Title 15

A search warrant may be executed by any one of the officers to whom it is directed, but by no other person except in aid of such officer at his request, he being present and acting in its execution. (Code 1852, §832; Code 1867, §4383; Code 1876, §4013; Code 1886, §4733; Code 1896…

In cases in which the property to be seized does not include a controlled substance, a search warrant must be executed in the daytime unless the affidavits state positively that the property is on the person or in the place to be searched, in which case it may be executed at any …

To execute a search warrant, an officer may break open any door or window of a house, any part of a house or anything therein if after notice of his authority and purpose he is refused admittance. (Code 1852, §834; Code 1867, §4385; Code 1876, §4014; Code 1886, §4735; Code 1896, …

A sheriff or other officer acting as sheriff, his deputy or any constable, acting within their respective counties, any marshal, deputy marshal or policeman of any incorporated city or town within the limits of the county or any highway patrolman or state trooper may stop any per…

When a sheriff or other officer acting as sheriff, his deputy or any constable, acting within their respective counties, any marshal, deputy marshal or policeman of any incorporated city or town within the limits of the county or any highway patrolman or state trooper has stopped…

(a) The definitions, prohibitions, authorizations, and procedures regarding access to stored wire and electronic communications and transactional records and the installation or use of pen registers or trap and trace devices shall be adopted and coextensive with the provisions of…

(a) Any circuit or district court judge in this state is authorized to issue a warrant to install a tracking device. The term tracking device means an electronic or mechanical device which permits the tracking of the movement of a person or object. (b) Upon the written applicatio…

(a) This section shall be known and cited as the Kelsey Smith Act. (b) Upon request of a law enforcement officer as defined in Rule 1.4 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure, who is on duty and acting in the course of his or her official duties at the time of the request, a …

This article shall be known and may be cited as the Alabama Comprehensive Criminal Proceeds Forfeiture Act. (Act 2014-306, p. 1103, §1.)

(a) Any property, proceeds, or instrumentality of every kind, used or intended for use in the course of, derived from, or realized through the commission of a felony offense, as defined in this article, or a misdemeanor offense under Article 3, Chapter 12, Title 13A, relating to …

For the purposes of this article, the following words shall have the following meanings: (1) FELONY OFFENSE. Any act that could be charged as a felony criminal offense under the Code of Alabama 1975, whether or not a formal criminal prosecution or delinquent proceeding began at t…

The state must prove to the court’s reasonable satisfaction that the proceeds, property, or instrumentality of any kind were used in, intended to be used in, or derived from, a felony offense. Except as provided otherwise in this article, the manner, method, and procedure for the…

In order for property or proceeds to be deemed abandoned, a representative of the law enforcement agency having possession of abandoned property or proceeds shall file with the district attorney a sworn affidavit setting forth the circumstances of the abandonment, including the r…

(a) Unless by other agreement of the primary law enforcement agency and the prosecutorial entity, the proceeds from any forfeiture shall be used, first, for payment of all proper expenses of the proceedings for forfeiture and sale, including expenses of seizure, maintenance of or…

The sheriff is the principal conservator of the peace in his county, and it is his duty to suppress all riots, unlawful assemblies and affrays. In the execution of such duty, he may summon to his aid as many of the men of his county as he thinks proper. (Code 1852, §407; Code 186…

The judges of the circuit, district and municipal courts are authorized to require persons to give security to keep the peace in the manner provided in this chapter. (Code 1852, §408; Code 1867, §3957; Code 1876, §4026; Code 1886, §4680; Code 1896, §5161; Code 1907, §7519; Code 1…

Any person who, in the presence of a judge, commits or threatens to commit an offense against the person or property of another or contends with another with angry words may be ordered, without process, to enter into an undertaking to keep the peace for a term not exceeding 12 mo…

Any official of a municipality who fails, refuses or neglects to comply with any order or direction of the Governor of the State of Alabama which is made by the Governor under the laws of Alabama authorizing him to enforce the laws and preserve the peace of the state shall be gui…

(a) Whenever complaint is made to a judge of a circuit, district or municipal court that any person has threatened or is about to commit an offense on the person or property of another, such judge must examine the complainant and any witness he may produce on oath, reduce such ex…

(a) If on examination by the circuit, district or municipal court judge, it appears that there is reason to fear the commission of any offense by the person complained of, such judge must issue a warrant directed to any lawful officer of the state, containing the substance of the…

When a person complained of is brought before the circuit, district or municipal court judge, he and his witnesses must be heard in his defense; and, if on hearing the witnesses on both sides it appears that there is no just reason to fear the commission of the offense, the defen…

If the circuit, district or municipal court judge regards a complaint as unfounded or frivolous, he may order the complainant to pay the costs of prosecution; and, upon making such order, execution may issue to enforce the payment thereof. (Code 1852, §413; Code 1867, §3962; Code…

(a) If there is just reason to fear the commission of an offense, the defendant must be required to give security to keep the peace, in such sum as the circuit, district or municipal court judge may direct, towards all the people of this state, particularly the person against who…

(a) Upon an undertaking, with sufficient sureties being given, the defendant must be discharged; and, if not given, the circuit, district or municipal court judge must commit him to jail until he gives the same, specifying in the warrant of commitment the cause thereof, the time …

In all cases where a person is required to keep the peace, the circuit, district or municipal court judge may order the costs of the prosecution, or any part thereof, to be paid judge other than a judge of an appellate or circuit court issue for the collection of the same. (Code …

(a) Any person required to keep the peace under the provisions of Article 2 of this chapter by any judge other than a judge of an appellate or circuit court is entitled, on entering into an undertaking with sufficient sureties in a sum equal to that required of him to keep the pe…

Any undertaking given under any provision of this chapter must be returned by the judge taking the same to the clerk of the court to which an appeal is taken, within 10 days after taking it; and, failing to do so, he may be attached for contempt. (Code 1852, §421; Code 1867, §397…

The court to which an appeal is prosecuted under the provisions of this article must examine the case anew and may confirm the order of the judge, discharge the appellant or require him to enter into a new undertaking, with sufficient sureties, to keep the peace in such sum and f…

If an appellant fails to sustain his appeal under this article, his undertaking remains in full force and effect as to any breach thereof and also stands as security for any costs which are ordered by the court to be paid by the appellant, and execution may issue therefor against…

The court may, on the conviction of any person for an offense against the person or property of another and when necessary for the public good, require the defendant to enter into an undertaking, with sufficient sureties, to keep the peace for a period not exceeding 12 months and…

(a) An undertaking to keep the peace is forfeited by the commission by the defendant of any offense upon the person or property of another, which may be ascertained by a jury, without the conviction of the defendant therefor, in the circuit court on 10 days’ notice to the parties…

A “complaint” is an allegation made before a proper judge or magistrate that a person has been guilty of a designated public offense. (Code 1852, §428; Code 1867, §3977; Code 1876, §4647; Code 1886, §4255; Code 1896, §5204; Code 1907, §7584; Code 1923, §5217; Code 1940, T. 15, §1…

(a) Upon a complaint being made to a judge or magistrate that an offense has, in the opinion of the complainant, been committed, the judge or magistrate must examine the complainant and such witnesses as he may propose on oath, take their depositions in writing and cause them to …

If the judge or magistrate is reasonably satisfied from such deposition that the offense complained of has been committed and that there is reasonable ground to believe that the defendant is guilty thereof, he must issue a warrant of arrest. (Code 1852, §431; Code 1867, §3980; Co…

(a) A “warrant of arrest” is an order in writing, issued and signed by a judge or magistrate, stating the substance of the complaint and directed to a proper officer, commanding him to arrest the defendant. (b) Such warrant must designate the name of the defendant, if known; but …

When the offense described in an arrest warrant is a misdemeanor and it is executed by the sheriff or his deputy, such sheriff or deputy may, on the request of the defendant, discharge him on sufficient bail for his appearance at the next term of the court having jurisdiction of …

(a) When the offense described in the warrant is a misdemeanor and it is not executed by the sheriff or his deputy, at the defendant’s request, he may be brought before a judge, or a magistrate when authorized by law to grant bail, of the county in which the warrant was executed;…

When the bail is taken under the provisions of Sections 15-7-20 and 15-7-21, in fixing the amount of bail, it must be presumed that the offense is of an aggravated nature. (Code 1852, §442; Code 1867, §3991; Code 1876, §4661; Code 1886, §4277; Code 1896, §5226; Code 1907, §7591; …

An “indictment” is an accusation in writing presented by the grand jury of the county, charging a person with an indictable offense. The distinction between indictments and presentments is abolished. (Code 1852, §§559, 560; Code 1867, §§4109, 4110; Code 1876, §§4782, 4783; Code 1…

All felonies and all misdemeanors originally prosecuted in the district court or circuit court are indictable offenses. (Code 1852, §558; Code 1867, §4108; Code 1876, §4781; Code 1886, §3702; Code 1896, §4891; Code 1907, §7129; Code 1923, §4524; Code 1940, T. 15, §227.)

An indictment must contain, in the caption or body thereof, the name of the state, county, court and time when it is preferred and must conclude “against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.” (Code 1852, §561; Code 1867, §4111; Code 1876, §4784; Code 1886, §4365; Code 1…

An indictment must not be held insufficient, nor can the trial, judgment or other proceedings thereon be affected by reason of any defect or imperfection in any matter of form which does not prejudice the substantial rights of the defendant on the trial. (Code 1852, §592; Code 18…

The words used in an indictment must be construed in their usual acceptation in common language, except words and phrases defined by law, which must be construed according to their legal meanings. (Code 1852, §578; Code 1867, §4128; Code 1876, §4801; Code 1886, §4369; Code 1896, …

In an indictment for an offense which was indictable at common law, the offense may be charged or described as at common law, and the defendant, if convicted, must receive the punishment prescribed by the statute. (Code 1852, §570; Code 1867, §4120; Code 1876, §4793; Code 1886, §…

Words used in a statute to define an offense need not be strictly pursued in the indictment; it is sufficient to use other words conveying the same meaning. (Code 1852, §569; Code 1867, §4119; Code 1876, §4792; Code 1886, §4370; Code 1896, §4898; Code 1907, §7136; Code 1923, §453…

When a statute creating or defining an offense uses special or particular terms, an indictment on it may use the general term which, in common language, embraces the special term. (Code 1852, §571; Code 1867, §4121; Code 1876, §4794; Code 1886, §4372; Code 1896, §4900; Code 1907,…