During a recent government meeting, significant concerns were raised regarding the effectiveness of the state's parole board and the leadership of key officials in addressing ongoing issues within the prison system. Commissioner Hamish was absent due to a medical procedure, but his staff attended the meeting, highlighting the need for broader participation from the parole board, which had been invited but did not attend.

The discussion centered on the perceived ineffectiveness of the parole board, particularly criticizing member Lee Gwathne for her limited parole grants, having approved only six cases over the summer. The meeting also called out Governor Ivey for appointing ineffective leaders and Attorney General Steve Marshall for his absence, noting that he often sends representatives instead of attending personally.

Participants expressed frustration over the allocation of taxpayer funds, pointing out that a recent bill passed to create liaison positions for the Department of Corrections (DOC) would cost approximately one million dollars, primarily to inform families of deceased inmates rather than addressing the root causes of mortality within the prison system.

Concerns were also raised about the ongoing issue of drug smuggling into prisons, with officials emphasizing that merely blocking cell phone usage would not resolve the problem. The meeting concluded with a call for immediate action, as the state’s billion-dollar prison plan, which has been scaled back to cover only one facility, is not expected to be completed until 2026, leaving urgent needs unaddressed in the interim.