NEW LINK

http://sentencingcommission.alacourt.gov/

Thanks for posting that info. i am seriously thinking of writing them a letter. I noticed how there are alot of people on this board and i would like to speak my lonely voice and have a chance to be heard. They really need to do some serious reform in the prison dept. I feel there is just as much chance of being heard as not being heard. After all if you watch alot of lifetime as i do it appears we get a lot of new laws that start with one person of no power just by the things the have gone through with a loved one. Maybe if they were not only using these as the answer:cuffs: Some how this could be a better place to live for everyone.

your welcome...i spent most of the day yesterday reading everthing on there...most of it i had already read else where but atleast there doing something....DeniseJ

yES THANK yOU dENISE..wHEN i AM BORED AND HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO i WILL DEFINATELY READ THIS!

gsPack

2004 Legislative Package


has been added to this site but i can't get it to open....see if some of you can and let me know what it says....its rumored that there's a new legislative being introduced that placed some resoniblities on the victims to notify the parole board of there were abouts to help catch up on the violent offenders parole hearings....i can't get the document to open up ......DeniseJ

Hi Ladies..and Gents...lol Just got off the phone to the ACSentincing office and the lady said to look for the posting of this 2004 AAL Legislative Package some time later this week or next week! Hope that helps Denise..

GSPack

can one of you guys check and see if you can get the 2004 leg package to open....i'm dieing to read it...eeeeeee

Denise

Good Morning Denise..It wont open till they get it back from wherever???? and then post it..Thought I made that clear in my previous post...LOL she said it might be later this week or as late as next week..Sorry...hope this helps..

GSPack

this leg pack 2004.....still will not open for me........wtf....can anyone else get it to open or is it there just to tease me into thinking that they really give a hoot...............DJ

Good Morning again Denise...I am now being told that until this Package has been submitted to the Alabama Legislature it is not up for public veiw! And because they should have already been supposidly in session, but not??? and the Governor has called for a special Session the lady at this office does not know exactically when it will be introduced. Go figure..something we really need done..will be put off till?????
Another piece of their neverending red tape and b*#lsh***t!
GSPack

just when I thought someone was on "OUR" side.......oh this pisses me off, big surprise!!!!!

Yep Yea Yep Yea....leg 2004 Is Up And Running...you Guys Take A Loookie..

This is all and well but nothing in here that sets a time limit for the victims to report back to the parole board!


6. Parole Reform Act

This bill amends § 15-23-36 to provide that the notice of hearings shall:

1) be sent to victims named in the indictment (or, if the victim is deceased, the victim’s immediate family) by certified mail, return receipt requested, at the last address contained in the Board’s files;
2) contain the actual time the prisoner has been held in confinement as computed by the Department of Corrections;
3) contain The date of “sentence” rather than the date of “conviction”; and
4) be provided to the Chief of Police of the city or town only if the crime was committed in an incorporated area with a police department.

from what i understand...they don't have any time limit...they are sent the notice at their last known address and that is it......certified mail means they would have to sign for it...if they don't or if they've moved its their problem not the boards to go an extra 1000 miles to try and find them like their doing now....

god i pray this happens

Oh God I hope so maybe now we can get down to business and get our loved one home this YEAR!!!!!!! Thanks for reading between the lines for me I wa afraiod to say it outloud Denise...LOL

GSPack

you know me, i grasp at ANY good news...I called them just to make sure i was reading it right, then i called the victims unit at the BOP and ask them too and they are all for it, I believe they are just as discuseed as i am with the back log...

have a great evening!!!!

oh finally, someone is on our side for a change, now does this go into effect this year or not till 2006


GSpack
See you in the AM|||!

checking on that today...i would think that it would be the same with all bills that pass...30 days after the governor signs it!

Goody I am now assuming the PTO positiont that this one gets passes ASAP and with flying colors...someone needs to move forward on all thes backlogged hearing. People I talk to can't believe that there are some still waiting for dates as far back as Nov/DEc 2002! All because a victim is not left a forwarding address or even answered the letters...Hogwash I think!

GSPack

there's been some updates on this site...thought you guys might want to check it out....what i find funny is that they have stopped posting in the "NEWS" part....guess everyone is coming here to PTO for the lastest...


LOL....Denise

this site has been updated.....check out the history...time line also the Publications on VERA...

DeniseJ

Go To Legative .....new Stuff

http://sentencingcommission.alacourt.org/Publications/Final_ASC%20Report%202004.pdf

Denise, Thanks for the imformation on the sentencing commission, Hopefully it will help on the backlog, We are still waiting for another hearing date, hopefully it want be to much longier now that they have started. Its hard to figure out exactly what the board are looking for, we met all the requirements that I could find, Home Plan, Job Plan, record of all classes completed, Family support, Community Support, Church Support, and after serving 22 straight years for stealing, we were still turned down, so What exactly do they want? Need help.

why can't they parole someone pending victim notification and protest if any. that way they would be able to expedite if no protest and cut down on backlog.

Denise I can't get that site to come up. Is anyone else having problems with getting to the site?

TRY IT AGAIN...i didn't have any problem getting it opened...let me know if you do...dj

check it out...the annual report

could someone else check and see if they can get this site to open...i can't

Nope Denise Not working on my end either maybe the Pdf Files are being fixxed or something

maybe they are updating.....they need it

I have a prinout of this and will try to scan it tonight and see if I can attach it for you. I only have the Alabama Sentencing Commission 2004 Legislative Package...if that helps.

PJ

Here's a copy of what I have on the 2004 Legislative Package. I hope I done this right. Hope it helps
PJ

I can't get the site to come up either. Would love to have a copy of this or the url address to get to it.


Thanks:o

it appears that they are off line....imagine that....DJ

OMG figures didnt they pay that bill either?????
Hey Denise I am lazy but can you post the URL address for one of the newbies for an Inmate search I never can find it on my Favs list..Guess I need to organize again...LOL

Thanks GF you are just the best! Watch the weather its getting sticky with thunder showers/!

GSPack

Your probably right there. Always crying shortage of money and can't do anything to help the inmates. I get so sick of some of the stupid things I see the money being spent on at some of the warden's whimes. Mitchum mostly. He has done some stupid things since he came to Limestone. I know it's a prison but some things are just crazy that we go through at visits.

GS...i posted a sticky under the "all you need to know" sub forum...anything else i can do for you granny?

Got a New Url to try for the Commision try this one and see if it opens for you now!

http://sentencingcommission.alacourt.gov/


Granny

Also I found the Report that we have been waiting on..it is 78 pages so I have not had time to read it....

http://sentencingcommission.alacourt.gov/Publications/ASC%202004%20Final%20Report.pdf

And they Met Dec 3 which will be tomorrow!

Will I Read It..and It The Same Oh Bah Bah Bah..everything We Already Know. To Many Inmates, Not Enough Money, Sentence's To Long. Etc....same Thing They Reported Last Year And Our Dear Governor Did Nothing And I Don't Think They Will Do Anything Next Year Either..why Should They? The Doc Is Under Federal Court Order To Reduce The Number Of Inmates But They Haven't And The Federal Judges Haven't Done A Thing!!!!!

Maybe We need to start a petion online and let anyone sign it and send a cover letter to those Federal Judges to do something!!! What you think DJ????

AL Granny

to be honest i don't think it would do a bit of good. We (loved ones of inmates) get less attention than the inmates them selfs.

\true True..just a thought DJ

http://sentencingcommission.alacourt.gov/Publications/2005%20Annual%20Report.pdf

As much as I agree with the whole restructuring of the "sentencing guidelines", and sentencing people to more appropriate lengths of time, I can't believe not one mention is made of the people who are already in prison.. If you have one guy who is serving a 15 year sentence for, say check fraud or whatever, then you'll have a newbie come in who was sentenced to 1 year for the same thing! That hardly seems fair...

I agree to that...I want to know what they are going to do with the people in prison that are serving there sentence..

Thank a bundle DJ for this new link!
All I've got to say is this is a really big one and it takes time to read! Some places you have to rearead in order to make sense of it.
I just wish that the public would be more interested in letting reeentry places be set up so that individuals could come out earlier..with good behavior while on the inside and get the opportunity to learn skills to make their transition back into society so much easier and thus making it a sucessfull time so that the newly released inmate can have a leg uop on things so as not to revert back to their old ways of crime to get ahead. And like the work release programs...the inmates would almost pay to support their own facility by paying "rent"..something they would normally do even if they lived with family for a short time. Dont break the bank with this one, but the more people inside these places would surely help lower prison populations and prevent those from going back to prison..teaching them how to conduct themselves and given them responsibilities so as not to be violated.

Granny,

I have a friend that is going to be released monday after 4 1/2+ years on a drug charge. I spoke with him Wednesday night and can you believe that no one, not one time, nothing...has given him any kind of couseling, class or anything to help him prepare to leave...he said he was fine, but i could hear what his words were not saying.....he's scared to death. Leaving prison going to his moms and he doesn't even have any type of plan at all.....i worried about him to say the least.

DeniseJ

Oh Denise I hear what you are saying. Not knowing where (city or town) he is going home to, I would diffinently recommend that when he sees his probation officer to ask him/her of local agencies that could help him. I do lknow that many Unemployment offices have very nice people, and he could contact a few of the churches in the area and ask to speak to the Minister..like make an appointment. Also a good place is to got to the AA meetings in his town..he will find others who may have been in his situation that can help or give him advice. But most of all you can be of help by maintaining contact with him once he gets home. Be his listening board and encourage him in anyway you can!

HUGS

Alabama Granny

http://sentencingcommission.alacourt.gov/Publications/2005%20Annual%20Report.pdf


:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

The best that I can figure out from this that all this is for the future of convictions. |There seems to be nothing for our current situations as far as the Parole board on early releases even nothing about funding extra help in the Victims Unit office to expedite the notification process. The main purpose of this is to give the State a set of guidlines so that you would be sentenced to prison for the same crime no matter where it occurred in the state. And that some of our sentences are highest against all other 49 states and the fines are not as high as they should be since inflation has risen.
Other questions you have Denise???

Granny

yes, i was wondering as i read the darn thing, if and when all these worksheets pass and become law...how will if affect the 27,000 men already locked up? it would seem that the state is setting themselves up for a huge law suit..you know man #1 gets 10 years last year for drug charge...man #2 get 5 years for same crime next year under sentencing guildlines...seems kinda "out there" but i can see if happening.....

I was wondering myself about that..Because it doesn't seem far to the ones who are already in prison then you got these new guys coming in for the same crime with less time..

I agree totally with what you just said Blue...There should be something, maybe like at the Parole Board that shows how much time the inmate has served already, based on the new sentincing guidelines, would he be out already..say if he was given the 10 yr sentence and Man #2 got 5 years and #1` now has served 6 yrs for his identical crime, as long as his time servered is clear of trouble for a certain amount of time, he could maybe be released on 6 mo standard probation, then if all is well reduce it to light probation as long as he/she poays fines and restitutions and has no major violations. Seems to me they should look out for those who have been serving extrenous amount of time behind bars, in order to open up bed space for the more violent offenders they so desire to put behind bars. But it all boils down to money, money that the public does not want to come forth with in order to open more tangible rehabilitiation facilities, or Work release units. I just found out in reading this that my own county has approved a Center for this purpose and inacted into law, but will have to wait on Funds from DOC in order for it to be a reality.
It says its 145 pages, but in reality its only about 80 reading wise and it took me a little over 2 hours to skim thru it. There are a lot of graphs in it too.
I just dont know what to say that would give any of us hope for the future in reduction of current sentences our loved ones are already serving. I am glad to hear that the second parole board is still in action and as I have already said before they need to lighten up on their critieria and look deeper into an inmates profile and at least given them a chance to speak for themselves. If not in person, maybe by video tape from the prison to show that this a real person with a face and a personality and not just a Number attached to a name with a list of crime/crimes and length of sentence/sentences. After all at one time or another most of these men and women were good people who went astray for one reason or another, something that could happen to anyone, including the people that make decisions in our Judicial System.

Okay as Rag say I am off MY soapbox.....Next...

do these people do anything? i keep looking for an update or something out of them or the new task force...and nothing...nothing...:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

that is the state for you...they don't get in any kind of hurry for anyone..I keep looking too but it could be this time next year before they publish anything. If I had to guess the guys that are already in are the ones thats gonna get the raw end of the deal...but again that is the state for you..

http://sentencingcommission.alacourt.gov/Minutes/Legislative%20Comm%20minutes%209-13-05.doc

must read!!!

I have printed it off to read on smoke break! Where/how do you find this stuff girl? It's awesome of you!!!

thanks, just from time to time i check out thier web site to see if there's anything new.....did you get a chance to read it.

It all means very little to me and kenny, he's down to 126 days, there nothing going to happen between now and then BUT i was sure glad to see that comment about increasing good time credit from 15 years to 20 years, that would have been nice ohh....19 YEARS AGO...

Denise, would you please tell me what it said about the good time might change to twenty years instead of fifteen. I tired to read this, but the site wouldn't come up for me. Would this apply to inmates during time now.

here's what it said, its #5 about half way down, not sure what "tabled" means either, but just the fact that is being discussed is good news..


1. Good Time – Tabled
Ms. Flynt noted that several legislators have expressed an interest in amending the state’s “good time” statutes to allow the Department of Corrections to award Correctional Incentive Time (CIT) to inmates serving sentences of up to 20 years. Following a discussion of the recent amendments to the split sentencing statute for defendants sentenced to 20 years and the to the HFO statute for defendants sentenced to life (minimum of 20 years), the Committee tabled the bill pending further study.

by the way welcome to pto,

Well, it looks like the 20 years was tabled pending further review... I guess basically they need to do research to see if in the longterm it will really alleviate the population or if it will just mean more recidivism... We'll see how it goes.. Has anyone heard anything else about the special session for this month? I thought I had read that the Gov was going to call one...

thanks, Denise, for posting this for me.

I think the special session is on October 10th. I hope we get some good news!

I am happy they are just considring it.. this would make all the difference in the world to us as my man has 20 years and has been in minimum custody for the past 7.. Even if they don't pass it this time, maybe next session if nothing has changed they will do it then...

cember, i was thinking of you guys when i read it, Kenny is so short now there's nothing they could do to bring him home any sooner, well exect of a mass release!! likely not to happen but i'm sure that this would effect many many inmates.

I'm not sure, but didn't at one time it was at 20 years and they change it to 15? heck, some days i just can't keep up with them...

I've also been looking for info on the governor's new Task Force and have found very little, seems to me that if there going to do anything this year they need to hurry up, its already oct 6..it there's going to be a special session...lets have it now....

dj

Thanks for thinking about us Denise :) Yes at one point it was 20 but they lowered it to 15 after all the media-whoring the VOCAL groups did.. Lots of good it did the DOC, huh?

I went to the sentening commission site and they have their next meeting Dec 16. I tried to e-mail them at the ad they give on this site, but it bounced back. Does anyone know how to e-mail them?

try it again, i think they have some trouble with thier site...I ended up sending them my letter via snail mail....i've called them several times to and to my surprise i recieved all the info i requested and the lady who answer the phone was very pleasant. something you just don't normal get out of anyone employed by the state and/or ALDOC

How long before we can find out anything from there meeting on December 16th? I went to their site, but nothing there.

i wouldn't expect it to be avail to us until after first of the year, if not longer...

MINWINTER CONFERENCE.....JAN 2006

http://sentencingcommission.alacourt.gov/Publications/JudgeMidwinterConf_Jan2006.pdf

Link to all reports

http://sentencingcommission.alacourt.gov/publications.html


2006 annual report

http://sentencingcommission.alacourt.gov/Publications/ASC%202006%20Final%20Report.pdf


(i just found it, haven't had a chance to read anything other than the opening letter, but i'm sure it will be interesting)

dj

A very interesting report linking all the prison problems in one report. I read about 40 of the 76 pages....tooo many graphs to wade thru but I got the general drift of the whole complexity that take to run Alabama Prison. One thing I did notice is that there are a lot of "Alabama is the only state to do this......." thr0ughout the report.

i printed it out, but still haven't gotten to read it over...but at first glance, PTO could have told them everything in their report a year ago...LOL...djk

LOL DJK......To Bad they didnt Ask us to the Legislator meetings to hear our views...we would have given them a bang for their Bucks!!!!