Alabama lawmakers question parole board's low release rates and outdated guidelines amid prison overcrowding.

Alabama lawmakers scrutinized the state parole board's low release rates during a recent hearing, questioning chair Leigh Gwathney's transparency and responsiveness. Parole rates have dramatically declined from 53% in 2018 to a low of 8% in 2021, now at around 20%. Lawmakers expressed frustration over the board's failure to adhere to guidelines, which haven't been updated since 2018, highlighting the need for reform amid ongoing prison overcrowding issues.