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Alabama man convicted of capital murder in brutal 1999 deaths of Tracie Hawlett, J.B. Beasley

By VOCAL / April 28, 2023 / Comments Off on Alabama man convicted of capital murder in brutal 1999 deaths of Tracie Hawlett, J.B. Beasley

Story by Carol Robinson, al.com • Apr 26 Alabama man convicted of capital murder in brutal 1999 deaths of Tracie Hawlett, J.B. Beasley – al.com A 49-year-old Alabama was convicted Wednesday of capital murder in the brutal 1999 murders of two high school seniors in the Wiregrass. The convictions are for two counts of capital murder-vehicle, one…

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Alabama D.A. seeks to keep sex offender out of facility he calls ‘target-rich environment’

By VOCAL / May 26, 2023 / Comments Off on Alabama D.A. seeks to keep sex offender out of facility he calls ‘target-rich environment’

By  UPDATE: A temporary restraining was granted Friday evening. A full hearing is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday in Wetumpka. EARLIER: An Alabama district attorney is asking for an injunction to prevent the placement of a “violent sexual predator” at a facility in one of his counties. C.J. Robinson, the district attorney for the 19th…

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Attorney General Marshall Announces Arrest of Jefferson County Man on Multiple Counts of Child Pornography

By VOCAL / June 7, 2023 / Comments Off on Attorney General Marshall Announces Arrest of Jefferson County Man on Multiple Counts of Child Pornography

Release: June 7, 2023 (MONTGOMERY)—Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the arrestof a Jefferson County man on multiple counts of possession of child pornography.Russell John Sweeney, 48, of Hoover, was arrested last week by Special Agents of theAttorney General’s Office with assistance from the Hoover Police Department and theUniversity of Alabama Police Regional Evidence and…

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Natalee Holloway’s mother sees Joran van der Sloot in court: ‘Wheels of justice have finally begun’

By VOCAL / June 9, 2023 / Comments Off on Natalee Holloway’s mother sees Joran van der Sloot in court: ‘Wheels of justice have finally begun’

Story credit to: Natalee Holloway’s mother sees Joran van der Sloot in court: ‘Wheels of justice have finally begun’ – al.com Joran van der Sloot pleaded not guilty this morning in a Birmingham federal courtroom on charges he tried to extort the mother of missing Mountain Brook teen Natalee Holloway. Also in the courtroom were Natalee’s…

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Attorney General Marshall: SB143 Signed into Law, Preparations Begin for Implementation

By VOCAL / June 9, 2023 / Comments Off on Attorney General Marshall: SB143 Signed into Law, Preparations Begin for Implementation

Our prosecutors will be trained and ready when this law takes effect in September For Immediate Release:June 9, 2023 (Montgomery) – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall today applauds the enactment of SB143. The newly-minted law provides penalty enhancements for felonies committed to further the interest of any criminal enterprise or gang. It also attaches mandatory minimum…

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Convicted Capital Murderer Coley McCraney Sentenced in 1999 Murders of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett

By VOCAL / June 15, 2023 / Comments Off on Convicted Capital Murderer Coley McCraney Sentenced in 1999 Murders of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett

For Immediate Release:June 15, 2023 (OZARK)— Today, Judge William “Bill” Filmore sentenced Coley McCraney to life without parole for the murders of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett of Houston County. In April, McCraney was convicted on four counts of capital murder, and the jury returned a sentencing verdict of life without parole. Judge Filmore also ordered…

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Austin Hall Indicted for Capital Murder of Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Johnson 

By VOCAL / June 16, 2023 / Comments Off on Austin Hall Indicted for Capital Murder of Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Johnson 

For Immediate Release:June 16, 2023 (Montgomery) – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall today announced the indictment of Austin Patrick Hall, of Shelby County, in the June 29, 2022 death of Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Johnson and the shooting of Johnson’s partner, Deputy Chris Poole. Hall is indicted on three counts of Capital Murder; one count of…

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Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces Court of Criminal Appeals Upholds Robbery Convictions in Tuscaloosa County

By VOCAL / June 27, 2023 / Comments Off on Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces Court of Criminal Appeals Upholds Robbery Convictions in Tuscaloosa County

For Immediate Release:June 27, 2023 (MONTGOMERY)—Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the convictions of Tavarius Eugene Wade, age 41 of Belle Glade, Florida, for robbery in the first-degree. Wade was convicted in the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court on April 4, 2022. The evidence at trial showed that on February 16, 2008,…

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Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces Court of Criminal Appeals Upholds Human Trafficking other related Convictions in Dekalb County

By VOCAL / June 27, 2023 / Comments Off on Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces Court of Criminal Appeals Upholds Human Trafficking other related Convictions in Dekalb County

For Immediate Release:June 27, 2023 (MONTGOMERY)—Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the convictions of Rex Duard Tidmore, age 65 of Geraldine, for conspiracy to commit human trafficking, first-degree sodomy, twenty counts of possession of obscene matter depicting a minor, trafficking in cannabis, and numerous other drug-related crimes. Tidmore was…

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Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces Court of Criminal Appeals Upholds Heat-of-Passion Manslaughter Conviction in Mobile County

By VOCAL / June 28, 2023 / Comments Off on Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces Court of Criminal Appeals Upholds Heat-of-Passion Manslaughter Conviction in Mobile County

For Immediate Release:June 28, 2023 (MONTGOMERY)—Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction of James Lavondria Tunstall, age 27 of Mobile County, for heat-of-passion manslaughter. Tunstall was convicted in the Mobile County Circuit Court on May 19, 2022. The evidence at trial showed that on May 14, 2018, Tunstall…

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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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