By Nariah Harris, Communications Intern
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Rhonda Carter has been a dedicated employee with the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles for 22 years, beginning her career at just 19 years old. Over the years, she has played a vital role in supporting the agency’s mission, particularly through her impactful work with offender families and victims.
As an Offender Family Coordinator, Carter works directly with individuals and families affected by the emotional cases, offering guidance, comfort, and clarity throughout the parole process.
“The first time I sat down there, it felt like home,” Carter said. “I love talking to people, I love helping people and assisting people in understanding how this process goes, it makes my day.”
As the Offender Family Coordinator, Rhonda gets the privilege to walk the offender families as well as pardon applicants through the parole and pardon process by answering questions and offering steady guidance before and after the hearings. Offender families and pardon applicants can have a difficult time understanding the parole and pardon process. Rhonda provides emotional support and sympathetic ear for the offender’s family and pardon applicants. She helps the offender families and pardon applicants get through a challenging time in their life. Rhonda provides encouragement, empathy, and kindness that is needed to support the offender’s family and pardon applicants.
Carter also helps in the Victim Services unit. After a case has been established, victims or their families must be notified of upcoming parole hearings. This often proves difficult due to limited or outdated contact information. Many people no longer use landlines, and phone numbers change frequently. Carter emphasized the amount of time and effort it takes to locate and notify victims. “The team goes over and beyond to make sure that we complete victim notification,” she said. “We become one with our files .”
Carter also shared the emotional weight of the work. She recalled a particularly moving case involving a mother who had raised both the victim and the inmate. “The level of empathy and compassion that the victim services team has is beautiful,” Carter said. Despite the heaviness of the work, Carter remains a source of light. “There is a lot of sadness in the world. So, if I can be that bit of sunshine that does it for me,” she said. Carter has gone above and beyond regarding her work with Offenders’ families, pardon applicants and victims.
Ashley Harbin, Director or Victims Services, stated Rhonda is the friendly face and voice of reason for victims, offender families and pardon applicants for many years and I am so proud to have her on my team. She is the embodiment of an employee who always goes above and beyond the call of service.
Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles Administrative Support Assistant Rhonda Carter
