Senate Bill 60 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Criminal procedure; Department of Corrections, outstanding warrant check procedures on inmates, provided; virtual hearings on inmates, required under certain conditions

Summary

SB60 would require the Department of Corrections and the Board of Pardons and Paroles to check for outstanding warrants on inmates and notify authorities, and would allow virtual hearings for warrant-related actions under certain conditions.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill requires the Department of Corrections to check the National Crime Information Center database for outstanding warrants at key points (intake, work release consideration, prior to release to supervision, and 90 days before release) and to serve any warranted inmates. It also allows warrant-related hearings to be held virtually from the prison when possible and requires cooperation to ensure warrants are served. The Board of Pardons and Paroles would similarly check NCIC for outstanding warrants when considering parole and notify the appropriate authorities if a warrant exists. An effective date of January 1, 2027 is specified.

Who It Affects

• Inmates under Department of Corrections supervision (including during intake, work-release consideration, pre-release, and parole considerations) would have warrants checked and may be subject to warrant service and virtual hearings.
• Courts, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies that issue warrants, and the Board of Pardons and Paroles would receive notices about an inmate's whereabouts when a warrant is found, and the parole board would perform warrant checks during parole consideration.

Key Provisions

• DOC must check the NCIC database for outstanding warrants at intake, when considering work release, before release into Board of Pardons and Paroles supervision, and 90 days before release; if a warrant exists, the department must notify the issuing court, agency, district attorney, or municipal prosecutor of the inmate's whereabouts.
• DOC must cooperate to ensure any outstanding warrant for an inmate in custody is served; hearings arising from warrant service may be held virtually from the prison, where possible, without requiring physical appearance before a judge or magistrate.
• The Board of Pardons and Paroles must check NCIC for outstanding warrants when considering parole and notify the issuing court, agency, district attorney, or municipal prosecutor of the inmate's whereabouts if a warrant exists.
• The act becomes effective January 1, 2027.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Criminal Procedure