Hal Nash, who’s worked in sheriff’s offices in Jackson and DeKalb counties, is the new chair of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Monday.
Nash will replace Leigh Gwathney, the sometimes controversial chair for the past six years. Nash’s appointment is immediate.
A press release from Ivey’s office said she wanted a “tough-on-crime, fair and pro-law enforcement candidate with leadership experience.”
“In 2019, we amended the law to ensure that the Board of Pardons and Paroles’ paramount duty will always be to ensure public safety, and Hal Nash is well-equipped to maintain the board’s effectiveness in performing that task,” Ivey said.
“He has a law enforcement perspective, and he has assured me he will approach each decision fairly and with that top goal in mind, which is to keep the people of Alabama safe. Since he was a little boy, Mr. Nash dreamed of being in law enforcement, and it was not until age 40, he got his start. However, ever since then, he has been a dedicated member of law enforcement and brings wide-ranging law enforcement and leadership experience to this board.”
Nash was most recently the chief corrections deputy at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
“I am humbled by the appointment as Chair of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles by Gov. Ivey and look forward to working with the other board members as we serve Alabama in this important public safety role,” Nash said Monday. “This is not a position to be taken lightly. While remembering that people can choose to change for the better, this task will require weighing the safety of all the citizens of Alabama first. I pray for the wisdom to recognize both as I strive to serve the very best I can.”
Gwathney was appointed to the board in 2019 and her term expired at the end of June. Per state code, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter gave Ivey the names of five potential appointees for a new term, including Gwathney. Attorney General Steve Marshall and other law enforcement officials lobbied for a new term for Gwathney.
The board has seen single-digit parole rates since Gwathney became chair of the three-member board that decides who will be released from prison under state supervision.
Parole rates decreased from 53% in 2019 to 8% in 2023, a reduction Gwathney defended by saying statistics wouldn’t drive the panel.
In a letter to Ivey last week, Marshall and other supporters said Gwathney has a “level of courage, conviction, and dedication to the cause that is rarely seen in Montgomery.”
In the press release from Ivey’s office, there was praise for Nash from local law enforcement officials. He’s been an investigator, narcotics agent, deputy commander and commander under the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. While in DeKalb County, he served five years with the United States Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force Huntsville Office.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Hal for over two decades and have personal experience with his character, integrity and discernment,” said Jackson County District Attorney Jason Pierce. Pierce was one of dozens of law enforcement officials who signed Marshall’s letter in support of Gwathney last week.
“I am confident that his experiences as a law enforcement officer for multiple jurisdictions as well as working as the Chief Corrections Deputy for the Jackson County Jail gives Hal a unique perspective that well equips him to make the difficult decisions necessary as a member of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. He is an excellent appointment,” Pierce said.
Gwathney and the board have frustrated some lawmakers by not complying with its parole guidelines, which it sets. That board also has not updated its guidelines as required by law. In the most recent legislative session, lawmakers tied the board’s 2026 funding to updated guidelines.
Others, like Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, have argued keeping people in prison until the end of their sentences, when the state no longer has supervision, is a safety issue for the state.
On Monday, England said the selection of Nash is a chance for the board to move in a different direction. He said he’s hopeful for a more transparent board that will be more responsive to legislators’ concerns.
“And most importantly, makes sure that public safety remains a priority and works with other parts of corrections so we can effectively and safely manage our resources and prison population,” England said.
Bureau of Pardons and Parole Director Cam Ward called Nash a “fine choice.”
“The bureau functions separately from the Board, but we enjoy cooperation with its members and work to promote the safety of our state’s citizens while providing meaningful paths to reentry into society for formerly incarcerated Alabamians,” Ward said.