Aniah’s Law – Amendment One – will be on the November 8 general election ballot. If ratified by Alabama voters, it would allow judges to deny bail to dangerous criminals likely to re-offend. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors held a press conference in Auburn on Monday to express their support for the Aniah’s Law constitutional amendment.
The mayors urged Alabama voters to support it on Election Day.
“As governments, public safety is our number one responsibility,” said Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. “Collectively, we have been working since 2019 on legislation to change our state constitution and give judges the option of denying pre-trial bail to the most violent offenders who are likely to re-offend. We know this will save lives in every community across the state.”
Aniah Blanchard was a Southern Union student who was kidnapped off of the streets of Auburn at a gas station by a known violent kidnapper who was out on bond. She was brutalized, raped, and murdered by her attacker. Her parents were instrumental in Aniah’s law being passed by the Alabama Legislature.
“Fall is an exciting time in Auburn, with new students, football, relationships, and classes,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “It has been a great fall here in Auburn, but it should have included Aniah Blanchard. On November 8, the citizens of Alabama have something they can do about this. By voting for amendment one, you will allow judges to keep violent offenders in jail, so in the future, we will not have other stories like Aniah Blanchard’s to remember.”
“When Aniah was taken from us, it was extremely unsettling,” said Anders. “It was unnerving. It rocked our world.”
“The thing is, when you talk to our men and women in the police department, they do great work – they do a lot of hard work. One of the most dispiriting things that happen is that when they arrest someone, especially for a violent offense is when that person is back out before the community even settles down,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed. “We want to make sure that when people do wrong, when they commit a violent offense, that they have to pay for it.”
Angela Harris – the mother of Aniah Blanchard – said, “Aniah’s Law will be on the ballot on November 8, and I encourage everyone to get out to vote for Amendment One. No family should have to go through such a tragedy. If this could happen to Aniah, it could happen to anyone. Please keep your family, your friends, and your community safe, and honor Aniah’s memory on November 8.”
“This bill would change so that other parents would not have to go through the same tragedy that we have had to go through,” said Elijah Blanchard – Aniah’s father. “On November 8, vote yes for Amendment One because we are going to make a change.”
Alabama judges have limited authority to deny bail to violent offenders unless the suspect is charged with a capital offense or poses a flight risk. This allows known dangerous criminals to be released back onto the streets, even when it’s likely they will commit more violent crimes as soon as they make bail. At one point, there were 300 accused murderers out on the streets of Mobile alone awaiting trial.
If the voters ratify Aniah’s Law, judges will be able to deny bail to dangerous offenders who are likely to re-offend when they are charged with serious felonies like attempted murder, kidnapping, rape, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, robbery, terrorism, or aggravated child abuse.
This law passed both Houses of the Alabama Legislature unanimously in April 2021.
Representing the largest cities in Alabama, the Alabama Big 10 Mayors include Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox.
These mayors meet quarterly to address the state’s most critical issues and to make Alabama a safer, better place for all of its residents.
Voters will get to vote on Amendment one in the general election.
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