Alabamians convicted of manslaughter may soon be ineligible for correctional incentive time, better known as “good time.”
The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill 99-1 that would eliminate the possibility for anyone convicted of manslaughter to get any time counted off their sentence.
The bill is dubbed the “Sergeant Nick Risner Act” in reference to a Sheffield officer who died in a gunfight on Oct. 2, 2021. The man charged in his death had been released from prison after serving three years of his 10-year sentence after receiving good time in prison.
Risner’s wife, Brandy Risner, attended Wednesday and representatives applauded her.
“I cannot say enough about this family and what they’ve gone through,” said Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen, the bill’s sponsor. “The reason I’m bringing this bill is hopefully another family won’t have to go through what they did.”
Although there was no debate against the bill on the floor, Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, questioned the bill in committee.
England, who is also an attorney, said the bill could, in practice, lead to prosecutors seeking a different charge as the possibility of good time can help in making a plea deal.
He also told committee members that the bill is an overreaction to a single incident.
Still, England voted for the bill once it reached the floor.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
