Background: Existing law does not allow incarcerated people to attend their own parole hearing. Due process is an essential part of our nation’s civil liberties, but Alabama currently does not allow incarcerated people to participate in their own parole hearings. This bill would allow a person who is incarcerated to attend their parole hearing virtually.
Our Position: We support this bill. The current practice of barring incarcerated people from their parole hearings blocks them from being present and participating where decisions are being made about their liberty. The ACLU of Alabama believes that incarcerated people are entitled to be present and to be heard at their parole hearings, not just subject to the decision afterwards.
