Alabama parole board proposes new employability certificate and formal review process for revocations

The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles voted May 19, 2026, to propose multiple changes to its administrative rules and forms, including a new Certificate of Employability and a formal reconsideration application for revoked supervision. The board voted, on the recommendation of Director Cam Ward, to authorize the director to sign a Notice of Intended Action and to direct the agency’s legal office to complete the procedures required under Alabama Code § 15-22-37 and the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act.

Why it matters: The changes would alter how the agency documents reentry achievements and how people whose supervision is revoked may seek reconsideration. The board ordered that proposed rule text and any amendments be posted on the agency website while they remain pending.

What the proposals would do: One proposed rule (Alabama Administrative Code r. 640-X-7-.03) would create a Certificate of Employability to be issued to individuals released on parole or mandatory supervised release who meet specified criteria. Eligibility as drafted would require no violent disciplinary infractions during the current term of incarceration, no disciplinary infractions within the prior 12 months, completion of GED, higher education, or trade training while in custody, and an ADOC custody level of Min-Community or Min-Out with verified employment. The proposal excludes sex-offender registrants and some convictions defined as violent under state law. The draft rule also says issuance would be recorded in the board’s minutes and that certificates may be voided if an otherwise eligible person becomes ineligible prior to release.

A second proposed rule (Alabama Administrative Code r. 640-X-9-.07) would establish a process for persons whose parole or mandatory supervision has been revoked to request reconsideration by filing a new form, ABPP-7, within two months of the revocation order or, in some cases, within two months of a court order (for example, an acquittal or dismissal with prejudice). The draft requires bureau staff to screen applications for completeness; the legal division would perform a merits review addressing lawfulness of the sanction, due process, whether clear and convincing evidence of innocence exists, and whether non‑hearsay evidence supports the revocation finding. Staff may summarily reject incomplete or procedurally defective submissions.

Forms and other administrative changes: The board voted to repeal and replace several existing rule provisions and forms, to add Form ABPP‑7 (an application and an instruction set), and to update ABPP‑1, ABPP‑2 and ABPP‑4 in agency appendices. The posted draft language (part of the record for the May 19 meeting) includes instruction language limiting attachments, describing evidentiary expectations, and reiterating that certain outcomes (for example, charges dismissed as the result of a plea to reduced counts) do not by themselves justify reconsideration under the proposed rule.

Next steps: The Board’s authorization allows the director and the agency to begin the formal notice and review processes required by statute. Proposed text will be posted and remain on the agency website while the rulemaking proceeds; the rule and form changes will take effect only if and when they are adopted according to administrative-procedure requirements.

Provenance: The board’s vote and the proposed rule and form text are recorded in the board minutes and attachments from the May 19, 2026 meeting (board action recorded in meeting minutes; proposed rule text appears in the attached draft rules and forms in the meeting record).