HB261 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Lynn Greer

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Criminal witnesses, contact with by criminal defendant prohibited without notice to prosecutor, penalties for violations, Defense Initiated Victims Outreach initiative, funding of by public funds prohibited, Sec. 15-23-73 am'd.

Summary

HB261 would require defense attorneys to notify prosecutors before contacting crime victims or their immediate family, create penalties for unauthorized contact, and bar state funding for a Defense Initiated Victims Outreach program.

What This Bill Does

It prevents defense attorneys from contacting crime victims or their immediate family for case-related questions without notice to the prosecutor. The prosecutor can consent to contact or seek a court order prohibiting contact; unauthorized contact would be harassment. It also bars using state funds for the Defense Initiated Victims Outreach initiative and related professional services, and it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Victims of crimes and their immediate family members would be protected from being contacted by defense attorneys without notice to the prosecutor.
• Criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors must follow the new notice and potential court-control process; the state would be barred from funding the Defense Initiated Victims Outreach initiative and related professionals.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 15-23-73 to require notice to the prosecutor before an attorney for a defendant may contact a victim or the victim's immediate family for case-related purposes.
• The prosecutor may consent to the contact or request the court to prohibit the attorney from contacting the victim or immediate family.
• If the prosecutor does not respond within 48 hours after notice, the attorney may contact the victim; if the prosecutor later seeks to prohibit contact, contact is not allowed until the court approves.
• Unauthorized contact is considered harassment or a harassing communication under the applicable harassment statute.
• Funds from the State Treasury may not be used for the Defense Initiated Victims Outreach initiative or for funding professional services (e.g., counselors, therapists) through the initiative.
• The bill is treated as creating or defining a crime, so it is exempt from certain local-funds expenditure requirements under Amendment 621; it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

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