Overview

• Leaders met Tuesday in Montgomery to address reoffending and the obstacles people face after release.
• State Sen. Robert Stewart reiterated the target to reduce Alabama’s 29% recidivism rate by half before the end of the decade.
• Paroles director Cam Ward urged expanded mental-health care, drug treatment programs, and job training as the primary levers to cut reoffending.
• Advocate Ronald McKeithen cited difficulties obtaining IDs, paying fines, finding housing, and catching up with technology as common barriers.
• The panel will continue quarterly meetings to develop recommendations for the Legislature and to fulfill its reporting requirement.