Uncategorized

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.

Read More
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,…

Read More
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…

Read More
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…

Read More

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

Read More

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…

Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

AG Marshall on nation’s first-ever nitrogen hypoxia execution: ‘Alabama has done it, and now so can you’

By VOCAL / January 30, 2024 / Comments Off on AG Marshall on nation’s first-ever nitrogen hypoxia execution: ‘Alabama has done it, and now so can you’

Craig Monger | 01.26.24 Courtesy of: AG Marshall on nation’s first-ever nitrogen hypoxia execution: ‘Alabama has done it, and now so can you’ (1819news.com) MONTGOMERY — Attorney General Steve Marshall spoke Friday morning on Thursday evening’s execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith, which was the first-ever execution in the state carried out by nitrogen hypoxia. Smith was…

Read More

VOCAL Announces New Executive Director

By VOCAL / March 5, 2024 / Comments Off on VOCAL Announces New Executive Director

(Montgomery) — The VOCAL Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Wanda Miller has been selected as the organization’s new executive director. Miller has extensive experience as an advocate for crime victims, with her efforts focused on legislative concerns, law enforcement training, public awareness, and the establishment of programs to benefit crime victims across…

Read More

Jefferson County DA explains new Victim Notification System website

By VOCAL / April 17, 2024 / Comments Off on Jefferson County DA explains new Victim Notification System website

By Lauren Harksen Article courtesy of WBRC Published: Mar. 26, 2024 at 10:54 PM CDT|Updated: Mar. 26, 2024 at 11:03 PM CDT BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – A brand new website is now up and running to expand access and services to crime victims in our state. It keeps people “in the know” on what’s happening with Alabama inmates. The Alabama…

Read More

Alabama Attorney General Announces Indictments in 2015 Death of Eric Cates

By VOCAL / May 20, 2024 / Comments Off on Alabama Attorney General Announces Indictments in 2015 Death of Eric Cates

Courtesy of the Calhoun County JournalMay 19, 2024 https://calhounjournal.com/2024/05/19/ By: Lee Evancho Walker County, AL – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has announced the indictments of Joshua Franklin Hill, 35, and Luke Williams, Jr., 34, both of Walker County, for the 2015 death of Eric Cates. The two men have been charged with Capital Murder following…

Read More

Paul DeMarco: Alabama leaders should advance public safety legislation to address state’s plague of violent crime

By VOCAL / June 5, 2024 / Comments Off on Paul DeMarco: Alabama leaders should advance public safety legislation to address state’s plague of violent crime

Paul DeMarco | 06.03.24 – Paul DeMarco: Alabama leaders should advance public safety legislation to address state’s plague of violent crime (1819news.com) This past session of the Alabama Legislature seemed to have more than its fair share of controversial issues. Between gambling, ethics reform, school choice and IVF legislation, it was hard to keep up.  But…

Read More

Paul DeMarco: Alabama’s so-called “Prison Reform” Has Created More Crime Victims in Our State

By VOCAL / June 30, 2024 / Comments Off on Paul DeMarco: Alabama’s so-called “Prison Reform” Has Created More Crime Victims in Our State

By Paul DeMarco Paul DeMarco: Alabama’s so-called “Prison Reform” Has Created More Crime Victims in Our State | The Trussville Tribune There are consequences when lawmakers in Montgomery listen to progressive advocacy groups and not their constituents. Two weeks ago, a violent felon was given 8 life sentences for the kidnapping and rape of two…

Read More

Dysfunctional parole board forces prisons to take matters into their own hands

By VOCAL / September 13, 2024 / Comments Off on Dysfunctional parole board forces prisons to take matters into their own hands

Parole continues to be a rare privilege granted to exceedingly few incarcerated people. By Alex Jobin Article courtesy of: https://www.alreporter.com/2024/09/06/dysfunctional-parole-board-forces-prisons-to-take-matters-into-their-own-hands/ Published on September 6, 2024 at 7:00 am CDT For years, Alabama’s parole system has faced scrutiny, as the rate of prisoners granted parole has plummeted since Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles Chair Leigh…

Read More

AG Marshall: Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit could be effective in Birmingham

By VOCAL / September 28, 2024 / Comments Off on AG Marshall: Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit could be effective in Birmingham

By: Austen ShipleySeptember 27, 2024 Article courtesy of AG Marshall: Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit could be effective in Birmingham – Yellowhammer News In light of Birmingham’s most recent fatal mass shooting, state authorities are now offering the city’s embattled police department additional resources to fight the rapidly growing crime rate. Alabama’s top law enforcement official,…

Read More

Lawmakers grill parole board chair over low appeal rates

By VOCAL / October 26, 2024 / Comments Off on Lawmakers grill parole board chair over low appeal rates

Beginning in 2019, applicants have been granted parole at a sharply declining rate. By Jacob Holmes Published on October 24, 2024 at 7:43 am CDT Article can be found at: Alabama Political Reporter Lawmakers grill parole board chair over low approval rates Leigh Gwathney, chair of the Alabama board of paroles, faced tough questions from…

Read More