SB196 Summary

• Makes technical revisions and updates to Chapters 1-4 of Alabama's Criminal Code, including defining "law enforcement officer," making "marihuana" and "marijuana" interchangeable terms, and revising the definition of "vehicle."

• Establishes conditions under which corporations or other entities may be held criminally responsible for offenses, with stricter requirements for felony liability involving high managerial agents.

• Expands circumstances justifying use of deadly physical force by law enforcement officers and detention facility guards, including defense against imminent deadly force and arrest/escape prevention in specified felony situations.

• Defines entrapment as a legal defense to prosecution when government conduct incites someone to commit a crime they would not otherwise commit, and establishes that entrapment is unavailable for crimes involving bodily injury.

• Creates new crime of criminal facilitation when a person knowingly provides means or opportunity for another person to commit an offense, with penalties ranging from violations to Class A felonies depending on the facilitated offense; effective January 1, 2019.