Can I get help with parole in Alabama?

Let’s talk about parole. The percentage of inmates who get granted parole in Alabama is low, but things are trending towards getting better. The ten-year high was at 55% in 2017 and the low was 8% in 2012. [1] The February 2026 grant rate was 20%. [2] This is consistent with the 20% grant rate from 2024 and the 23% grant rate from 2025. [3]

So how does parole work?

The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles (hereinafter, “the Board”) was created by law. [4] Meetings by the Board are required to be open to the public, held upon due notice of the time, date, and place of the meeting. [5] Notice must be sent to the incumbent Attorney General, the district attorney who prosecuted the case, the presiding judge, the city chief of police where the crime occurred, and the county sheriff where the crime occurred. [6]

Good behavior in prison is not enough standing alone. [7] Rather, grounds for release must be based on:

(1) the prisoner’s risk of offending based on a validated risk and needs assessment,

(2) progress by the prisoner and ALDOC to plan for reentry,

(3) input from the victim(s), victim’s family, prosecutors, and law enforcement,

(4) participation in risk-reduction programs while incarcerated,

(5) institutional behavior while incarcerated, and

(6) the severity of the underlying offense for which the prisoner was incarcerated. [8]

Certain crimes are ineligible for parole. Attempted or completed murder, rape, robbery, or assault with a deadly weapon which resulted in serious physical injury to another, which in turn follows a conviction for another felony or attempt that also resulted in serious physical injury to another person, is ineligible for parole. [9] A conviction for a Class “A” felony and sentence to life after being previously convicted for another Class “A” felony is ineligible for parole. [10] A conviction for a sex offense against a child under 12 years old is ineligible for parole. [11]

The timing of parole consideration is also set forth by law. [12] Convictions for serious Class “A” felonies like first-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, first-degree sodomy, sexual torture, or first-degree robbery, burglary, or arson with serious physical injury requires the completion of 85% of the total sentence or 15 years, whichever is shorter. [13] For other Class “A” felonies, parole shall be set at completing one-third of the sentence or 10-years, whichever is less. [14] For prisoners receiving gain time, sentences of 5-years or less are set on the current docket, sentences of 5-10 years are scheduled within 18 months of the minimum release date, and sentences of 10-15 years are scheduled within 2.5 years of the minimum release date. [15] Consecutive sentences require serving the prescribed time for each consecutive sentence.

Early parole consideration is possible. [16] The Board’s current form requires a letter of support from at least one of the following: the prosecuting office, the victim or victim’s representative, Alabama Attorney General’s Office, sentencing judge or successor, or county law enforcement from the county of conviction. [17]

Parole for medical conditions is also possible under the Alabama Medical Parole Act. [18] Under this provision, a geriatric inmate, permanently incapacitated inmate, or terminally ill inmate may be placed on a special medical parole docket. [19] Each term is specifically defined.

A geriatric inmate is defined as a

“person 60 years of age or older convicted in this state of a non-capital felony offense and sentenced to the penitentiary, who suffers from a chronic life-threatening infirmity, life-threatening illness, or chronic debilitating disease related to aging, who requires assistance with a necessary daily life function and poses a low risk to the community, and who does not constitute a danger to himself or herself or society.” [20]

A permanently incapacitated inmate is a person who

“is unable to perform one and requires assistance with one or more necessary daily life functions or who is completely immobile” AND “has such limited physical or mental ability, strength, or capacity that he or she poses an extremely low risk of physical threat to others or to the community.” [21]

A terminally ill inmate is

“a state inmate who has an incurable condition caused by illness or disease which would, with reasonable medical judgment, produce death within 12 months, and who does not constitute a danger to himself or herself or society.” [22]

The term “necessary daily life function” is also defined and means “eating, breathing, toileting, walking, or bathing.” [23] The Alabama Department of Corrections (hereinafter “ALDOC”) is required to annually provide the Board with a list of inmates who have spent more than 30 days in an infirmary, received costly and frequent outside medical treatment, or are currently suffering from a life-threatening illness. [24] ALDOC must provide a list of geriatric, permanently incapacitated, and terminally ill inmates every six months. [25]

Consideration for parole follows a form that traces the severity of the offense, actuarial risk assessment, institutional behavior, participation in risk-reducing programming or treatment, completion of a GED, higher education or a trade, a reentry plan, and stakeholder and community input. [26]

The lower the score, the more likely parole will be recommended.

As with most areas of the law, the process of parole can get complicated quickly. If you or someone you love are interested in parole representation, contact Peter Armstrong, Attorney at Law, for a free consultation.

References:

1.    February 2026 Monthly Statistical Report, Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, at page 7, available at https://paroles.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/February-2026-ABPP-Monthly-Statistical-Report.pdf

2.    Id. at p. 8-9.

3.    Id. at 7.

4.    Alabama Code § 15-22-20(1).

5.    Alabama Code § 15-22-23(b).

6.    Id.

7.    Alabama Code § 15-22-26(a).

8.    Id.

9.    Alabama Code § 15-22-27.1.

10. Alabama Code § 15-22-27.2.

11. Alabama Code § 15-22-27.3.

12. Alabama Code § 15-22-28.

13. Id. at (e)(2).

14. Id. at (e)(3).

15. Id. at (e)(1).

16. Id. at (f).

17. Form ABPP-1, available at https://paroles.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/ABPP-1-Application-for-Early-Parole-Consideration-Fillable.pdf

18. Alabama Code § 15-22-41.

19. Alabama Code § 15-22-43(a)(1).

20. Alabama Code § 15-22-42(2).

21. Id. at (4).

22. Id. at (5).

23. Id. at (3).

24. Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles Administrative Code Chapter 640-x-3-.05(3), available at https://paroles.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/Ala.-Admin.-Code-r.-640-X-3.pdf

25. Id. at (1).

26. Form ABPP-2, available at https://paroles.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/Rule-640-X-A-2-2025-Guidelines.pdf