HB282 Alabama 2019 Session

The existing Constitution of Alabama of 1901, provides that all persons, before conviction, are allowed bail, unless the person is charged with a capital offense and the proof of guilt is evident or the presumption of guilt is great and that excessive bail may not be required in any case

This bill would propose an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, that would allow bail, unless a person is charged with a capital offense, an offense punishable by life without parole, or an offense punishable by life imprisonment and proof of guilt is evident or the presumption of guilt is great

The amendment also would allow bail to be denied if no condition of release can reasonably protect the community from risk of physical harm to the accused, the public, or both, ensure the presence of the accused at trial, or ensure the integrity of the judicial process

To propose an amendment to Section 16 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 16 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama 1901, as amended, to provide that all persons charged with a crime, before conviction, be allowed bail by sufficient sureties, unless the person is charged with a capital offense, an offense punishable by life without parole, or an offense punishable by life imprisonment, when the proof is evident or the presumption is great, if no conditions of release can reasonably protect the community from risk of physical harm to the accused, the public, or both, ensure the presence of the accused at trial, or ensure the integrity of the judicial process.