Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles withdraws arrest authorization, releases inmate and rules on dozens of parole and pardon petitions

The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles met Oct. 9, 2025, in Montgomery and approved its Oct. 7 minutes before taking up its daily docket of parole and pardon petitions. The board voted to withdraw a Parole Officer Authorization of Arrest for Joseph Andre Bankson (AIS#293676) and ordered his release from Etowah County Jail due to his end of sentence on Oct. 9, 2025.

Chair Hal Nash and Associate Members Darryl Littleton and Gabrelle Simmons considered more than 30 individual parole and pardon matters. The board granted several pardons and restorations of rights, including a full pardon restoring all civil and political rights for Leamon L. Fitzpatrick (AIS#827625), full pardons for Paula J. Sutton (AIS#823750) and Parthina Dorman (AIS#233931), and limited relief from firearms disabilities for Eric O. Smith (AIS#827629). The board also granted voting-rights-only pardons for Mancel A. Ready Jr. (AIS#154110) and Roosevelt Sword Jr. (AIS#140494).

The board granted parole in individual cases with conditions in several matters. Norman D. Harris (AIS#207480) was granted parole with special conditions including completion of the Perry County Probation/Parole Reentry Education Program (PREP), placement in an approved halfway house, GPS ankle monitoring, mental-health follow-up and drug assessment upon release. Johnny O. Landers (AIS#236420) was granted parole with conditions that include placement in an extended inpatient rehabilitation facility, GPS monitoring, NA/AA participation, mental-health follow-up and drug assessment. Charles A. Brannon (AIS#239836) was granted parole conditional on completion of the Alabama Therapeutic Education Facility (ATEF) and related supervision and treatment requirements.

Numerous parole requests were denied. Examples include denials with reset dates for Demarius S. Jones (reset 10/2028), Jaquan M. Terrell (reset 10/2027), Stephen M. Patterson (reset 10/2030) and multiple others; several denials carried no reset date. Where family members or advocates spoke, the docket records show recurring appearances by Ky' Toria Lawson (VOCAL) and Jackie Fowler (VSO, Attorney General's Office) in opposition to parole in multiple cases.

The Board additionally reviewed lists of files for potential revocation and a list of parolees declared delinquent; those reviews were recorded as part of routine docket business. The meeting adjourned at 1:31 p.m.; the next meeting was scheduled for Oct. 14, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. at 301 South Ripley Street in Montgomery.

Votes at a glance - Approved minutes from Oct. 7, 2025 (motion by Darryl Littleton; seconded by Gabrelle Simmons). - Withdrawn: Parole Officer Authorization of Arrest for Joseph Andre Bankson (AIS#293676); ordered released due to EOS 10/09/25. - Pardons granted (examples): Eric O. Smith (relief from firearms disabilities), Leamon L. Fitzpatrick (full pardon; restoration of all civil and political rights), Paula J. Sutton (full pardon), Parthina Dorman (full pardon), Ava B. Thirkill (pardon with restrictions), Jeremiah Adams (pardon with restrictions), Mancel A. Ready Jr. (voting rights only), Roosevelt Sword Jr. (voting rights only). - Paroles granted with conditions (examples): Norman D. Harris (PREP; approved halfway house; GPS; mental-health follow-up; drug assessment), Johnny O. Landers (extended inpatient rehab; GPS; NA/AA; mental-health follow-up; drug assessment), Charles A. Brannon (completion of ATEF; approved halfway house; NA/AA; mental-health follow-up; GPS; drug assessment). - Paroles denied (examples): Osualdo L. Aguilar (denied, no reset), Demarius S. Jones (denied, reset 10/2028), Danny L. Jeffreys (denied, reset 10/2030), and multiple others as listed on the docket.

The board recorded its routine reviews of revocation and delinquency files and adjourned. The board secretary recorded the actions and signed the docket.