SB95 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Expungement, to expand the expungement of criminal records to include convictions of certain misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, municipal ordinances, and felony offenses, to increase the filing fee for expungements, Secs. 15-27-1, 15-27-2, 15-27-4, 15-27-5, 15-27-7 to 15-27-10, inclusive, 15-27-19 am'd.

Summary

SB95 would expand expungement to clear more types of convictions and raise the filing fee, with related record-handling updates.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill would let more people erase criminal records. It would expand expungement to include convictions for certain misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, municipal ordinances, and felonies, but only under specified conditions (for example, after dismissal, acquittal, or completion of certain court programs; and for felony cases, after a pardon with rights restored and other safeguards). It also raises the filing fee for expungement petitions and directs how the money is allocated, with options for indigent applicants. Additionally, it updates several code provisions and sets rules for how expunged records are stored, shared, and archived by state agencies.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who have been charged or convicted of misdemeanors, traffic violations, municipal ordinance violations, or felonies and may be eligible to file for expungement under the new rules.
• Victims of human trafficking who could have offenses they committed during trafficking expunged, if they meet the requirements.

Key Provisions

• Expands expungement eligibility to convictions for certain misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, municipal ordinances, and felony offenses.
• Establishes detailed eligibility criteria for expungement, including grounds after dismissal/acquittal/nolle prosequi, time limits, and special provisions for human trafficking victims; allows certain post-conviction expungement with pardons and restored rights for non-violent, non-sex offense, non-moral turpitude, and non-serious-traffic offenses.
• Sets an administrative filing fee for expungement petitions and specifies how the funds are allocated to various state and local funds and offices; indigent status can be granted with a payment plan.
• Creates record-handling rules: expunged records are archived, restricted to criminal justice use, and may not be transmitted to the FBI national repository; requires immediate forwarding to the state CJIC.
• This act is named the Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment and Eliminate Recidivism (REDEEMER) Act and is effective after a defined period; it also includes non-substantive updates to current code language.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Expungement