Marshall: Sergeant Risner and the costliness of ‘reform’
By Attorney General Steve Marshall
October 5, 2021
With the death of Sergeant Nick Risner this weekend, our state has lost 10 law enforcement officers in 10 months and 24 officers in five years.
Sergeant Nick Risner was killed by a man whose name isn’t worth mentioning. That man had killed before—in fact, he killed his own father. In 2013, the man was sentenced to ten years in prison for manslaughter. A mere two-and-a-half years after entering prison, he was given the benefit of a parole hearing. His parole was denied.
While in prison, the man racked up a lengthy rap sheet. Records indicate that he got into a fight and seriously injured another inmate. He was disciplined for disobeying a correctional officer. He got caught with drugs in his possession, twice. Naturally, the man was awarded “good time,” provided for in statute, for this stellar behavior while incarcerated. As a result, the man served three years, two months, and fifteen days of his 10-year sentence. He was released from prison in May of 2016. Had he served the full length of his sentence, he would have been in prison, not in the Walmart parking lot, last Friday afternoon when Sergeant Risner was shot.
Read more: Marshall: Sergeant Risner and the costliness of ‘reform’
Attorney General Steve Marshall: When criminal justice policy meets reality
(Tonya Terry WSFA 12 News, Attorney General Steve Marshall/Facebook, YHN)
Late last month, the people of Alabama were repulsed to learn that former pastor and serial rapist, Mack Charles Andrews, Jr., was released from prison after serving only half of his 15-year sentence. What most Alabamians might not know is that Andrews was not released by mistake, not through error or misapplication of law, not by an especially lenient judge or parole board — Andrews was freed by broken policies adopted into law by the State of Alabama.
Read more on Yellowhammernews.com
Coincidentally, a law enacted by the Alabama Legislature just a few short weeks ago could have given Andrews the chance to get out even earlier. The Education Incentive Time Act aimed to provide inmates with the prospect of earning a sentence reduction upon the completion of certain education programs while incarcerated. As passed by the Senate, the only prisoners not eligible to pursue a sentence reduction were those sentenced to life imprisonment or death, and those serving time for committing a sex offense against a child. Because our laws define a “child” as one who is under the age of 12, and because Andrews’ charges involved victims over the age of 12, the bill would have made him eligible for early parole consideration, on top of the near-automatic “good time” sentence reduction that he already received.
My office fought to ensure that this legislation did not become law and succeeded in getting all sex offenders and most violent offenders excluded from the significant double benefit of free education and the possibility of early release. Incredibly, we were met with fierce opposition in doing so. In recent weeks, lazy journalists and criminal-justice warriors have lamented the fact that more prisoners were not included in the new law, while conspicuously failing to mention that the now-excluded offenders were rapists, murderers, armed robbers, and the like.
National Police Week - May 9 - May 15, 2021
Victims of Crime and Leniency (VOCAL) remembers our Alabama law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. We are thankful for their dedication and courage. The brave men and women of law enforcement sacrifice their lives everyday protecting and serving our communities. Thank you!
2021 COPS Vigil
V.O.C.A.L. Janette Grantham and Attorney General Steve Marshall present a wreath at the COPS Vigil last night on the lawn of the AG's Office. Families of slain law enforcement officers in Alabama attended.
Thank You! Governor Ivey!
FINALLY! A state elected official who has the courage to stop kicking that 'old dented prison can' down the road.
Janette Grantham, Director of VOCAL applauds Governor Ivey for her courage, foresight, and determination for a better and safer Alabama.
Today, Governor Ivey announces the next step in the construction of three new prisons to replace current facilities which are collapsing more each day.
Per Ms. Grantham, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know the construction of new facilities is the first step toward solving Alabama's horrible prison facilities. Of course, this construction will not solve all of Alabama's prison problems, but it is a first step forward in our journey to provide humane facilities for inmates and ensure the safety our families and communities.
Thank You - Governor Ivey for your resolve to keep us safe.
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