SB324 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Vivian Davis FiguresSenator
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Juvenile Court, transfer of cases involving minors 14 years of age or more to circuirt court for specified criminal offenses, youthful offender status authorized, Sec. 12-15-204 repealed; Secs. 12-15-203, 12-15-208, 12-15-208.1 am'd.
Summary: SB324 would let 14- to 17-year-olds charged with serious offenses be moved from juvenile court to circuit court for criminal prosecution, allow youthful offender status after transfer, and set detention rules to keep minors separate from adults.
What This Bill Does
It allows prosecutors to file a motion to transfer a case for a child 14 or older who is alleged to have committed a capital offense, a Class A felony, a felony with a deadly weapon element, a death or serious injury outcome, or related offenses, from juvenile court to circuit or district court. It also ensures that a circuit court judge may grant youthful offender status even after transfer. It repeals the current rule that 16-year-olds can be charged, arrested, and tried as adults for these offenses, replacing it with a transfer-and-detention framework. If transferred, the child may be detained in secure custody, but generally may not be housed with adult inmates for more than six hours during processing, and must be kept separate from adult inmates.

Who It Affects
Minors aged 14-17 who are alleged to have committed capital offenses, Class A felonies, deadly weapon offenses, offenses causing death or serious physical injury, drug trafficking offenses, or lesser included offenses, who could be transferred to circuit court for prosecution.
Parents or guardians of these minors, whose cases may move from juvenile court to circuit court and affect supervision and custody arrangements.
Circuit and juvenile court judges, who would decide on transfers and may determine youthful offender status after transfer.
Detention facilities, jail staff, and related state agencies (such as the Departments of Youth Services and Human Resources) responsible for detention and custody of minors, due to new separation and processing rules.

Key Provisions
Allows transfer of a child 14 years of age or older from juvenile court to circuit court if the child is alleged to have committed a capital offense, a Class A felony, a felony with a deadly weapon element, a death or serious injury outcome, or certain related offenses (as defined in the statute).
Specifies that a transferred case may still allow a circuit court judge to grant youthful offender status after transfer.
Repeals Section 12-15-204, removing the rule that persons 16 years and older are automatically charged, arrested, and tried as adults for these offenses; establishes transfer as the pathway to adult criminal prosecution for these offenses starting at age 14.
Provides that a child 14 or older whose case was transferred may be detained in secure custody and prohibits detaining anyone under 18 with adult inmates except for a maximum six-hour processing period; requires separation from adult inmates.
Includes retroactive application, applying to cases where the alleged conduct occurred after April 14, 1994, and states the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage.

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