In May, CSG Justice Center staff participated in a monthly check-in of the core implementation team to discuss agency updates and review monthly data. The JR Coordinator prepared an initial draft of a monthly metrics report to review data and trends associated with key policies, including 45-day prison sanctions, Class D sentences to Community Corrections Programs (CCPs), parole release decision-making and the parole grant rate. The JR Coordinator will continue to refine the monthly report to highlight important trends and foster discussions among agency leaders to ensure that implementation remains data-driven.
During the monthly check-in, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles (ABPP) shared that they reached the goal of hiring 100 officers, as required in Act 2015-185, and are continuing to hire additional officers to reach a goal of bringing average caseloads down to 100 individuals per officer. ABPP has also made significant progress completing the staff trainings in evidence-based practices as required by Act 2015-185, and is on track to complete all initial end-user trainings and training for training sessions by September of 2017.
The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) shared that they have completed staff training in behavioral health screening and referrals for probation and parole officers and CCP staff in partnership with ABPP and the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC). They also shared that they are in the final stages of awarding contracts to community-based providers to provide treatment to probationers and parolees. However, due to a death in the family, the point person overseeing the contract process was out of the office during the end of the month. CSG Justice Center staff will be following up with leaders of ADMH and ABPP to stay up to date on the timeline for awarding contracts to begin providing treatment services.
Agency leaders also shared updates following the end of Alabama’s 2017 legislative session. The session ended without a vote being taken on the JR cleanup bill, SB155. While it included important technical fixes, it also contained a provision that would roll back bed savings from Class D sentencing to CCPs. CSG Justice Center staff will check in with agencies to discuss how to adjust plans to continue implementing policies effectively without the needed fixes.
During the 2017 session, the legislature passed and Governor Ivey enacted a state budget that included level funding for the state’s criminal justice agencies, maintaining the reinvestments recommended by the Prison Reform Task Force. The reinvestments for FY2018 included the following:
• $18.5 million for ABPP for officer positions and training and treatment and programming for probationers and parolees
• $8 million for ADOC for Class D diversions to CCPs
• $100,000 to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) for completion of victim notification system enhancements.
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• The Intercept - Jeff Sessions Wants to Put More People in Prison. His Home State of Alabama is Doing the Opposite (https://csgjusticecenter.org/jr/alabama/media-clips/jeff-sessions-wants…)
• AL.com - Alabama is one of just 13 states reducing prison populations, spending & crime rate (https://csgjusticecenter.org/jr/alabama/media-clips/alabama-is-one-of-j…)
Call with ABPP Assistant Executive Director, Senior Research Associate (Sentencing Commission), ADOC Assistant Director, JR Coordinator (Governor's Office), Policy Advisor on Criminal Justice (Governor's Office), and ADMH Executive Assistant, ADMH to check in on agency updates and review monthly metrics.
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