Alabama
Alabama legislators to look at victim notification system for county jails | Chattanooga Times Free Press
State officials gathered for the first in a series of meetings to investigate how to create a victim notification system for individuals incarcerated at county jails.
The Joint Interim Study Commission on Local and County Victim Notification, which held an organizational meeting Tuesday at the Alabama statehouse, comes after the state established a victim notification system for those in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections.
“We really need to understand what is currently being done in these counties, what needs to be done in the future, and if the state is part of that funding solution or does that fall back on individual counties,” said Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, who was elected chair of the commission. Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, was elected vice chair. Reynolds and Albritton, respectively, chair the Alabama House and Senate general fund budget committees.
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The state has a contract with a private firm to have the Victim Information and Notification Everyday system provide notices to crime victims on the status of perpetrators within the criminal justice system, but that system tracks only those within the custody of the department of corrections and the bureau of pardons & paroles.
The terms of the contract, including the name of the company and the cost, were not disclosed. A message was left with the Alabama attorney general’s office and the parole bureau Tuesday seeking comment on the contract.
The state had a system to track the status of those held in the custody of county jails, but it was no longer valid when the state initiated its own system for tracking people within the state’s custody. The state is identifying possible avenues for replacing the system.
Some counties also had a contract with Notification Everyday to provide notifications to victims of crimes within county jurisdictions. Since the state had a contract with the company providing the service, the company extended the service free of charge to counties without a contract.
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As a result, some counties pay for the system, but others do not. According to a map provided to the committee on Tuesday, many of the counties with system are concentrated in North Central Alabama. Many of those without the system are isolated to the southern part of the state.
Many Black Belt counties operate without such a system. This includes Dallas, Marengo, Hale, Greene, Elmore, Macon and Montgomery counties.
“So the problem is now, what created this, is the state doing its own system, which is working very well for it is doing for the state, but it is not doing local notification for those inmates coming out of our county jails,” Reynolds said.
The state unveiled its automatic victim notification system at a March news conference that featured several law enforcement agencies and representatives from the court system.
In 2011, the legislature passed a bill by former Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, who now oversees the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, that created the Automated Victim Notification System and Implementation Task Force. The task force was charged with creating an integrated victim notification system.
In 2015, the legislature passed a bill that granted early release for specific people in custody of the corrections department based on the amount of time they were in custody and on different levels. That bill only applied to those who would be incarcerated after that 2015 bill passed.
In 2021, lawmakers passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, that made the 2015 bill retroactive.
Many, however, were not released on time after the Alabama attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit against Corrections Commissioner John Hamm seeking to delay the release of inmates until victims were notified.
The revamped system provides updates on the status of individuals in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections and pardons and paroles — not people who are held within county jails.
“Today, it is working,” said Maury Mitchell, the state crime information director, at the meeting Tuesday. “It takes the original bill by Mr. Ward. So it is a notification required by pardons and paroles and corrections when someone comes out or when several triggers happen.”
Members of the committee will continue to study the issue for the next several months. The study commission has not set its next meeting date.
Read more at AlabamaReflector.com.
Every April, Alabama football sends a fresh batch of players to the NFL via the NFL draft.
This past April, the Crimson Tide’s streak of having at least one player selected in the first round reached 18 straight years when offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor went to the Miami Dolphins with the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
One pick later, the Los Angeles Rams made the most stunning move of the draft when they selected quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall.
Alabama’s 18-year streak of having at least one player selected in the draft is the longest in college football history. The Ohio State Buckeyes are second to Alabama, having had a player drafted in the first round in 11 consecutive years. The Georgia Bulldogs have now done it nine years in a row.
The Crimson Tide had 10 players taken overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Germie Bernard was a second-round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Alabama had seven players drafted on Day 3: LT Overton (fourth round, Dallas Cowboys), Parker Brailsford (fifth round, Cleveland Browns), Justin Jefferson (fifth round, Cleveland), Josh Cuevas (fifth round, Baltimore Ravens), Domani Jackson (sixth round, Green Bay Packers), Tim Keenan III (seventh round, Rams), and Jam Miller (seventh round, New England Patriots).
As for which team has the most Alabama players on its roster after the draft? Take a look.
Which NFL teams have the most Alabama football players?
Here’s a breakdown of Alabama players on current NFL rosters following the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9 — DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, Tyler Steen, Cameron Latu, Jihaad Campbell, Byron Young, Deontae Lawson, Jaeden Roberts, Jalen Hurts (Alabama/Oklahoma)
- Atlanta Falcons: 5 — Da’Shawn Hand, Tua Tagovailoa, Christian Harris, DeMarcco Hellams, Brian Robinson
- Detroit Lions: 4 — Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Terrion Arnold
- Seattle Seahawks: 4 — Jarren Reed, Josh Jobe, Jalen Milroe, Robbie Ouzts
- Baltimore Ravens: 3 — Derrick Henry, Marlon Humphrey, Josh Cuevas
- Carolina Panthers: 3 — Bryce Young, John Metchie, LaBryan Ray
- Cleveland Browns: 3 — Jerry Jeudy, Parker Brailsford, Justin Jefferson
- Dallas Cowboys: 3 — Quinnen Williams, Tyler Booker, LT Overton
- Denver Broncos: 3 — Jaylen Waddle, Patrick Surtain II, Que Robinson
- Green Bay Packers: 3 — Josh Jacobs, Xavier McKinney, Domani Jackson
- Los Angeles Chargers: 3 — Dalvin Tomlinson, JK Scott, Justin Eboigbe
- Los Angeles Rams: 3 — Ty Simpson, Tim Keenan III, Nikhai Hill-Green
- New England Patriots: 3 — Christian Barmore, CJ Dippre, Jam Miller
- New Orleans Saints: 3 — Anfernee Jennings, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Dashawn Jones
- Cincinnati Bengals: 2 — Jonathan Allen, Jordan Battle
- Houston Texans: 2 — Will Anderson Jr., Henry To’oTo’o
- Miami Dolphins: 2 — Ronnie Harrison Jr, Kadyn Proctor
- Minnesota Vikins: 2 — Dallas Turner, Will Reichard
- New York Jets: 2 — Minkah Fitzpatrick, Malachi Moore
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2 — A’Shawn Robinson, Chris Braswell
- Tennessee Titans: 2 — Calvin Ridley, JC Latham
- Arizona Cardinals: 1 — Mack Wilson
- Buffalo Bills: 1 — Phidarian Mathis
- Chicago Bears: 1 — Jedrick Wills Jr.
- Indianapolis Colts: 1 — Tim Smith
- New York Giants: 1 — Evan Neal
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 1 — Germie Bernard
- San Francisco 49ers: 1 — Mac Jones
- Washington Commanders: 1 — Daron Payne
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 0
- Kansas City Chiefs: 0
- Las Vegas Raiders: 0
Follow us at @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook, for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
MOBILE, Ala. (WSFA) – Four of the six Republican candidates seeking to be the GOP’s nominee for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat are set to take part in a forum Monday evening.
WSFA 12 News will carry the forum live at 6 p.m. on our website, as well as our news and smart TV apps, and on our Facebook and Youtube channels.
The forum is being hosted by the Azalea City Republican Women of Mobile.
The participants include Seth Burton, Dale Shelton Deas Jr., Steve Marshall, and Rodney Walker.
Rep. Barry Moore and Jared Hudson are not participating.
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Copyright 2026 WSFA. All rights reserved.
Alabama basketball’s Nate Oats weighs in on 2026 NBA Draft exits | VIDEO
Alabama basketball’s Amari Allen and Labaron Philon are off to the 2026 NBA Draft. Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats weighed in on their decisions.
Alabama basketball’s 2025-26 season was one of the most injury-filled years that Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats has experienced in Tuscaloosa.
The health of last year’s Alabama team was a storyline before exhibition play even began. Veteran Latrell Wrightsell Jr. was returning amid recovery for a ruptured Achilles tendon. Transfer guard Jalil Bethea joined the bench after a left foot injury. Collins Onyejiaka and Davion Hannah both spent the majority of their freshman seasons sidelined with medical conditions. Down the stretch, Taylor Bol Bowen played with a fractured hand. Amari Allen, Aden Holloway, London Jemison and Aiden Sherrell all dealt with tweaks and dings.
As the Crimson Tide’s Sweet 16 run came to a close, even Labaron Philon revealed that his injury wasn’t limited to December or January. He played hurt for the entire year.
With the only Alabama player to appear in each game being Houston Mallette, who redshirted his first year with the program, the training room was busy for athletic training and conditioning staffers Clarke Holter, Henry Barrera and Amanda Branson.
Here’s a breakdown of the salaries for the trio who worked behind the scenes to make another NCAA Tournament possible, per information acquired by The Tuscaloosa News from an open records request to the University of Alabama.
What are salaries of Alabama men’s basketball training staff?
Holter has served as athletic trainer for the men’s basketball team for 11 seasons. Barrera has been the program’s strength and conditioning coach since 2022.
Holter received a salary increase in July 2025, making his new annual salary $139,050.
Barrera also received a pay increase in July 2025. He is the highest-paid of the three at $257,500.20 annually.
The exact date of Branson’s hire is unknown. However, public UA payroll data for Branson dates back to 2019.
Branson’s increase letter ahead of the 2025-26 season said that she would be paid $128,750.16.
In a season defined by injuries, their work became as critical as anything that happened on the court.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
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