Legislative News

VOCAL’s Miriam Shehane honored for service to Alabama’s crime victims

By VOCAL | April 14, 2023

VOCAL’s Miriam Shehane honored for service to Alabama’s crime victims (wsfa.com) MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Miriam Shehane, a crusader for crime victims’ rights, was honored by the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Fund Thursday for her 37 years of service. In 1982, Alabama had no laws to support crime victims. That changed because of Shehane, who…

Goodman: Family of Jamea Harris can’t avoid Alabama basketball

By VOCAL | March 14, 2023

By  Shared from : Goodman: Family of Jamea Harris can’t avoid Alabama basketball – al.com Unexpected tears of anger burned through the eyes of Kelvin Heard on Saturday. He was in Publix on Green Springs Avenue in Homewood. Wine aisle. The stepfather of Jamea Harris just wanted to buy a bottle to take the edge…

Victim advocates scramble as state makes prison release notifications

By VOCAL | February 19, 2023

Posted on Montgomery Advertiser Victim advocates scramble as state makes prison release notifications (montgomeryadvertiser.com) Advocacy groups for victims of violent crimes scrambled Tuesday to spread the word about the state’s early release of hundreds of prisoners in the following days, as the state continued to make victim notifications required under the 2021 revised legislation. Alabama…

Crime victims groups express concern over inmate release

By VOCAL | February 19, 2023

by: Maddie Biertempfel Posted: Feb 1, 2023 / 06:37 PM CST Updated: Feb 1, 2023 / 06:38 PM CST Posted on CBS42 MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — As Alabama begins releasing hundreds of inmates early, some crime victims say they should’ve been given more time to know this was happening. Victims groups have been scrambling this week to notify…

Advocacy groups upset over delay in notifying victims before mandatory supervision release

By VOCAL | February 19, 2023

Published on WAAY 31 ABC It’s a new law in the state that also requires inmates to be monitored after release. The Alabama Department of Corrections is working to contact victims before they can legally release more inmates to be under supervision as part of the mandatory supervision law. Victims are feeling a lot of emotions…

Paul DeMarco: Alabama leaders fail crime victims again with mass early prison release of violent felons

By VOCAL | February 19, 2023

By Paul DeMarco published in the Trussville Tribune The release of inmates from Alabama prisons caught a lot people by surprise. Paul DeMarco The potential early release of over 2 percent of the inmate population of the Alabama Department of Corrections was required by a law passed in 2015 and then amended in 2021 by…

Alabama mass prison release: State freeing 369 inmates under amended 2015 law

By VOCAL | February 19, 2023

By  The Alabama Department of Corrections will be releasing nearly 400 inmates statewide on Tuesday. The mass release – which will put the early-release inmates under the supervision of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles – stems from a bill passed by the state legislature in 2021. That bill amended a law passed as part…

Govan seeking Appeals Seat

By VOCAL | February 19, 2023

By Bud McLaughlin February 6, 2023 Yellow Hammer News Thomas Govan announced he is seeking the Republican Party nomination for Place 2 on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in the March 2024 primary. The seat is held by Judge Chris McCool, who recently announced his candidacy for the Alabama Supreme Court. “As a lifelong…

Alabama Gov. Ivey announces new rules for prison ‘good time’ incentives

By VOCAL | January 29, 2023

AL new guidelines for prisons allow inmates to get released earlier based on behavior Alabama Gov. Ivey announces new rules for prison ‘good time’ incentives | Fox News On Monday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced new rules for prison “good time” incentives that allow some inmates to shorten their prison stays based on their behavior. Ivey signed…

Birmingham Ends 2022 with 144 Homicides

By VOCAL | January 1, 2023

By  The year 2022 was one of bloodshed for Birmingham with mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and even grandparents losing their lives to violence. The youngest victim was a 3-year-old boy who died alongside his grandmother at the hands of his father, according to police. The oldest was an 83-year-old veteran beaten to death during a Pratt City burglary.…

Birmingham Ends Year with 144 Homicides

By VOCAL | January 1, 2023

https://www.al.com/news/2023/01/birminghams-deadliest-year-in-decades-these-are-the-144-homicide-victims-of-2022.html

Victims of Crime and Leniency celebrates 40th anniversary

By VOCAL | October 28, 2022

By Julia Avant Published: Oct. 27, 2022 at 9:18 PM CDT MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – In 1982, Alabama had no laws in the books to support crime victims in the state. That changed because of one woman, Miriam Shehane. She founded the Montgomery organization, Victims of Crime and Leniency (VOCAL), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. “I…

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