The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles is proud to announce Rebecca Bensema as the new Deputy Director of Parolee Rehabilitation. Bensema was appointed to the position today by Director Cam Ward. In this new executive role, Bensema will be responsible for overseeing all operations in our Special Populations and Programs Division.
Director Ward said, “Deputy Director Bensema represents our vision as an agency going forward. We must invest time and resources into effective rehabilitation and education programs. With her vast experience, there is no better person to help us achieve the goal of reducing recidivism in Alabama.”
The position was created after Alabama Senate Bill 221 was passed. Section 2: “One executive-level employee at the Department of Pardons and Paroles, or its successor agency, shall be known as the Deputy Director for Parolee Rehabilitation. The Deputy Director for Parolee Rehabilitation shall be responsible for the development, implementation, and improvement of programs designed to reduce recidivism.”
A corresponding position — Deputy Commissioner of Prisoner Rehabilitation — was created within the Alabama Department of Corrections. Employees in these two positions will coordinate to further the collaborative goals between the two agencies.
Bensema oversees the operations of Day Reporting Centers and Day Reporting Center Lites in Alabama, along with the Alabama Certain Enforcement Supervision program, the GPS program and the Interdisciplinary Grant Team. More information about the Bureau’s Special Populations Division can be found here.