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Alabama Board of Pardons & Paroles denies most parole requests, grants multiple pardons and targeted paroles
Summary
At its April 22, 2026 meeting in Montgomery the Alabama Board of Pardons & Paroles reviewed 31 cases, granting nine pardons and five paroles (all with conditions), and denying the remainder; several grants included GPS monitoring, PREP enrollment or restoration of civil rights.
The Alabama Board of Pardons & Paroles met April 22, 2026, in Montgomery and considered a 31-case docket of parole and pardon requests under Alabama Code, Title 15, Chapter 22. Chair Hal Nash and Board Member Gabrelle Simmons, with Nicole Lewis recording actions as board secretary, voted unanimously on each case and approved minutes from the April 21 meeting.
The board granted nine pardons and five paroles and denied the remaining requests. Parole grants with conditions included Calvin D. McGuire, who was released subject to completion of the Perry County Probation/Parole Reentry Education Program (PREP), GPS ankle monitoring, mental-health follow-up and a drug assessment; Brandon L. Gibson, who must complete an approved halfway house, NA/AA participation, GPS monitoring and post-release mental-health and drug assessments; Mark C. English and Joshua K. Contris, each granted parole with reporting, GPS monitoring and treatment requirements; and Jamarcus D. Lynch, granted parole conditioned on PREP enrollment and supervision.
The board also approved multiple pardons. Several were full pardons restoring civil and political rights — including Teddy K. Hudgens, Floyd E. Charles, Harry M. Lane and Floyd G. Griffin — while others provided narrower relief, such as Dedarius L. Ravizee (relief from the habitual offender act and firearms disabilities), Michael T. Simmons (relief from firearm disabilities), Tony J. Stewart and Matraco Williams (pardons with restrictions), and Santell R. Melton (voting rights only).
Most parole requests were denied. Cases denied included Steven C. Taylor (no reset date), Joe N. Jackson (reset date 4/2031), Jerome Adams Jr. (reset date 4/2029), Deandre Bruce (reset date 4/2027), and several others listed on the docket. Where a reset date was recorded, the board noted the month and year; exact effective days were not specified in the record.
Victim representatives, family members and community advocates appeared repeatedly. For example, Amanda Hill spoke against parole for Steven C. Taylor; Venesha Bradley (VOCAL) and India Eaves (VSO, Attorney General’s Office) were listed frequently among speakers opposing parole; supporters and reentry advocates — including Leon Kennedy III (Outreach Reentry Ministry), Scott Frye (The ARC) and local family members — spoke on behalf of applicants in other cases.
The board reviewed a separate list of delinquent parolees and other files for review during the session. The meeting adjourned at 1:51 p.m.; the next meeting was scheduled for April 23, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. at the same address.
Authority for the hearings was cited as Alabama Code, Title 15, Chapter 22.
