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A look back at criminal justice reform legislation that passed, failed

By VOCAL / April 14, 2022 / Comments Off on A look back at criminal justice reform legislation that passed, failed

The Alabama Legislature during the last session passed a few notable criminal justice reform bills, but several failed to make it out of both chambers. hen Alabama lawmakers passed a $1.3 billion new prison construction package late last year, some were quick to admit new buildings alone wouldn’t solve the state’s prison crisis, and promised…

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Governor announces two additional mental health crisis centers

By VOCAL / May 3, 2022 / Comments Off on Governor announces two additional mental health crisis centers

Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday announced the funding of two additional Mental Health Crisis Centers, further expanding the Alabama Crisis System of Care. overnor Kay Ivey on Monday announced the funding of two additional Mental Health Crisis Centers, further expanding the Alabama Crisis System of Care. The two new centers add to the four existing centers…

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Alabama Senator drafting bill to put cameras in special education classrooms

By VOCAL / June 26, 2022 / Comments Off on Alabama Senator drafting bill to put cameras in special education classrooms

By Kellie Miller Published: Jun. 23, 2022 at 8:25 AM CDT HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – Madison mother Kimberly McFadden has been pushing for cameras in special education classrooms for years. She successfully fought for cameras to be put in special education classrooms in Madison City Schools, and recently took her concerns to state leaders, including Sen. Arthur Orr.…

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DNA leads to suspect’s arrest in sexual assaults of 7 women in Jefferson County

By VOCAL / July 2, 2022 / Comments Off on DNA leads to suspect’s arrest in sexual assaults of 7 women in Jefferson County

By Carol Robinson | [email protected] A 27-year-old man has been charged on more than a dozen cases in the sexual assaults of seven women in the Birmingham area dating back so far to 2014. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office on Friday announced the arrest of 27-year-old Quindarrius Dominic Carter. He was booked into the Jefferson…

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After deputy’s fatal shooting, officials want changes to Alabama’s ‘ultra-lenient’ Good Time Law

By VOCAL / July 7, 2022 / Comments Off on After deputy’s fatal shooting, officials want changes to Alabama’s ‘ultra-lenient’ Good Time Law

By Carol Robinson | [email protected] The 26-year-old man with a lengthy rap sheet charged in the killing of a Bibb County deputy sheriff should not have been out of lockup when the deadly shooting took place, according to some state authorities. Austin Patrick Hall, charged with capital murder in the slaying Bibb County Deputy Brad Johnson and attempted…

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Community awareness credited with helping human trafficking victims during World Games

By VOCAL / July 20, 2022 / Comments Off on Community awareness credited with helping human trafficking victims during World Games

By Catherine Patterson Published: Jul. 20, 2022 at 8:13 AM CDT|Updated: 12 hours ago BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Law enforcement officials who worked behind the scenes to track down human traffickers during the World Games credit community awareness in saving victims’ lives. Federal, state and local law enforcement all worked together on Operation Games STOP during the weeks leading up to and…

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Alabama board denies parole for accused killer Jimmy O’Neal Spencer

By VOCAL / August 12, 2022 / Comments Off on Alabama board denies parole for accused killer Jimmy O’Neal Spencer

Updated: Aug. 09, 2022, 11:48 a.m.| Published: Aug. 09, 2022, 9:41 a.m. Mike Cason | [email protected] The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles today denied parole for Jimmy O’Neal Spencer, whose parole five years ago sparked outrage because he stands accused of robbing and killing two women and a child eight months after his release. Attorney General…

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Aniah’s Law is Key to Preventing Future Tragedies

By VOCAL / August 13, 2022 / Comments Off on Aniah’s Law is Key to Preventing Future Tragedies

Courtesy of The Dothan Eagle – Violent criminals should be incarcerated, not walking free in our communities and on our streets. Unfortunately, that is the case in our state all too often. Under current Alabama law, judges have limited authority to deny bail to violent offenders unless the suspect is charged with a capital offense…

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Californians fleeing for ‘red states like Alabama,’ Ivey retorts after Gavin Newsom rips governor’s prison plan

By VOCAL / August 16, 2022 / Comments Off on Californians fleeing for ‘red states like Alabama,’ Ivey retorts after Gavin Newsom rips governor’s prison plan

By Howard Koplowitz | [email protected] Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday threw a counter punch at Gavin Newsom after the California governor ripped the governor’s plan to build two “mega prisons” with COVID relief money. Newsom tweeted a video Monday where he chastised Alabama for using federal COVID relief funds to build the prisons while California used the…

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Get Fit For Education 5K Walk/Run

By VOCAL / August 17, 2022 / Comments Off on Get Fit For Education 5K Walk/Run
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Governor Kay Ivey Issues Executive Order #716

By VOCAL / October 4, 2021 / Comments Off on Governor Kay Ivey Issues Executive Order #716

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 716 Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on Early Parole Hearings and Requiring the Submission and Implementation of a Corrective Action Plan for the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

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VOCAL

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Signing HB380 Into Law

By VOCAL / October 4, 2021 / Comments Off on Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Signing HB380 Into Law

Attorney General Steve Marshall Hails Alabama Senate Passage of Legislation to Reform State’s Badly Broken Pardons and Paroles Board (MONTGOMERY) — Attorney General Steve Marshall hailed the passage of legislation today by the Alabama Senate to reform the badly broken Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. House Bill 380, sponsored by Representative Connie Rowe, R-Jasper,…

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VOCAL

Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces Settlement with Victims’ Families in Jimmy O’Neal Spencer Case

By VOCAL / October 4, 2021 / Comments Off on Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces Settlement with Victims’ Families in Jimmy O’Neal Spencer Case

(MONTGOMERY)—Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the State of Alabama would pay the maximum damages that may be awarded under state law—$1 million*—to the families of Jimmy O’Neal Spencer’s three alleged murder victims. The families allege that the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles wrongfully paroled and failed to supervise Spencer, resulting in the deaths…

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VOCAL

VOCAL Calls for Reforms to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles

By VOCAL / October 4, 2021 / Comments Off on VOCAL Calls for Reforms to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles

MONTGOMERY — Victims of Crime and Leniency (VOCAL), the State’s largest victims’ advocacy coalition, on Tuesday expressed the organization’s full support and the urgent need for legislation reforming the Board of Pardons and Paroles. The legislation has already passed the Alabama House of Representatives. “We sincerely hope that the Alabama Senate will make this legislation…

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Fundraising Events

By VOCAL / October 4, 2021 / Comments Off on Fundraising Events

VOCAL hosts an annual golf tournament, where patrons can donate to help support our organization and be sponsored for these events. View the brochure of our most recent tournament here, as well as details on sponsorships. 2021 brochure

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Senator Jimmy Holley has spent over half of his life as a lawmaker.

By VOCAL / December 23, 2021 / Comments Off on Senator Jimmy Holley has spent over half of his life as a lawmaker.

By STEVE FLOWERS Alabama Political Reporter Legendary state Senator Jimmy Holley has decided to not seek reelection to the state Senate next year after 44 years in the Legislature. He will be missed in the state Senate. For the past decade, Holley has become a mentor and confidante for incoming state senators, especially the members…

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Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey Fights for Bail Reform

By VOCAL / January 14, 2022 / Comments Off on Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey Fights for Bail Reform
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Attorney Steve Marshall Issues Statement in Support of Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles

By VOCAL / February 28, 2022 / Comments Off on Attorney Steve Marshall Issues Statement in Support of Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles
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Alabama Senate passes bill to delay fees for released prisoners

By VOCAL / April 7, 2022 / Comments Off on Alabama Senate passes bill to delay fees for released prisoners

The bill would delay fines and fees for the recently released for 180 days. he Alabama Senate on Wednesday quickly passed numerous largely non-controversial bills, and among them was legislation that would give those released from custody extra time before having to pay fines and fees.  During the 180-day period after a person is released…

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Governor Ivy Signs Nick Risner Act into Law

By VOCAL / April 14, 2022 / Comments Off on Governor Ivy Signs Nick Risner Act into Law

Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday signed House Bill 143, which is named in honor of Sheffield K-9 Sgt. Nick Risner, who was murdered in October 2021 by a man previously convicted of manslaughter. The Nick Risner Act, which is sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, prevents convicts who used a deadly weapon to kill someone from…

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