Gov. Kay Ivey announced on Tuesday that she will Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) as director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.
The state senator is currently serving as the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and has worked on bills related to criminal justice and prison reform.
“I’m honored that Governor Ivey had the confidence to appoint me to this position,” Ward said in a statement. “I have committed my career in the Senate to improving our criminal justice system in Alabama, and I look forward to working with Governor Ivey going forward in this effort.”
The Alabama prison system has been under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice in recent years due to their conditions and overcrowding.
Ivey expressed confidence in Ward taking over the role.
“Cam Ward has spent his career as an attorney and public servant dedicated to Alabama’s criminal justice system,” she said. “As he transitions to director of Pardons and Paroles, I’m confident that his background experience will position him to closely follow the letter of the law while providing individuals every opportunity possible to rebuild their lives post-incarceration.”
Ward will replace Charles Graddick on Dec. 7.
