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Alabama parole board denies most paroles, grants several pardons and conditional releases
Summary
At its June 16, 2026 meeting in Montgomery, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles denied the majority of parole requests, approved multiple full pardons restoring civil and political rights, granted some paroles with conditions (halfway house, GPS, mental-health follow-up, drug assessment) and withdrew an arrest authorization for Shana Johnson.
The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles met in open session on June 16, 2026, in Montgomery and considered 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 voted unanimously on each docket item listed in the minutes. Most parole requests were denied, frequently with a reset date noted (common reset dates recorded were June 2027–June 2031) or with no reset date. Several applicants received conditional paroles; common conditions the board imposed included completion of an approved halfway house, GPS ankle monitoring, mental-health follow-up and a drug assessment upon release. Notable conditional paroles included Ronald E. Strauss III and Ronald D. Balcom, and reentry-program participation (Lee County Day Reporting Center or Perry County PREP) was required in some approvals.
The board also granted multiple pardons. The minutes record full pardons restoring all civil and political rights for applicants including Larry Whittaker, Jaime A. Spradling and Tyesha L. Thompson; other pardons restored specific rights (for example, relief from habitual-offender and firearms disabilities for Robert M. Neal). The board also granted voting-rights-only relief for William L. Boykin Jr. and Jacqueline G. Jackson.
Separately, the Division Director asked the board to withdraw a Parole Officer Authorization of Arrest for Shana Johnson (AIS# 341639) on the ground that her end-of-sentence date was 06/13/2026. The board approved withdrawing the authorization and ordered her released from the Mobile County Jail.
The minutes record that public comment and victim statements were presented on multiple docket items. For example, family members and victim-survivor representatives appeared in the hearings for Kindall Riley, Serena Y. English and Jeremy T. Riley; advocates and office representatives listed in the minutes include Ky'Toria Lawson (VSO, Attorney General’s Office), Michelle Davidson (Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office), Shelley Linderman (Wiregrass Angel House) and Kacie Washington (VOCAL).
Votes at a glance (selected items recorded in the minutes): Ronald E. Strauss III — parole granted with conditions (halfway house, GPS monitor, mental-health follow-up, drug assessment); Larry Whittaker — full pardon restoring all civil and political rights; Jaime A. Spradling — full pardon restoring all civil and political rights; Norris T. Blackmon Sr. — full pardon restoring all civil and political rights; Robert M. Neal — pardon granted with relief specifically from habitual-offender and firearms disabilities; William L. Boykin Jr., Jacqueline G. Jackson — voting rights only granted. Many other parole requests were denied with reset dates as recorded in the official docket.
Procedural notes: the board approved the June 11, 2026 minutes (motion by Chair Hal Nash, second by Gabrelle Simmons) and adjourned at 12:50 p.m. The board’s next scheduled meeting is June 17, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. at 301 South Ripley Street, Montgomery. Actions and outcomes described here come from the board’s public meeting minutes and attached board order; exact vote tallies are recorded in the minutes as unanimous for each listed decision and reflect the two board members who were present.
