The Alabama Department of Corrections Administrative Rule AR015 “Victim/Offender Mediation Program” specifically allows and facilitates these meetings and the only “requirement” is for the victim or their representative to “REQUEST” the meeting. Once again ADOC refuses to follow their own regulations. At this point I’m fairly certain no one who works or runs ADOC even reads their own regulations, because they don’t seem to know them and constantly refuse to follow them.
That is wild. Has this been brought to the attention of the ADOC? Not that it would matter but I do wonder if we could encourage them to read up on this rule so that in the future we can better care for the desires of victims. This story is heartbreaking because it completely ignored the victim's desires which would have helped facilitate healing for them (and for the offender).
ADOC denied another meeting that was directly requested by the victim just before this case. ADOC has a “gatekeeper” who is essentially a secretary that denied the meeting after literally interrogating the victim about why they wanted the meeting. It was cruel, inappropriate and completely in violation of their own regulations. I suspect the only way this will get resolved is if someone sues and a judge forces them to follow their own regulations.
Thanks. I read up on this rule and it appears that the offender being on death row is an exception that prevents the facilitation of these meetings between victim and offender. So while I don't think suing will be effective, I strongly believe that this ruling should be changed. https://doc.alabama.gov/docs/AdminRegs/AR015.pdf
The Alabama Department of Corrections Administrative Rule AR015 “Victim/Offender Mediation Program” specifically allows and facilitates these meetings and the only “requirement” is for the victim or their representative to “REQUEST” the meeting. Once again ADOC refuses to follow their own regulations. At this point I’m fairly certain no one who works or runs ADOC even reads their own regulations, because they don’t seem to know them and constantly refuse to follow them.
That is wild. Has this been brought to the attention of the ADOC? Not that it would matter but I do wonder if we could encourage them to read up on this rule so that in the future we can better care for the desires of victims. This story is heartbreaking because it completely ignored the victim's desires which would have helped facilitate healing for them (and for the offender).
ADOC denied another meeting that was directly requested by the victim just before this case. ADOC has a “gatekeeper” who is essentially a secretary that denied the meeting after literally interrogating the victim about why they wanted the meeting. It was cruel, inappropriate and completely in violation of their own regulations. I suspect the only way this will get resolved is if someone sues and a judge forces them to follow their own regulations.
Thanks. I read up on this rule and it appears that the offender being on death row is an exception that prevents the facilitation of these meetings between victim and offender. So while I don't think suing will be effective, I strongly believe that this ruling should be changed. https://doc.alabama.gov/docs/AdminRegs/AR015.pdf