The Alabama Senate has passed a bill to allow people in Alabama prisons who are up for consideration for parole to participate in their parole hearings virtually.

Alabama inmates do not appear in person before the three-member Board of Pardons and Paroles for their hearings, which are held at the board’s offices in Montgomery.

SB312 by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Montgomery, says an inmate “shall be allowed to participate in his or her parole hearing virtually by means of video conference or other similar communications equipment that allows all person participating in the hearing to hear and see each other.”

The bill says that if there is a failure or interruption of the electronic connection, the hearing will be suspended until the problem is fixed. Inmates could waive their right to appear virtually before the board.

Barfoot said the virtual appearances will give the parole board a chance to questions directly and obtain more information in making their decision on whether to grant parole.

The Senate added an amendment by Sen. Chris Elliott that inmates participating virtually will not be allowed to see, hear, or otherwise interact with victims, victims’ families, or crime victim advocates who address the board or attend the hearing.

Barfoot’s bill passed by a vote of 31-0. It moves to the House, where Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, has a similar bill.

The legislation is one of several bills intended to make changes at the parole board, which denied parole to 92% of inmates up for consideration last year. Two former chief justices of the Alabama Supreme Court – Sue Bell Cobb and Roy Moore – have both called for changes the board.

Read more: ‘This system is broken’: State officials call for change to Alabama’s parole board

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