SB47 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code Sections 15-22-23 and 15-22-36 to establish mandatory victim notification requirements for Board of Pardons and Paroles proceedings involving serious felonies, including Class A felonies, violent crimes, sexual offenses, child abuse, and sodomy.

• Requires victims, victim representatives, or interested individuals to receive written notice at least 30 days in advance of board actions and allows them to register preferences through an automated victim notification system or direct request to the board.

• Permits victims and interested individuals to opt out of notifications by submitting written requests to the Board of Pardons and Paroles, with confirmation provided to the requestor.

• Mandates probation and parole officers to register victim information into the automated victim notification system prior to sentencing for eligible offenses, with courts required to record that victim information has been entered into the system.

• Creates an Implementation Task Force composed of representatives from victims' rights organizations, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, Department of Corrections, Attorney General, and other agencies to oversee development of the statewide automated victim notification system, with the task force dissolved effective December 31, 2015; effective date January 1, 2012.