A bill that would give certain seniors serving life sentences without parole a “second chance” passed the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

HB, a bill by state Rep. Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa), passed three-quarters of the House last year before running out of time to pass the full chamber.

The bill looks similar to its last update in the 2023 session. This would provide certain individuals sentenced to life without parole under the Habitual Felon Act the opportunity to have a judge consider commuting or terminating their sentences.

As currently written, only individuals sentenced before May 26, 2000 are subject to the review process, effectively meaning that the individual has already served a minimum 24-year prison sentence. become.

The bill also specifies what factors judges must consider and how much weight they will give to those criteria. Specifically, it asks judges to weigh the objections of crime victims and whether a firearm was used in furtherance of the crime. The bill would also require judges to consider a person's age and examine how age affects the likelihood of reoffending.

The only concern expressed at the committee was to notify crime victims to ensure they could voice how they felt about the possibility of their release. The bill placed that responsibility on district attorneys, but several lawmakers said they were uncomfortable with increasing their workload.

However, there may be a workaround, as the Board of Pardons and Parole appears willing to take on that task.

Last session, a group called Alabama Appleseed brought in five men it helped release from prison on a case-by-case basis to pitch lawmakers on the need for broader opportunities.

“No matter what I did, I can never forget the people I left behind,” said Ronald McKeithen, who served 37 years in prison before being released thanks to Appleseed. “Those people are dying. The bodies are coming out in piles.”

The bill also received support from former Republican U.S. Representative Spencer Backus.

Backus told how she developed a relationship with John Manley, who was convicted under the Habitual Felony Act and remains in prison.

Manley has a prior theft conviction since he was 18 years old, and the state agreed to charge him with armed robbery because he broke into a home and stole a weapon when he was 24.

“This has been a nightmare for me, especially the frustration of hearing every year that Congress is going to do something,” Backus said. “I love John Manley and I hate this country and what it did to him.”

England argues that the bill would solve the state's overcrowding problem and reduce health care costs, while also being the right thing to do for individuals sentenced under outdated laws.

“My hope is to find many people who have overcome their worst moments,” England said.