Legislative News

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…

Mobile police chief: Shooting arrest of man out on bond for murder shows need for ‘Aniah’s Law’

By VOCAL | September 26, 2022

Published: Sep. 26, 2022, 4:17 p.m. By John Sharp | [email protected] A 20-year-old-man out on bond on a murder charge from April was re-arrested on Friday for shooting at an occupied dwelling. Brandon Ely was arrested and booked into Mobile Metro Jail on a charge of shooting into an occupied dwelling for an incident that occurred at…

CJ Robinson takes over as 19th Judicial Circuit DA early

By VOCAL | September 25, 2022

By Jonathan Grass Published: Sep. 15, 2022 at 9:13 PM CDT|Updated: Sep. 15, 2022 at 9:15 PM CDT MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – CJ Robinson is stepping into his new role as district attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit a bit early. After winning the Republican primary in May, Robinson was heading into the job anyway, as no Democratic…

Defunding law enforcement? Alabama sheriffs, county commission association sound alarm over drop in gun permit applications

By VOCAL | September 5, 2022

Published: Sep. 05, 2022, 7:00 a.m. Defunding law enforcement? Alabama sheriffs, county commission association sound alarm over drop in gun permit applications – al.com By: John Sharp | [email protected] Alabama sheriffs and the head of the state’s county commission association are sounding alarms about the financial implications of removing concealed carry permit revenues from their budgets. The…

2023 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

By VOCAL | August 29, 2022

August 10, 2022 Every April, OVC leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW). NCVRW offers us a chance to honor crime victims and survivors, recognize the professionals and volunteers who provide critical services to victims of crime, and raise awareness about crime victims’ rights and services.…

Biden signs bipartisan cold case law establishing federal right to request review for victims’ families

By VOCAL | August 29, 2022

President Biden signed a bipartisan cold case investigation bill into law this week that establishes federal rights for the relatives of people killed in unsolved murders. The Homicide Victims’ Families Rights Act provides family members of cold case victims a way to officially request federal investigators review their case with the latest available technology – and it…

Get Fit For Education 5K Walk/Run

By VOCAL | August 17, 2022

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