Alabama’s increased parole rate proves board oversight is necessary [Video]

The way the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles operates – seemingly on whims or in response to public pressure – should scare the average citizen and frustrate state lawmakers into action, Rep. Chris England said in a recent podcast interview. 

England, who has been a consistent critic of the ABPP and its seeming indifference to guidelines and laws governing the release of incarcerated people in the state, joined the “Alabama Politics This Week” podcast, in an episode released Friday, to discuss bringing back his bill that would create an oversight board for ABPP. A similar bill failed to pass in the 2024 session. 

“We create oversight of government agencies all the time – that’s one thing we love to do,” England said. “Imagine having a conversation with a conservative Republican and telling them that there’s an element of government that doesn’t have any oversight at all. They’d go crazy. …