Alabama Big 10 Mayors say state will be safer thanks to Aniah’s Law

On Tuesday, Alabama voters went to the polls and overwhelmingly voted to ratify Amendment One -Aniah’s Law. The Big 10 Mayors had endorsed ratification of the bill to allow judges to deny mail to dangerous felons. After Tuesday’s victory, the Mayors said they will continue to collectively advocate for policy goals that make the state a better place for all Alabamians

“We were proud to support this constitutional amendment and to have fought for its approval by Alabama voters,” the Mayors said. “This is a big win for public safety in Alabama and will honor Aniah’s memory for generations to come.”

They thanked voters for making Alabama safer by showing up at the polls and voting for Aniah’s Law.

“As mayors of Alabama’s ten largest cities, we understand the great responsibility we have to promote public safety in our communities,” the Mayors said. Early on, we identified Aniah’s Law as an issue in which we could use our collective influence to advocate for and make Alabamians safer. This amendment will give Alabama judges and District Attorneys the tools they need to keep violent criminals off the streets.”

Under current Alabama law, judges have limited authority to deny bail to violent offenders unless the suspect is charged with a capital offense or poses a flight risk. Proponents say that means that dangerous criminals are often released back onto the streets, even when it is likely they will commit more violent crimes as soon as they make bail.

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.

Now, after a majority of Alabama voters voted to pass Aniah’s Law, judges will be able to deny bail to dangerous offenders who are likely to re-offend when charged with serious felonies like murder, kidnapping, rape, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, robbery, terrorism, or aggravated child abuse. 

“Far too often, these offenders – who are often charged with crimes such as murder, rape, and kidnapping – are released to re-commit more heinous crimes while they await trial. That flawed system led to the kidnapping and murder of 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard in October of 2019. Simply put, Aniah’s accused killer should have been in jail, and Aniah should still be alive. We were honored to help get this constitutional amendment across the finish line to protect Alabamians from suffering the same tragedy that befell Aniah and her family. We were proud to support this constitutional amendment and to have fought for its approval by Alabama voters. This is a big win for public safety in Alabama and will honor Aniah’s memory for generations to come.”

Amendment one was also endorsed by Gov. Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall, Secretary of State John Merrill, and unanimous votes by both Houses of the Alabama Legislature, where it was sponsored by State Rep. Chip Brown. 

“We will continue to collectively advocate for policy goals that make our state a better place for all Alabamians,” said the Mayors.

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.

All ten statewide constitutional amendments and the 2022 recompiled state constitution were ratified by voters on Tuesday.

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