IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 6, 2019
ABPP
BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES FORCED TO CANCEL HEARINGS SET FOR NEXT WEEK
MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles has cancelled more than 100 hearings set for next week because the prior administration failed to perform due diligence to meet requirements set forth under a new state law passed in May regarding notifications to victims and witnesses.
Director Charlie Graddick, who took leadership Sept. 1, said neither he, the three-member board nor his legal staff were informed of the failure until noon yesterday.
“I’m afraid this hot mess is indicative of what the state has suffered for some time,” he said. “This is the classic failure to communicate. The previous administration had May, June, July and August to address these new guidelines and did nothing. Yesterday, our legal team received requests for clarification of new notification rules, questions that leave doubts whether proper notifications have been made.”
Graddick’s first action as director was to place three agency officials on mandatory leave pending investigation into allegations of malfeasance.
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