Title 13A — Title 13A

(a) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for any crime that, at the time of the commission of the acts constituting the offense, the defendant, as a result of severe mental disease or defect, was unable to appreciate the nature and quality or wrongfulness of his acts. Me…

(a) Intoxication is not a defense to a criminal charge, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section. However, intoxication, whether voluntary or involuntary, is admissible in evidence whenever it is relevant to negate an element of the offense charged. (b) When recklessn…

The following definitions are applicable to this article: (1) BUILDING. Any structure which may be entered and utilized by persons for business, public use, lodging, or the storage of goods, and includes any vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft used for the lodging of persons or carr…

Negligence; Civil Remedies. (a) Defense. Except as otherwise expressly provided, justification or excuse under this article is a defense. (b) Danger to innocent persons. If a person is justified or excused in using force against a person, but he recklessly or negligently injures …

Unless inconsistent with other provisions of this article, or with some other provision of law, conduct which would otherwise constitute an offense is justifiable and not criminal when it is required or authorized by law or by a judicial decree or is performed by a public servant…

[Effective until October 1, 2026.] AMENDED BY ACT 2026-493, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026. SEE ACT FOR REVISED LANGUAGE. (a) A person is justified in using physical force upon another person in order to defend himself or herself or a third person from what he or she reasonably believ…

Responsibilities. The use of force upon another person is justified under any of the following circumstances: (1) A parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care and supervision of a minor or an incompetent person, and a teacher or other person responsible for the ca…

(a) A person in lawful possession or control of premises, as defined in Section 13A- 3-20, or a person who is licensed or privileged to be thereon, may use physical force upon another person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes it necessary to prevent or terminate w…

A person is justified in using physical force, other than deadly physical force, upon another person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes it to be necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission by the other person of theft or criminal misch…

(a) A law enforcement officer shall be justified in making any use of physical force against a person if the use of force is conduct performed within the law enforcement officer’s discretionary authority and does not constitute excessive force as provided in subsection (b). (b) N…

A person may not use physical force to resist a lawful arrest by a law enforcement officer who is known or reasonably appears to be a law enforcement officer. History: (Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §635; Act 2025-423, §3.)

The prosecution of any person as an adult shall be barred if the offense was committed when the actor was less than 14 years old. History: (Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §510.)

(a) It is a defense to prosecution that the actor engaged in the proscribed conduct because he was compelled to do so by the threat of imminent death or serious physical injury to himself or another. (b) The defense provided by this section is unavailable if the actor intentional…

The Alabama Criminal Code adopts the present case law on entrapment. History: (Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §650; Acts 1979, No. 79-664, p. 1163, §1.)