SB108 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Tom Whatley
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Youthful offenders, change threshold age, give judge discretion to consider past youthful offender status, to expunge record of, Secs. 15-19-1, 15-19-7 am'd.
Summary: The bill changes the age threshold for youthful offender status, allows a judge to consider past youthful offender status if a person commits another crime, and provides for expungement of youthful offender records.
What This Bill Does
It sets the age limits for youthful offender eligibility at under 23, or under 25 if the offender is a full-time student, for certain crimes. It lets a judge use discretion to decide whether a prior youthful offender adjudication should be considered in a later case. It provides that youthful offender records can be expunged after the sentence and probation are completed, with some exceptions. In cases involving serious physical injury or murder, victims must receive 10 days' notice and the court must hold an evidentiary hearing before deciding youthful offender status.

Who It Affects
Youthful offenders or people charged as youths under the new age thresholds, who may be investigated for youthful offender status, potentially tried as youthful offenders, and whose records may be expunged after completing sentence and probation
Victims in serious cases and the prosecutors and courts handling these cases, who gain rights to notice and participation, and participate in the record-keeping and expungement process

Key Provisions
Changes the threshold ages for youthful offender eligibility to apply when a crime is committed before age 23 (or before 25 if the defendant was a full-time student) under specified conditions
Allows the court, in its discretion, to consider a prior youthful offender adjudication when the same person commits a subsequent crime
Expands expungement of youthful offender records after completion of sentence and probation, with a potential exception if the person is later treated as an adult sex offender
Requires victim notice (10 days prior) and an evidentiary hearing in cases where the crime involves serious physical injury or death before determining youthful offender status

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