Board issues multiple parole and pardon decisions; several grants include special conditions

The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles recorded decisions on dozens of parole and pardon applications during its July 14, 2026 public meeting in Montgomery. Across the docket the Board denied numerous parole requests, granted limited pardons restoring voting rights for some applicants, and approved several paroles with special reentry conditions.

Notable outcomes recorded in the minutes include: a full pardon restoring all civil and political rights to James E. Moore (AIS#160212); parole for Steven J. Cote (AIS#336385) with conditions including completion of the Perry County Probation/Parole Reentry Education Program (PREP), GPS monitoring, mental-health follow-up and a drug assessment; parole grants with monitoring or NA/AA requirements for individuals such as Marcus B. Smith (AIS#145169) and Johnny Kimbrell (AIS#140766); and several denials with reset dates ranging from 2027 through 2031 for other applicants. In some cases the Board split on reset-date recommendations — for example, Board members recorded different reset dates when denying parole for Daniel L. Shepherd (AIS#254326) and voted 2–1 in favor of a pardon for Rosie M. McShan (AIS#825981) with restrictions noted by the majority.

The minutes show repeated participation from victim representatives and the Attorney General’s Victim Services Office (VSO) in opposition to some releases; the advocacy group VOCAL (represented by Kacie Washington) is recorded as speaking against multiple parole or pardon requests. The Board also recorded several votes granting "voting rights only" pardons (for example Daniel S. Johnston, Corey D. Bolton, Marcus Ruffins and Derrell W. Ronald, Jr.).

The Board reviewed and recorded a list of parolees declared delinquent and noted it would continue operational docket work, with an adjournment recorded at 3:05 p.m. and a scheduled reconvening on July 15, 2026.