How to Find an Alabama Inmate’s Parole Release Date

To find an Alabama inmate’s parole release date, start with two online tools: the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) inmate search, which lists a projected end-of-sentence date, and the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles (ABPP) scheduled hearings list, which shows when the parole board will consider the case. Neither tells the whole story alone. When the online records don’t answer your question, call the ABPP at (334) 242-8700 or email questions@paroles.alabama.gov.¹

Start With the ADOC Inmate Search

The ADOC inmate search at doc.alabama.gov is the quickest starting point. It covers people currently in ADOC custody and typically lists basic identifying information along with a projected release date.²

Read that projected date carefully. It reflects the sentence the court imposed plus good-time credits calculated by ADOC. It does not automatically update when the parole board grants or denies parole, so the date on the screen may not be the day the person actually walks out.

The database only shows people currently incarcerated. Once someone is paroled or discharged, the record drops off. If the person you’re searching for isn’t there, they may already be out, and you’ll need to contact ADOC’s central records office or the ABPP.

Check the ABPP Scheduled Parole Hearings List

The ABPP publishes a list of scheduled parole hearings on its website. Each entry shows the inmate’s name, Alabama Institutional Serial (AIS) number, and hearing date.³ There is no search filter, so plan to scroll through the entries by date.

A hearing date is not a release date. The ABPP calculates eligibility based on the sentence and Alabama law, then sends the inmate a letter with a “set date” for when the file becomes eligible for consideration. That set date only means the case is eligible that month, not that a hearing will actually happen then. When there’s a backlog, the inmate receives a separate letter once an actual hearing is scheduled.⁴

After a hearing, the board can grant parole, deny it with a reset date, or deny it with no reset. When the board denies with a reset, the new consideration date cannot be more than two years out for inmates serving 20 years or less on nonviolent offenses, or five years out for everyone else.⁴ A denial with no reset means the inmate will serve the remainder of the sentence without another parole hearing. In that last case, discretionary parole is off the table, and any release before the end-of-sentence date will come through mandatory supervision instead.

Mandatory Release Runs on a Different Track

Alabama has two separate release mechanisms, and mixing them up is one of the most common sources of confusion when you’re trying to pin down a date. Discretionary parole is the board’s decision to release someone early. The board grants it only if it finds a “reasonable probability” the person will live without violating the law and that release won’t threaten public welfare.⁵

Mandatory release is automatic. Under Alabama Code §15-22-26.2, inmates who are not paroled or placed on probation are released to ABPP supervision before the end of their sentence. The window depends on sentence length:

Five years or less: released three to five months before the end-of-sentence date.
More than five years but less than ten: released six to nine months early.
Ten years or more: released ten to twelve months early.⁶

ADOC calculates mandatory release dates and coordinates with the ABPP.⁴ So if parole is denied, the person may still be released early on mandatory supervision. Knowing which track applies tells you whether the parole board’s decision controls the timeline or whether a calculated date from ADOC does.

Sign Up for Automated Release Alerts

Rather than checking manually, you can register for automatic notifications when an inmate’s status changes. Alabama participates in the statewide AlaVINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system, which sends free, anonymous alerts by phone call, email, or text when the inmate is released, transferred, or has a scheduled release date approaching. Register by phone at 877-846-3425 or online through VINELink.

The ABPP also lets anyone, not just victims, register as an “interested party” to receive courtesy notice of a specific inmate’s hearing date.⁴ Victims and their representatives can register through the Alabama Victim Notification System (VNS) for alerts about upcoming parole hearings and board actions.⁷ Between AlaVINE for custody changes and VNS for parole hearing updates, you can build layered alerts that cover both tracks.

Contact the ABPP Directly

When the online tools don’t answer your question, contacting the ABPP directly is the most reliable option. Call (334) 242-8700, email questions@paroles.alabama.gov, or write to 301 S. Ripley St., Montgomery, AL 36104.¹ The agency handles a high volume of inquiries, so response times vary. Include the inmate’s full name and AIS number to speed things up.

You can also file a public records request, but know the limit before you do. Parole and probation files are statutorily privileged and not subject to disclosure. The main exception is Board Action Sheets, which list the reasons the board granted or denied parole.⁸ A request asking for the full parole file will not be fulfilled; a request for the Board Action Sheet will tell you the outcome and the board’s reasoning.

What Can Change a Release Date After Parole Is Granted

A parole grant doesn’t lock in a release date the way a court sentence does. Several things can push it back or cancel it.

Disciplinary infractions in prison can prompt the board to reconsider. Alabama uses a graduated-sanction system in which the board can impose short confinement periods of up to 45 days for parole condition violations. A parolee must receive three of these before the board can fully revoke parole, unless the underlying offense is a violent Class A felony or a sex offense, in which case full revocation can happen immediately.⁹

New criminal charges before release can suspend parole consideration until the case is resolved. A conviction on the new charges almost always extends incarceration, and even unresolved charges can freeze the process.

Victim and community opposition can also affect the outcome. The board must give 30 days’ written notice to prosecutors, the presiding judge, local law enforcement, and the Crime Victims Compensation Commission before acting on parole. If a victim or victim’s representative has provided contact information, the board must give that person at least 30 days’ notice as well.¹⁰

Home plan verification is another common source of delay. Even after the board votes to approve parole, the ABPP must verify the inmate’s proposed residence and living arrangement. If the plan falls through, release is delayed until an acceptable alternative is in place.⁴

Confirming the Actual Release Date

Once the board grants parole, the ABPP verifies the home plan and coordinates with ADOC to schedule the actual release date.⁴ The board issues a parole certificate that spells out every condition of release in writing.¹⁰ Administrative processing, home plan investigations, and paperwork between the two agencies can add several weeks between the board’s vote and the actual walk-out.

Outstanding warrants or detainers from other jurisdictions can add more delay, and pending federal or out-of-state charges may result in a transfer to that jurisdiction rather than a release to the community. To pin down the exact date, call the records office at the facility where the inmate is housed. Each facility maintains its own internal release schedule, and that office is usually the most direct source for a specific day.

1
Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. Contact
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Alabama Department of Corrections. Inmate Search
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Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. Scheduled Parole Hearings
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Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. FAQs – Paroles
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Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 15-22-26 – Standards for Release of Prisoners on Parole
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Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 15-22-26.2 – Mandatory Supervision Period
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Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Alabama Victim Notification System FAQ
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Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. Procedures for Requesting Public Records
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Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 15-22-32 – Parole Court and Hearing Officers
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Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 15-22-36 – Authority to Grant Pardons and Paroles