuse program before release;
• sex offenders require 30-day notification period; and/or
• a requirement to attend a halfway house (if you do not already have a spot reserved for you).⁴⁵

Could there be special conditions of my release? What are they?

If you are granted parole, the Parole Bureau may place one or more conditions on your release. These can include mental health treatment, regular drug testing or attending Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings, staying alcohol-free, daily check-ins with a day reporting center, community center, or other requirements. These conditions are often communicated to you at the time you are informed that you made parole.

If you are enrolled in a program when you are granted parole, such as the Substance Abuse Program (SAP), Crime Bill Program, or Alabama Therapeutic Education Facility (ATEF), you may have to complete the program before you can be released on parole. The Parole Bureau may require you to attend LIFE Tech. See below for more information on LIFE Tech.⁴⁶

I was granted parole but told that I have to go to LIFE Tech. What is LIFE Tech?

The Parole Bureau may require that a person go to LIFE Tech as a parole condition. LIFE Tech is a parole transition center located in Thomasville, AL that offers substance abuse treatment, conducts a jobs and training program, and teaches life skills designed to help people on parole have a successful reentry experience. People on parole may participate in the jobs and training program to learn skills, such as welding, or to work towards a GED.

LIFE Tech classes typically run every six weeks. There is limited space in each class, so sometimes there is a waiting list or backlog of people who need to attend LIFE Tech. Unfortunately, this may delay your release. If LIFE Tech is imposed as a condition of parole, you will have to wait for a spot to open up. Attendance at LIFE Tech can also be ordered as a sanction for violating a condition of parole. ⁴⁷

Can I lose my parole if something happens in prison before I leave?

The Parole Bureau can revoke parole after it has been granted. For that reason, it is important to avoid any disciplinaries to the extent possible.⁴⁸

I made parole weeks ago, and still haven’t gotten out. What’s going on!?

It can take several weeks between the decision to grant parole and actual release, and your release can be delayed by a late submission of a home plan or having to submit a second home plan after the first home plan fails. The Parole Bureau can revoke parole after they have granted it, though you should be notified if this happens. If you are not able to identify a successful home plan or halfway house over a period of many months, you may be reentered into the parole docket for another hearing. You are not guaranteed to make parole at the next hearing, even if you already made parole.

Are there things I can be doing after I made parole to prepare for the transition to life in the free world?

A frequent condition of parole is that you have a job or are actively looking for one. A résumé is often needed for employment. Please see Appendix C for example résumés to help you create your own, as well as information about cover letters.

This section of the Guidebook is meant for the loved ones and family members of people who are going through the parole process. Knowing that your loved one is coming up for parole can be an incredibly exciting prospect. Luckily, there are things that you can do to him or her go through the process. Of course, whether or not that person makes parole is ultimately up to the Parole Bureau. However, there are things that you can do to help the person seeking parole go through the process, and even increase the chance of making parole.

What can I do if my loved one is up for parole?

There are several ways you can support a loved one who is coming up for parole:

• If you can and want to, you can attend your loved one’s parole hearing in person and show the Parole Board members that the parole applicant has strong support. See Section III of this Guidebook for more information on what to expect from the Parole Hearing.
• You can help your loved one find a place to live, or offer them the opportunity to live with you, as long as your residence meets the requirements of the Parole Bureau (see the questions about Home Plans in section IV). You may, for example, help your loved one apply to halfway houses, which often list their application materials or contact information online.
• If your loved one has a serious cognitive disability or mental health need, you can help explain parts of this Guidebook to him or her or even communicate with the Parole Bureau on his or her behalf.
• You can help your loved one put together their “parole packet” for the Parole Bureau, which could include: any certificates from programs he or she has completed in prison, their résumé, information about home and job plans, letters of support from friends, family members, faith leaders, former employers and teachers, and other such materials.
• You can contact the Parole Bureau on your loved one’s behalf at various points in the process – to find out the parole date, to learn whether parole was granted on the day of the hearing, and to find out when he or she will be released from prison once parole is granted. Be aware that you will need your loved one’s full name and AIS number in order to get this information from the Parole Bureau.

I want to attend the hearing – what should I expect?

It is important to be on time and to dress appropriately.

There is often a line outside of the Parole Bureau on the morning that hearings occur, so you may want to arrive early. Parking around the Parole Bureau's current location is metered, so you may want to bring quarters. You will likely be asked to provide your ID, name, address, and phone number. You may want to wear business or “church” clothes for the hearing.

During the hearing itself, the Parole Board members will commonly ask supporters, “Why should we grant parole?” or “Tell us why we should grant parole.” Family members often stress any classes that the applicant has taken or certificates he or she has received, good behavior while in prison, or plans for housing and employment.

If the applicant had no serious problems with the law before prior to conviction case or a clean disciplinary record in prison, that might be something to mention. However, the Parole Board members are generally more interested in how the parole applicant has changed during his or her time in prison. As such, you may want to talk about personal growth you have seen in your loved one, and any classes or programs your loved one has taken since being incarcerated.

The Parole Board members may ask you about your loved one’s disciplinary record. You may want to consider talking to your loved one about his or her disciplinary record in advance of the hearing so that you can be prepared for any questions about disciplinaries.

Family members can also describe community support for the applicant’s parole. Finally, family members often mention that the applicant has remorse and feels sorry for the acts leading to their conviction, if that is the case. Some family members write down what they want to say beforehand and read it aloud to the Parole Board members during the hearing, while others decide what to say in the moment.

I don’t feel comfortable speaking at the hearing. How else can I help?

The hearings are conducted in a large room that looks like a courtroom. There is plenty of space for friends and family to attend without speaking. Family members also sometimes help by trying to arrange housing or employment for the parole applicant upon release or helping the applicant put together the “parole packet.” These tasks are often difficult to do from a prison but are still taken into consideration by the Parole Bureau, so a family member may be in a powerful position to help.

Is there anything else I should keep in mind as my loved one goes through
this process?

If you are able to and choose to attend the Parole Hearing in person, you should know that there may be extended waiting involved as other Parole Hearings are conducted. You may want to bring a snack and something to drink. Family members should keep in mind that there is a possibility that parole will be denied, even if the family members make every effort to assist their loved one’s release. In most cases, you will find out whether or not your loved one has made parole shortly after the hearing begins, so you should prepare yourself for the news either way.

Are there things about the parole process that people don’t usually expect?

People may expect the hearing to be lengthy, but they are usually brief, lasting between three and ten minutes. Family members may find that they are not able to say as much as they would have liked. The victim, if any, as well as the prosecutor from your loved one's case may also be present. If they are present, they are also entitled to speak, and may speak negatively of your loved one. You will not usually be offered the chance to respond to anything said against your loved one by protestors, which may be upsetting.

What can I expect after the parole hearing?

If parole is granted for your loved one, it will take several weeks before he or she is released. Even after release, your loved one will have to follow the conditions of his or her parole, such as meeting with a parole officer regularly and staying drug free. The Parole Board members may also ask friends and family if they are willing and able to help the person on parole meet the conditions of release.

If your loved one has made a home plan at your residence, then expect an investigator from the parole office to pay you a visit. You may or may not be contacted by phone prior to the in person visit. If the investigator is not satisfied that the person on parole can meet the conditions of release while living with you, the investigator may deny the home plan. This can delay the release of your loved one by several weeks, and your loved one will be required to find alternative arrangements.

It is also important that, if you offer your residence as a home plan, you are serious about this commitment. The Parole Bureau takes home plans seriously and will come investigate your home and ask you questions. If you change your mind about having someone live with you, it can set back that person’s release by weeks or even months.

Requesting an Attorney Referral List

Halfway House Guide and Map

Information on Voting Rights Restoration

48. See generally Ala. Bur. of Pardons and Paroles, Rules, https://paroles.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/Operating_Rules.pdf (last accessed Oct. 22, 2019)..

49. Ala. Bur. of Pardons and Paroles, Locations, https://paroles.alabama.gov/about-us/locations/locations-by-county/ (last accessed Oct. 22, 2019).

50. Ala. Bur. of Pardons and Paroles, Rules, Art. 11, https://paroles.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/Operating_Rules.pdf (last accessed Oct. 22, 2019); Ala. Bur. of Pardons and Paroles, Rules, Art. 12, https://paroles.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/Operating_Rules.pdf (last accessed Oct. 22, 2019).

51. Ala. Bur. Of Pardons and Paroles, Rules, Art. 11, https://paroles.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/Operating_Rules.pdf (last accessed Oct. 22, 2019).

52. Ala. Bur. of Pardons and Paroles, Rules, Art. 12, https://paroles.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/Operating_Rules.pdf (last accessed Oct. 22, 2019).

53. See Ala. Code. § 15-22-76; see also Johnson v. State, 729 So.2d 897 (Ala. Crim. App. 1997) (outlining procedures required in Alabama parole revocation proceedings).

54. Ala. Bur. of Pardons and Paroles, Rules, Art. 14(6), https://paroles.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/Operating_Rules.pdf (last accessed Oct. 22, 2019).

55. Ala. Code. § 17-3-30.1; § 17-4-3; § 17-4-4.