Paul DeMarco: While New Year upon us, Alabama state leaders must to c…

A new year always brings hope for a fresh start in one’s life. For Alabama state leaders, 2024 requires going back to the basics to address chronic issues that have plagued the state, such as crime, education, and poverty.

State representatives and senators made excellent progress in passing bills that strengthened the Alabama criminal justice system. Laws to stiffen penalties for fentanyl trafficking, retail theft, and gang violence became law. In addition, the state’s generous good time laws were amended to reduce the amount of time inmates could earn for an early release from prison. 

This session lawmakers need to address the problems with the state’s work release program that has allowed felons convicted of murder out unsupervised on the streets. Legislators also have to stop the slew of bills that have been pre-filed to gut the current parole board’s ability to keep prisoners behind board who had been convicted of heinous crimes. Week after…