The release of inmates from Alabama prisons caught a lot of people by surprise.
The potential early release of over 2 percent of the inmate population of the Alabama Department of Corrections was required by a law passed in 2015 and then amended in 2021 by state lawmakers.
The crimes these felons committed range from murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, sodomy, rape, and sex abuse, to theft and drug possession.
Their early release, as mandated by Alabama State Representatives and Senators, is bad enough and clearly does not reflect the desires of Alabama voters. Add to that, the failure to notify the victims of these crimes, as required by law, adds insult to injury. State officials knew 16 months ago (when the law passed during the Special Session on prisons) that this day was coming, yet they were unprepared.
To his credit, Attorney General Steve Marshall tried to block the release since Corrections officials had not notified victims of the release of these felons.
State leaders would be wise to examine how to improve victim notification in Alabama’s criminal justice system – from beginning to end – as well as the services we provide to victims. This should begin when the crime is reported, as the investigation and court case occur, and after sentencing.
Time after time, state leaders fail to do what is right for those who have suffered at the hands of criminals.
Shame on all of those officials who were complicit in this failure. Alabama citizens need to be on guard for their safety, and voters should voice their safety concerns to their elected representatives. Likewise, we should remember which Alabama leaders prioritize crime victims and public safety in our state.
Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on Twitter @Paul_DeMarco.
