HB446 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Jones

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Prison reform, periods of confinement for parole and probation violations clarified, mandatory release dates required, identification of alternative community corrections programs clarified, services for veterans, legislative committee reporting requirement extended, Secs. 12-25-32, 12-25-34, 13A-4-1, 13A-4-2, 13A-4-3, 13A-5-6, 13A-5-8.1, 13A-8-4.1, 13A-8-8.1, 13A-8-10.25, 13A-8-18.1, 15-18-8, 15-18-172, 15-22-26.2, 15-22-29, 15-22-29.1, 15-22-32, 15-22-52, 15-22-54, 29-2-20 am'd.

Summary

HB446 clarifies and updates parole/probation confinement rules, penalties, veteran services, and related reporting and community corrections provisions in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

It clarifies when sentencing standards updates take effect, requires a written violation report before confinement for parole/probation violations, and allows short confinement periods (two to three 24-hour blocks) with limits and revocation rules. It updates theft-related thresholds to about $1,500 for third-degree offenses, adjusts penalties for solicitation, attempt, and conspiracy to align with Class D offenses, and designates the Department of Corrections as responsible for release with a mandatory release date. It clarifies who is responsible for alternatives to community corrections (sentencing courts), assigns the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify veteran services including Veterans Treatment Courts, extends the legislative reporting deadline from 2016 to 2017, and notes local-funds expenditure considerations under Amendment 621.

Who It Affects

• Parolees and probationers under supervision, who may face short periods of confinement for violations and must receive written violation reports and hearings before confinement.
• Veterans and veteran service providers, as the Department of Veterans Affairs would identify referral services and Veterans Treatment Courts to assist veterans.

Key Provisions

• Clarifies the effective timing of modifications to initial voluntary sentencing standards and the periods of confinement that may be imposed for violations; requires a written violation report before confinement.
• Updates monetary thresholds for theft of property in the third degree, theft of lost property in the third degree, theft of services in the third degree, and receiving stolen property in the third degree (approximately $1,500 value threshold).
• Aligns criminal penalties for criminal solicitation, attempt, and criminal conspiracy with Class D felony offenses.
• Allows Board of Pardons and Paroles and judges to impose two to three 24-hour confinement periods for violations, with specified limits and need for reports and possible revocation after three periods.
• Assigns responsibility for release decisions to the Department of Corrections with a mandatory release date and removes release ranges.
• Clarifies that for Class D offenses, the sentencing court (not DOC) has responsibility for identifying alternatives to community corrections; designates the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify veteran referral services and Veterans Treatment Courts.
• Extends the Legislative Prison Joint Task Force reporting deadline from April 20, 2016 to April 20, 2017.
• Notes that the bill is exempt from Amendment 621 local-funds expenditure requirements due to specific exceptions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Corrections Department