SB153 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew JonesSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Expungement , to provide that a person adjudged youthful offender for a misdemeanor offense, violation, traffic violation, or municipal ordinance violation may file a petition to have records expunged.

Summary

SB153 expands expungement options for youthful offenders and for people convicted of certain misdemeanor-related offenses by creating new petition-based paths to clear records under specific conditions.

What This Bill Does

The bill lets a person adjudged a youthful offender for a misdemeanor, violation, traffic violation, or municipal ordinance violation file a petition to expunge related records under several scenarios (e.g., dismissal, not guilty, nolle prosequi without refiling after 90 days, completion of certain court programs). It also creates a path for individuals who have been convicted of these offenses (or adjudged youthful offenders) to petition for expungement after meeting conditions like completing probation, waiting periods (three years after conviction in some cases), and other restrictions. It includes limited permission to share expunged records with certain agencies and entities for specific purposes, and it becomes effective October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Youthful offenders who have underlying misdemeanor, violation, traffic, or municipal ordinance charges and want to expunge those records.
• Individuals convicted of these offenses (or adjudged youthful offenders with such underlying charges) who meet the listed conditions and may petition to expunge their records.

Key Provisions

• Allows a youthful offender to petition for expungement under multiple circumstances, including dismissal after 90 days, not billed by grand jury after 90 days, not guilty findings after 90 days, and certain post-program dismissals or non-refile situations.
• Provides a separate pathway for those convicted (or youthful offenders with eligible underlying charges) to expunge after meeting conditions such as completing probation, three years since conviction, not having disqualifying offenses, and other limitations; also permits limited disclosure of expunged records to specified entities.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Criminal Procedure