AL Political Reporter: “Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday signed several criminal justice reform bills into law, some products of Ivey’s criminal justice study group, which was formed to draft legislation aimed at resolving Alabama’s longstanding and deadly prison crisis.
While the study group’s recommendations, released in January 2020, did include suggestions on spending and ways to reduce recidivism, the group declined to take up more substantive sentencing reform measures.
The state is facing a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice over Alabama’s deadly, overpopulated and understaffed prisons, and the threat of possible federal oversight of Alabama’s prisons still looms.
“Criminal justice reform is not only necessary, but is a top priority of my Administration. I am proud to sign these bills into law as we work to prepare inmates to reenter society as productive citizens,” Ivey said in a statement.”