Criminal justice
Alabama bill would allow elderly to opt out of jury duty
An Alabama committee Wednesday approved a bill that will allow the elderly to apply for exemptions from jury duty. The House Judiciary Committee approved SB 64, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, by voice vote on Wednesday. Under the bill, people aged 75 or older would be able to ask a court to […]
Bill that makes doxing a crime passes the Senate
A bill that would outlaw doxing passed the Senate on Thursday. HB 287, sponsored by Rep. Shane Stringer, R-Citronelle, makes it illegal for someone to intentionally post personal identifying information online to harass or harm another person. If the person whose information is shared is a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or public servant, then the […]
Alabama Senate passes amended version of former gang bill
The Alabama Senate Wednesday approved an amended version of the bill creating harsher criminal penalties for involvement in criminal enterprises. Most of the amendments to SB 143, sponsored by Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, were cosmetic and changed references from “gang” to “criminal enterprise.” Some offenses were reduced. “This bill, SB 143, is a criminal enterprise […]
DA: Five people indicted on murder, assault charges in Dadeville mass shooting
Five people arrested in connection with the mass shooting at a Sweet 16 party in Dadeville last month have been indicted on murder and assault charges. The Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Office said in a release Wednesday afternoon that Willie Brown, 20; Johnny Brown, 19; Wilson Hill, 19; an unidentified juvenile, 16 and an […]
Senate committee OKs bill criminalizing absentee ballot help, but reduces penalties
The Alabama Senate State Governmental Affairs Tuesday approved a bill that would criminalize some forms of assistance for absentee voting. But the committee voted to reduce some penalties and to add language clarifying that it is not a crime to help a person with a disability fill out an absentee ballot. The legislation, sponsored by […]
Voting restriction bill moves in the Alabama Legislature as voting access legislation stalls
The Alabama Legislature is on course to finish the 2023 regular session with more restrictions on voting and a number of stalled attempts to make casting a ballot easier. A bill that would make it a felony for most people and organizations to assist people with filling out absentee ballots is moving quickly through the […]
Alabama House bill creates registration, filtering requirements for pornography companies
An Alabama House committee Wednesday approved a bill requiring companies that distribute pornography to use filters aimed at preventing minors from viewing the material. HB 441, sponsored by Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, mandates companies distributing material that is “harmful to minors” to have a system in place for verifying the ages and preventing people younger […]
Alabama Legislature approves bill making gunfire on school property a felony
The Alabama Senate Thursday approved a bill that could subject an adult who shoots a gun on school property to prison time. HB 34, sponsored by Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, passed the Senate 31-0. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, who carried the bill in the Senate, said the […]
Alabama House approves bill allowing juvenile detention facilities to define contraband
The Alabama House of Representatives approved a bill Thursday that would allow detention facilities to develop their own definitions of contraband and punish juveniles for contraband possession as adults. SB 120, sponsored by Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, passed 98-3. The bill was amended and goes back to the Senate for concurrence or a conference committee. […]
Senator pushing to get Alabama sex abuse survivors bill out of committee
A bill to extend the statute of limitations for people who have been sexually abused as children could start moving after the bill’s sponsor threatened to stall legislation on the Senate floor. Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, who said an unnamed insurance company had been holding up the bill, said Thursday morning that she was […]
Alabama Senate passes loitering bill
The Alabama Senate approved a bill Tuesday that would increase the punishments for loitering. The bill, HB24, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Montgomery, makes two or more arrests for loitering a Class C misdemeanor, with punishments of up to 30 days in jail and up to a $500 fine. The bill passed 33-0. It […]
Alabama House could vote on review of some habitual felony offender sentences
A House committee Wednesday approved a bill giving people sentenced under the Habitual Felony Offender Act a chance of rehearing after several weeks of negotiations between lawmakers and criminal justice advocacy groups. HB 229, sponsored by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, creates a process where a group of people with long prison sentences can have their […]