SB209 Summary: Alabama Prisoner Litigation Reform Act

• Establishes the "Alabama Prisoner Litigation Reform Act" requiring all incarcerated persons to exhaust administrative remedies before filing pro se civil actions for money damages or injunctive relief related to prison conditions.

• Courts must dismiss prisoner petitions for writ of certiorari filed more than one year after the incident or one year after exhausting administrative remedies, whichever comes later.

• Courts may dismiss prisoner pro se civil actions on their own motion if they are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a cause of action, or seek relief from defendants with immunity from such relief.

• Restricts prisoner discovery and subpoenas until court rules on any motion to dismiss; requires judge approval before subpoenas are issued and mandates consideration of burden on subpoena recipients relative to case needs.

• Prisoners granted in forma pauperis status must repay filing fees and costs through monthly installments of 20 percent of average monthly prisoner account balance; denies in forma pauperis status to prisoners with three or more prior pro se actions dismissed as frivolous or malicious unless in imminent danger or manifest injustice applies.