Alabama Appleseed is a member of the National Appleseed Network, which includes 18 Appleseed Centers across the U.S. and in Mexico City. Appleseed was founded in 1994 with the mission to develop and help sustain a network of state advocacy centers that address local issues and develop and promote practical, systemic solutions.
In a recent email, the group shared the growth and impact for 2023. The 2023 Justice Report highlights progress made this year:
- The passage of SB154 ended Alabama’s practice of automatically suspending people’s driver’s licenses for missing a payment or court hearing. This will make life easier for more than 170,000 Alabamians who have had their licenses suspended for debt-based reasons.
- Published two new original reports. After talking with over 400 impacted people across the state about their experiences after violence occurs, we released the report Afterward. The report Taken for a Ride shows how excessive ticketing propels Alabama drivers into a cycle of debt, incarceration, and poverty.
- Supported 15 clients who gained release through resentencing efforts. These men served a combined 476 years in prison for offenses with no physical injuries.
The policy, advocacy, and legal work over the past year that the group has done has generated progress towards building a better Alabama.
