HB162 Summary

• Requires each judicial circuit in Alabama to establish at least one community punishment and corrections program by January 1, 2021.

• If a circuit lacks a program by the effective date, the presiding judge in consultation with county commissions shall select a county to establish one.

• Allows presiding judges to assign state inmates to programs within their sentencing circuit or other circuits if judges agree, with inmate approval authority remaining with sentencing judges.

• Requires the Department of Corrections to annually identify and publish alternatives to community punishment and corrections programs for counties without such programs, including Veterans Treatment Court options where available.

• Makes technical and nonsubstantive revisions to existing code language in Sections 15-18-172 and 15-18-176 and adds new Section 15-18-187 to implement the mandatory program requirement.