Tuscaloosa representative files criminal justice reform bills ahead of session.

By Chris Peeks December 28, 2023

Advocates of criminal justice reform are preparing to lobby for a series of bills during the February legislative session that were not passed in the 2023 session. The majority of these proposals have been put forth by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, who is taking an active stance in promoting several of them, including some that were obstructed by the committee. One of these bills, HB 30, proposes the formation of a national council tasked with expanding the standards that the National Board of Pardons and Paroles is obliged to follow. “The Board is in dire need of supervision”, England emphasized during a recent interview. “The deficiencies of the Board have become increasingly evident, and our system is facing significant challenges. One way to improve the situation is to get the Board to comply with specific guidelines. Alternatively, if an inmate's parole request is denied, the Board should provide a detailed explanation as to why the decision was made.”

Chris Peeks

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