Alabama's parole board released proposed changes to its guidelines that are stricter in some areas of consideration, reports AL.com's Ivana Hrynkiw.
Remember that the parole board's guidelines haven't been reflected in the state's parole rate. In 2023, the guidelines recommended around an 80% rate as the three-member parole board voted to grant parole in only 8% of the cases.
That's when AL.com and Ivana did their "Denied" series. The next year, 2024, that rate rose to around 20% -- which was still way below the ballpark recommended rate.
The guidelines suggest a scoresheet method of evaluating inmates who are up for parole, with higher numbers representing a worse score. They are scored on various criteria and if the numbers add up to more than eight they might be denied parole, exactly eight they might be considered for parole, and seven or less they might be granted parole.
The proposed guidelines recommends that a score up to five be granted parole and over eight denied for it. So, theoretically, it'd be tougher to get an automatic grant based on your scoresheet, but it would also be tougher to get an automatic denial. There is a bigger window where the scorecard results recommend either.
Other change involve putting more emphasis on behavior behind bars and the original crime.
The asterisk here is that the board members aren't required to use the guidelines.
