Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pardons Paroles Docket topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles denies many requests, grants select pardons and conditional paroles
Summary
At its May 12, 2026 meeting in Montgomery, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles voted unanimously across a large docket, denying parole in numerous cases, granting several pardons (some with restrictions) and approving conditional paroles tied to reentry programs and GPS monitoring.
The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles met May 12, 2026, at 301 South Ripley Street in Montgomery and heard a full docket of parole and pardon requests. Chair Hal Nash and Board Member Gabrelle Simmons presided; Nicole Lewis served as board secretary. The board recorded unanimous votes throughout the session on requests to grant or deny parole and to grant pardons or limited clemency.
The board denied parole for a large number of applicants, often setting a reset or reconsideration date. For example, the board unanimously denied parole for Reed M. Knight (AIS# 238454) after victim testimony from Debra Jackson and set a reset date of May 2031. Dennis Coachman (AIS# 178709) likewise was denied parole with a reset date of May 2029 following opposition from family members and victim advocates. Several other parole requests were denied with reset dates or with no reset date specified in the minutes.
At the same meeting the board also granted several forms of clemency. Joseph D. Winters (AIS# 267807) was granted total remission of fines in two county cases (No. 63CC1993-0351 and No. 63CC1992-1483). James R. Emanuel (AIS# 247187) received a full pardon restoring civil and political rights but excluding restoration of firearms rights. The board granted voting-rights-only pardons to Daniel R. Burton (AIS# 311994) and Corey B. Bohannon (AIS# 266558). Several pardons were granted with restrictions relieving habitual-offender penalties and firearms disabilities, as noted in the docket.
The board also approved conditional paroles tied to reentry programming and monitoring. Sanford L. Hayden (AIS# 158516), Shautavis J. Mitchell (AIS# 292418), Billy R. Lyons Jr. (AIS# 341106), Justin W. Rowell (AIS# 294078) and others were granted parole with special conditions such as completion of the Perry County Probation/Parole Reentry Education Program (PREP), placement in approved halfway houses or day-reporting centers (DRCs), GPS ankle monitors, mental-health follow-up and drug assessments upon release.
Votes at a glance (selected items from the daily docket): - Reed M. Knight (AIS# 238454) — parole denied; reset date: May 2031. - Dennis Coachman (AIS# 178709) — parole denied; reset date: May 2029. - Walter L. Morgan (AIS# 140298) — pardon denied. - Sanford L. Hayden (AIS# 158516) — parole granted with PREP, GPS, mental-health follow-up and drug assessment. - Joseph D. Winters (AIS# 267807) — total remission of fines in cases 63CC1993-0351 and 63CC1992-1483. - James R. Emanuel (AIS# 247187) — full pardon; civil and political rights restored except firearms rights. - Daniel R. Burton (AIS# 311994) — voting-rights-only pardon granted. - Maegan R. Bonner (AIS# 318697) — parole granted with Mobile DRC placement and halfway-house conditions. - Marvin Thomas (AIS# 199901) — parole granted conditional on approved halfway house, GPS monitoring and follow-up services. - Multiple additional parole denials and grants (full docket reviewed; see board minutes for complete list).
Why it matters: Decisions by the Board of Pardons and Paroles affect when and under what conditions people complete sentences and reenter communities, and they can restore civil and political rights for individuals. The board’s use of reentry programming (PREP, day-reporting centers, halfway houses), GPS monitoring and restrictions on firearm rights are recurring tools noted in the docket that will shape supervision and community safety outcomes.
What’s next: The board reviewed delinquent files and adjourned at 2:11 p.m. The next scheduled meeting is May 13, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. at the same Montgomery address.
