Gov. Kay Ivey is once again showing her support for a sentencing law passed in 2021, which puts the early-release inmates under the supervision of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.
“I will reiterate that under Governor Ivey, public safety will always be at the forefront, and she will always be an advocate for victims and an upholder of justice,” said Ivey’s Communication Director Gina Maiola. “This is a pro-public safety, pro-common sense measure and implemented while respecting the rights of crime victims.”
Ivey’s office was asked by Birmingham TV’s ABC 33/40 about SB 7, a proposed Senate Bill introduced by State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) that would push back Alabama’s mandatory release date for inmates to 2030.
“Let’s be clear about something: We are for supervision of inmates before the end of their sentences,” Maiola said. “Those who oppose this measure are for the unfettered release of criminals.
“The governor would not be in favor of these eligible inmates being released at the end of their sentence without any supervision period.”
The bill’s cosponsor, State Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa), disagrees with Ivey and believes the current law will not keep Alabamians safe.
“I support public safety and our communities to be secure and safe,” Allen said. “Under the current piece that was passed, it does not do that. Our communities are less safe. Those sentenced should serve the complete sentence when you are speaking of convicted felons. We should take another look at that.
“I don’t think we were prepared to let those men and women walk out. We didn’t do any favors for them. We didn’t help them to be productive citizens, to be able to walk out, have a trade, be productive.”
Allen also believes his bill will force legislators to take another look at the process and make possible improvements.
“(SB 7) pushes the pause button for policymakers to take a serious look at the bill itself, the bill that we passed that we signed into law,” he said. “This would be a time to look at it, study it and see if some improvements can be made to it.
“There were some issues early on with how this whole thing was handled.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
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