Paul DeMarco: Alabama citizens and crime victims deserve real accountability for failures in state criminal justice system
This past week Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced that the state of Alabama would pay the family of slain Bibb County Deputy Brad Johnson $1 million. The Governor made it clear the payment was due to fundamental flaws in the state’s correctional incentives “good time” law that allows felons an early release from prison. In this case, the suspect Austin Patrick Hall had a lengthy criminal history, including for violent acts, and was let out of prison early despite an escape attempt. He should have never been out of prison when Deputy Johnson was murdered. He actually had no less than 46 prior charges on his criminal record. This is not the first time the state has paid out such payments to crime victims. After three Marshall County residents were murdered in 2018, the state paid out the maximum amount from the Fund because of a wrongful parole of the man that murdered the victims. These crimes were all preventable, and the families have suffered because of bad decisions made by those in the Alabama Criminal Justice System. Both nationally and even in Alabama, progressive advocacy groups and media, along with their lobbyists, try to push a narrative that has no basis in reality nor is desired by the state’s citizens. Public safety is neither a partisan nor racial issue, nor is it more important to those that live in rural and suburban areas as opposed to urban communities. Thus, these calls for opening up the prison doors and lobbyist pressure on legislators to weaken the state code fall on deaf ears. Rather, it is just the opposite; people have high expectations that their state leaders will pay attention to the increasing number of crime victims and the high recidivism rates. The revolving doors of state jails and the prison system is a problem that has to be addressed. And where is the accountability to the crime victim’s families and the citizens of the state for the decisions that allowed the release of these violent felons? There needs to be real accountability for those that allowed these violent felons to be released and resulted in the commission of heinous violent acts. It will be a true failure to these crime victims if no one in state government is held responsible for these poor decisions. Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on Twitter @Paul_DeMarco.
State to pay $1 million to the daughters of slain Bibb County Deputy Brad Johnson
Governor Kay Ivey announced on Wednesday that the State of Alabama will pay $1 million* – the maximum amount allowable under State law – to the two daughters of Bibb County Deputy Sheriff Bradley Johnson, who was fatally shot in the line of duty just over a year ago by dangerous career criminal Austin Patrick Hall. “Fundamental flaws in Alabama law granting correctional incentive ‘good time’ to inmates failed Deputy Johnson and his family,” said Gov. Ivey. “On January 9, I issued an executive order to halt the deficiencies in correctional good time that allowed inmates reduced prison sentences and early release despite records of violent behavior and escape.” On June 29, 2022, Deputy Johnson and his colleague, Deputy Chris Poole, were investigating a stolen car that Hall was driving. Hall had only been recently released from prison. Johnson and Poole were each struck by gunfire. After a 16-hour manhunt, Hall was taken into custody and charged in the case. Deputy Poole recovered from his gunshot wounds. Deputy Johnson passed away from his injuries the following day. The Alabama Legislature prioritized legislation during the past regular session, further limiting who can be released on good time. “On April 14, I was also proud to sign into law SB1, which codifies further reforms to correctional good time to ensure that convicted felons no longer access loopholes in the law to threaten law enforcement and the public,” Ivey said. “Alabama stands behind our law enforcement personnel, and we must do all we can to ensure they are afforded every protection under the law to safely do their jobs.” On June 16, 2023, Austin Patrick Hall was indicted on three counts of Capital Murder in the death of Deputy Johnson, one count of Attempted Murder, and one count of Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Automobile. Poole and Johnson were awarded the Alabama Law Enforcement Medal of Honor for their pursuit of Hall. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Jim Zeigler: Shooter of two Bibb County deputies was not supposed to be out of prison
A 26-year-old who is accused of shooting two Bibb County Deputies Wednesday was not supposed to be out of prison, according to State Auditor Jim Zeigler. Austin Patrick Hall is the object of a manhunt after a shooting in the Brierfield, Alabama area of Bibb County near Montevallo. The two wounded deputies were transported to UAB hospital in Birmingham where both were admitted and one is in critical condition. Zeigler says Hall was criminally charged 46 times in the past nine years. He was approved for work release in 2019 while serving a 10-year sentence for theft of property in 2018. “This inmate was not appropriate for work release then, and he was not supposed to be out of prison now,” Zeigler said. Hall was indicted in Calhoun County, Alabama in May of this year on 10 charges of second-degree receiving stolen property, reckless endangerment, second-degree assault, certain persons prohibited from carrying a firearm, drug possession, resisting arrest, attempting to elude, and third-degree burglary. Hall had led police on a two-state chase in 2019. “Our criminal justice system needs to do a much better job of deciding which inmates to release under work release, parole, and any types of early release,” Zeigler said. “We need more accountability on the part of officials who make these decisions.” “Our prayers are with the two wounded deputies, their families, and fellow officers. We pray for the swift capture of the accused and that no further violence will be done to law enforcement and the public. After that, we need to use this shooting to prompt a hard look at all forms of criminal release. It appears that Hall was not supposed to be out of prison at this time. We need to tighten up accountability for the safety of the public and law enforcement,” Zeigler said.
