MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Gov. Kay Ivey has appointed career law enforcement officer Jennifer Rudden Conway to serve on the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Conway’s previous experience includes stints at the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Greensboro, North Carolina, and Middle District of Alabama bureaus. Her work with the ATF most recently contributed to the success of the Montgomery-area Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit.
“Jennifer Conway possesses a deep knowledge of criminal law matched with decades of first-hand experience investigating and bringing the most hardened offenders to justice,” Ivey said in a statement. “I cannot think of a more qualified person to sit on the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles ensuring each case is carefully reviewed and the public’s interest is protected. I look forward to her service.”
Conway will fill the seat left vacant since Associate Member Darryl Littleton’s departure in January. She joins Board Chair Hal Nash and Associate Member Gabrelle Simmons.
Her appointment is effective immediately, but Conway will need to be confirmed by the Alabama Legislature when it convenes for its 2027 legislative session in January.
Ivey picked Conway from a list of five candidates decided by a legislative committee comprised of Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter and Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger.
“I appreciate Governor Kay Ivey’s trust in me and am committed to fulfilling my duties on the board for the people of Alabama,” Conway said. “I understand the importance of my role on the board and the need to collaborate with fellow board members to make informed decisions. I take the responsibility of the board very seriously and ensure my decisions will always prioritize public safety.”
The high-profile board previously came under fire because of low parole grant rates and failure to comply with its own guidelines for deciding who will be released from prison under state supervision.
Under previous Board Chair Leigh Gwathney’s six-year tenure, the board saw a steep decline in parole rates, reaching a historic low of 8% in fiscal year 2023. As of June 1, the ABPP’s grant rate for fiscal year 2026 is 20%.