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bills
All criminal justice bills
SB 25, or Jolee's Law, prohibits Alabama judges from granting youthful offender status to individuals aged 16 or older charged with capital murder or murder. This directly affects young adults facing these serious charges, requiring them to be tried as adults rather than as youthful offenders under current law. The bill amends existing statute to remove this option for initial charges of capital murder or murder, though eligibility for youthful offender status may still apply if the charge is reduced to a lesser offense. It takes effect on October 1, 2026.
HB 10 would amend Alabama law to remove specific minor offenses from the definition of "delinquent act" for 14- and 15-year-olds. Under this bill, nonfelony traffic violations (like speeding) or water safety offenses (like boating without a life jacket) committed by youth in this age group would no longer trigger juvenile court proceedings, except for offenses related to driving under the influence. This change directly affects 14- and 15-year-old Alabama residents who commit these minor violations, preventing their cases from entering the juvenile justice system. The bill targets a specific provision in Section 12-15-102 of Alabama Code, narrowing which acts qualify as delinquent for this age group.
HB 11, titled "Jolee's Law," prohibits judges from granting youthful offender status to individuals aged 16 or older charged with capital murder (per Section 13A-5-40) or murder (per Section 13A-6-2(a)(1)). It directly affects defendants in these specific homicide cases, requiring them to be charged, arrested, and tried as adults rather than as youthful offenders. The bill amends Alabama law to block youthful offender status in these cases, though defendants may qualify if charges are later reduced to lesser offenses. It also adds victim notification requirements (10 days prior to hearings) and mandates courts to consider victim injury evidence before ruling on youthful offender status. The bill is pending in the House Judiciary Committee as of January 2026.
