Governor Kay Ivey appointed former Senator Cam Ward Director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles last fall. He was sworn in on December 7, 2020. In this role, he is responsible for all agency operations in support of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Prior to his appointment Ward was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2002 where he served for two terms. In 2010, he was elected to the Alabama Senate representing parts of Shelby, Bibb and Chilton County. He was re-elected in 2012 and served as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, a role he held for nine years. Additionally, Ward served as President of the Alabama Law Institute.
Last week Gov. Kay Ivey [July 28, 2021] made Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles Director Cam Ward a member of her cabinet.
Source: Al.com
Ivey told Ward about the decision during a routine meeting with him today, the governor’s office said.
“I’m so pleased to appoint Director Cam Ward as a formal member of my cabinet,” Ivey said. “Director Ward has hit the ground running on day one, and he is doing an excellent job leading the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles and helping our state prioritize criminal justice matters. I look forward to his insight and experiences that can be shared with his cabinet colleagues and know he will bring added value to our team.”
The Legislature passed a bill in 2019 to make the Pardons and Paroles director an appointee of the governor. Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall supported the bill, saying it would bring more accountability to the bureau. Before that, the director was appointed by the three-member parole board
Ward said being a member of the cabinet would put him a position to be a closer adviser to the governor than he was as an agency appointee.
“I’m very flattered to have this increased role working on criminal justice policy in our state,” Ward said.
Director Ward also added this statement for The Bibb Voice, “I’m honored to continue my work in finding new and better ways for reentry into society. I hope that we can build on having more rehabilitation, mental health treatment and job training for those formerly incarcerated that will improve public safety.”
Ward is married to the former Lindsey Clements and he has two daughters, Riley and Clements.
