Alabama Sentencing Commission

The Alabama Sentencing Commission was established to maintain an effective, fair, and efficient sentencing system for the state of Alabama. The 17-member commission is also charged with enhancing public safety, providing truth-in-sentencing and preventing unwarranted disparity in the sentencing of individuals convicted in the state's criminal justice system.[1] Main offices for the commission are located in Montgomery, Alabama.[2]

History

The commission was established by statute in 2000 after a two-year study of sentencing policy in Alabama concluded that significant problems existed within the state's then-existing sentencing and corrections structure.[3]

Prior to 2012 sentencing guidelines developed by the commission were voluntary. In 2012 Senator Cam Ward presented Senate Bill 386, which Governor Robert Bentley later signed into law. The law invested the commission with more power by making standards they developed for sentencing non-violent offenders presumptive.[4]

While these sentencing reforms initially contributed to a drop in the statewide prison population, Alabama now has one of the highest incarceration rates in the United States. [5][6] In 2020 the Department of Justice sued the Alabama Department of Corrections for multiple issues including overcrowding.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Alabama Sentencing Commission". Alabama Sentencing Commission. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  2. ^ "National Association of State Sentencing Commissions". National Association of State Sentencing Commissions. Archived from the original on June 7, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  3. ^ "Statute creating the Alabama Sentencing Commission". Alabama Sentencing Commission. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  4. ^ White, David (May 16, 2012). "Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signs into law plan to increase power of sentencing commission". The Birmingham News. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  5. ^ Burkhalter, Eddie (October 4, 2019). "Sentencing reform needed, advocates say, but state official says it won't come easy or cheap". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "What You Need to Know About the Alabama Prison Strike". Vera Institute of Justice. Retrieved February 6, 2023.


Flag of United StatesJustice icon

This article relating to law in the United States or its constituent jurisdictions is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.