SB349 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Cam Ward
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: SB349 clarifies prison reform provisions by tightening parole/probation violation confinement rules, sets mandatory release dates, updates theft penalties, aligns certain offenses, expands veteran services and community corrections, extends a legislative reporting deadline, and addresses local-funding considerations.
What This Bill Does
It clarifies when modifications to the initial voluntary sentencing standards take effect and requires a written violation report before confining a parolee or probationer for violations. It changes several theft-related thresholds and standardizes penalties for criminal solicitation, attempt, and conspiracy to align with Class D felonies. It allows the Board of Pardons and Paroles and judges to impose up to two to three 24-hour confinement periods for violations, makes the Department of Corrections responsible for release after confinement with a mandatory release date, and clarifies referrals and services for veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Treatment Courts. It also extends the legislative committee's reporting deadline and confirms local-funding implications under Amendment 621.

Who It Affects
Parolees and probationers - confinement for violations may be limited to two to three 24-hour periods, requires a written violation report before confinement, and may lead to probation or parole revocation after specified confinement; some releases will have mandatory release dates.
State and local agencies/programs - including the Department of Corrections, Board of Pardons and Paroles, Department of Veterans Affairs, and local community corrections programs, which will implement release procedures, veteran referral services (including Veterans Treatment Courts), and related funding and reporting requirements.

Key Provisions
Clarifies when modifications to initial voluntary sentencing standards take effect and requires a written violation report before confinement for parole/probation violations.
Updates monetary thresholds for theft in the third degree (theft of property, theft of lost property, theft of services, receiving stolen property) and aligns penalties for criminal solicitation, attempt, and conspiracy with Class D offenses.
Permits the Board of Pardons and Paroles and judges to impose two to three 24-hour confinement periods for violations, with the Department of Corrections responsible for release after confinement and the removal of release ranges in favor of a mandatory release date.
Clarifies that 'consenting community corrections programs' apply to Class D felonies and designates the Department of Veterans Affairs as the agency responsible for identifying veteran referrals and services, including Veterans Treatment Courts.
Extends the legislative committee reporting deadline for the Legislative Prison Joint Task Force from April 20, 2016 to April 20, 2017.
States that the act would involve a new or increased local expenditure but is exempt from Amendment 621's local-fund approval requirements due to specified 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