By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – State Representative Linda Coleman is pushing a bill that would allow medical paroles for Alabama's sickest inmates. She says the state could save millions of dollars in hospital and medical bills. The same bill has passed the House twice but failed in the Senate both times. And the state parole board is not supporting it. Board members say most of the inmates considered for medical parole have other reasons to stay in prison, such as the nature of their crimes. But Coleman says releasing inmates to receive extensive medical care would be the right thing to do.