Alabama Criminal Defense Laws

Class A: life or 10-99 years (up to $60,000 fine). Class B: 2-20 years ($30,000). Class C: 1 year 1 day–10 years ($15,000). Class D: 1 year 1 day–5 years ($7,500). The Habitual Felony Offender Act (§ 13A-5-9) significantly enhances sentences based on prior felony convictions.

Alabama's first comprehensive expungement law. Eligible: non-convictions (dismissed, acquitted) for any charge after 90+ days; non-violent misdemeanor convictions after 3 years of sentence completion; pardoned felonies; certain listed non-violent felonies. Ineligible: violent offenses, sex offenses. Filing fee: approximately $300.

Alabama retains the death penalty with three methods: lethal injection (primary), nitrogen hypoxia (Alabama was first to use this method), and electric chair (if elected). Judicial override was abolished in 2017 but is not retroactive — approximately 30 people remain on death row with override sentences.