Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin complained Tuesday that he had no advance notice from the Alabama Department of Corrections about a planned mass release of inmates.

“Today is Tuesday,” Woodfin said. “I got notice of this Saturday and it wasn’t from the Alabama Department of Corrections.”

His staff informed him after hearing rumors of the release, he said.

“Imagine if you are a victim of one of those crimes,” Woodfin said. “These were not just crimes against property. These were not smaller crimes. A lot of these crimes, particularly for Jefferson County, were crimes against victims that included murder, that included rape, that included robbery, that included manslaughter and a host of others.”

After news of hundreds of Alabama inmates leaving prison early and a Monday lawsuit from the Alabama Attorney General, less than half of the originally reported inmates were released on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, 369 state inmates were set to be released early from prison following implementation of a 2021 state law.

But, due to issues notifying victims and their families, the release of many of those people has been pushed back. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a lawsuit Monday, arguing the release should be delayed because of the lack of victim notifications.

Several inmates were released Tuesday at Birmingham’s downtown bus station.

“The Alabama Department of Corrections, the State of Alabama, could have been a better partner in communicating with local DA’s (district attorneys), they could have been a better partner with local communities including the mayor’s office,” Woodfin said. “They could have done a way better job communicating with the victims of crimes.”

Woodfin said his main concerns were lack of victim notification, and lack of adequate services and assistance to help inmates transition back into society.

“If we are in a position to help, we will,” Woodfin said.

“The Alabama Department of Corrections has not only the authority but they have a responsibility as it relates to the release of those who are in their custody, how do they provide services, whether it’s an ID, or any forms of identification, to help people transition back into the community.”

Woodfin said he’s in favor of helping ex-offenders re-enter society.

“As mayor I try to strike a balance,” Woodfin said. “I support re-entry efforts. We’ve spent local tax dollars supporting re-entry efforts.”

But he was agitated by the lack of notification.

“Their style of not communicating has not only been a concern not only to me but I imagine to the victims of these crimes as well,” Woodfin said. “We want the ALDOC, as well as pardon and paroles as well as probation services to do their job and make sure these men and women have the services that they need. That’s the state of Alabama’s responsibility.”

See also: Just a bus ticket and an ankle monitor: Alabama leaves freed prison inmates with no money, no plan