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Your Greenville Criminal Defense Attorney
An Alabama criminal charge is shaped from the start by what’s actually alleged: whether it’s charged as a felony or a misdemeanor changes the court that hears it, the sentencing range that applies, and what happens at the very first bail hearing. The state’s felony and misdemeanor sentencing ranges, and how prior convictions can escalate them, are covered further down this page. None of these rules are unique to any one city; they apply the same way across Alabama, though where a case actually gets filed still depends on the specific county involved.
Understanding a Criminal Charge in Alabama
Alabama’s criminal process moves on real deadlines and real procedural rules from the moment of arrest, which is part of why an early, accurate understanding of the process matters.
Getting Released Before Trial in Alabama
Under Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 7.2, a defendant charged with a bailable offense starts from a presumption of release on personal recognizance or an appearance bond, not the other way around. This presumption-of-release framework applies the same way whether the underlying charge is a first offense or involves a longer record.
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Getting a Court-Appointed Attorney in Alabama
If a defendant can’t afford an attorney and doesn’t waive the right, an Alabama court is required to appoint one, with the specific system for that appointment varying by which circuit the case is in.
Alabama's Sentencing Ranges by Offense Class
Because Alabama’s sentencing ranges are tied directly to statutory offense class, understanding exactly how a charge is classified is often more consequential to sentencing exposure than the underlying facts alone. Understanding exactly which class a specific charge falls into, not just whether it’s broadly a felony or misdemeanor, is often the first concrete step in evaluating sentencing exposure.
Clearing a Record Under Alabama's REDEEMER Act
Alabama expressly excludes several categories from expungement eligibility regardless of how much time has passed: violent offenses, sex offenses, crimes of moral turpitude, and DUI convictions.
Alabama DUI Law and Penalties
Alabama law specifically doubles the minimum penalty when a child under 14 was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of a DUI offense. Because DUI convictions escalate this specifically by count, an older DUI conviction from years earlier can still affect how a new charge is classified and penalized.
Alabama's County-Based Circuit Court System
Because Alabama’s judicial circuits can cover more than one county, it’s worth confirming the specific court for a given case directly rather than assuming; for Greenville, that court is the Butler County Circuit Court. Filing in the correct county’s court is a procedural requirement worth confirming early, not left until later in a case.
Greenville's Local Law Enforcement
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the county jail are both located directly in Greenville, making it the actual county detention hub rather than a city that relies on a jail elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does bail work in Alabama?
Alabama starts from a presumption of release on recognizance or bond for a bailable offense, under Ala. R. Crim. P. Rule 7.2, unless the court finds release won’t reasonably assure appearance or poses a danger.
What’s the difference between felony classes in Alabama?
The classes set the sentencing range: Class A is the most serious, Class D the least serious among felonies, with real differences in the years each carries.
Can I get my record expunged in Alabama?
Possibly, depending on the offense. Alabama’s expungement under the REDEEMER Act is petition-based, with different requirements for misdemeanors versus felonies, and some offenses are entirely ineligible.
What happens on a first DUI offense in Alabama?
A first Alabama DUI is a misdemeanor: up to a year in jail, a $600-$2,100 fine, and a 90-day license suspension, under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191.
Which Alabama court has jurisdiction over a Greenville case?
The Butler County Circuit Court has general criminal jurisdiction over a case arising from conduct in or connected to Greenville.
Get Matched With an Alabama Criminal Defense Attorney
Because sentencing exposure in Alabama depends so directly on offense classification and any prior record, an early conversation with an attorney can matter more than it might seem at first. Rather than searching on your own, the form on this page lets needanattorney.net connect you directly with an attorney who handles Alabama criminal cases.
