The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles released its November statistics, showing that the state granted parole in only 16 percent of cases reviewed during the month.
The Board held 224 parole hearings during the month, granting parole to 35 individuals and denying 189, producing a monthly grant rate of 16 percent. In October, parole grant rates sat at 17 percent. These figure closely mirrors the fiscal year-to-date grant rate of 17 percent, indicating that the Board’s approach has remained consistent.
By contrast, the Board’s handling of pardons remains comparatively generous. Pardon approval rates have stayed above 60 percent for several years and currently stand at about two-thirds of all applications.
The Board’s decisions also continue to diverge from its own internal parole guidelines. In November, the Board followed the guideline recommendation for granting parole in only about 40 percent of cases, as compared to 62 percent in October. In most hearings during November, the Board exercised discretion to deny parole even when guidelines suggested release.
Differences in outcomes are common across offense types and demographics. Non-violent offenders were granted parole at a higher rate than violent offenders, about 20 percent compared to 12 percent. Women were granted parole more frequently than men, at roughly 24 percent versus 15 percent. Black and white applicants received parole at roughly equal rates for the month, both at about 16 percent.
About 96 percent of individuals under supervision are classified as non-violent offenders, and the vast majority are on probation rather than parole. Roughly four out of five supervised individuals are on probation, while fewer than one in ten are on parole or dual supervision.
Altogether, the state supervises more than 45,000 individuals, with men making up about 78 percent of the population and women about 22 percent. Racially, the population is slightly more than half white, a little less than half Black, and a small percentage Hispanic or other racial groups.
Revocations continue to fall most heavily on people on probation. Of the nearly 200 revocations recorded in November, about 140 involved probationers, compared to roughly 55 parole revocations and none for mandatory release. Most probation revocations involved new criminal charges or a combination of new and technical violations rather than technical violations alone.
The report also shows a growing role of alternative supervision programs, including electronic monitoring and day reporting centers. More than 1,300 people were enrolled in GPS monitoring statewide, and several hundred more participated in day reporting programs designed to provide structure, treatment and accountability as alternatives to incarceration.
At the same time, staffing remains a persistent challenge. Between October and November, the field operations staffing showed a loss of ten officers assigned to locations. In November, the average officer caseload increased by three cases, with even higher numbers in major metro areas. Fewer than 300 field officers statewide are responsible for supervising nearly 22,000 active cases.
The November report reflects continued stability in parole approval rates, supervision levels and staffing patterns, with no major month-to-month changes in the system’s metrics.
