Blog – Alabama Appleseed

The State of Justice Blog

Alabama Deserves a Vote on Predatory Lending Reform

by Dana Sweeney, Organizer For years, there has been widespread, bipartisan agreement that we must reel in predatory payday lenders in Alabama. According to data collected by the State Banking Department, about 215,000 Alabamians took out…

Alabama Appleseed Statement on Committee Hearings on Legislation to Reclassify Marijuana Possession Offenses

News

Today the Alabama Senate and House Judiciary Committees considered legislation to reclassify one ounce or less of marijuana as a civil offense, the possession of more than one ounce but less than two ounces as a Class D felony, and the possession…

Support SB 251 (Sen. Brewbaker) & HB 272 (Rep. Todd)

Fair Schools, Safe Communities, News

Alabama Appleseed Applauds Vote to End Civil Asset Forfeiture

Fair Schools, Safe Communities, News, Press Release

Today the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance SB 213 (Senator Orr), which would end civil asset forfeiture in Alabama. “Civil asset forfeiture allows the government to take and keep your cash, your car, or your house – even…

Challenging Alabama’s Racial Wealth Divide

Fair Schools, Safe Communities, Frank Knaack

by Frank Knaack, Executive Director The staggering racial disparities in Alabama’s criminal justice system mean people of color are more likely to incur criminal justice debt and face counterproductive hurdles to reentry. People of color…

It’s Time for Civil Asset Forfeiture to Go

Fair Schools, Safe Communities, Frank Knaack

by Frank Knaack, Executive Director Under both Alabama and federal law, the government can take and keep your cash, your car, or your house – even if you are never charged with a crime. This program, known as civil asset forfeiture, turns…