Alabama Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Alabama criminal defense attorneys who understand the state’s Habitual Felony Offender Act, its limited expungement pathway, and the way Alabama prosecutors approach plea bargaining.

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Matched with an Alabama attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Alabama criminal defense case review

A Alabama attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Alabama criminal defense case

When you submit a Alabama criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Alabama law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Alabama who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Alabama

Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Alabama criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Alabama, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for Class A felonies or any felony involving violence; 5 years for most other felonies (Ala. Code § 15-3-1)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 12 months
12 months for most misdemeanors (Ala. Code § 15-3-2)
Sentencing Structure: Determinate sentencing
Determinate sentencing under Ala. Code § 13A-5-6, with presumptive sentencing guidelines from the Alabama Sentencing Commission for nonviolent felonies
Expungement / Record Sealing: Ala. Code § 15-27-1
Ala. Code § 15-27-1 et seq. — expanded 2021 to include some misdemeanor and felony convictions, but pathway remains narrow compared to most states
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail set
Bail set under Ala. R. Crim. P. 7; Aniah’s Law (2022 constitutional amendment) allows judges to deny bail for certain violent offenses
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Alabama treats felonies through a four-class structure (Class A through Class D) under Ala. Code § 13A-5-6, with Class A felonies carrying 10 years to life and Class D felonies capped at 5 years. The Habitual Felony Offender Act (Ala. Code § 13A-5-9) dramatically enhances sentences for prior convictions — three prior felonies can mean life without parole for a Class A. Alabama prosecutors plea-bargain aggressively, and many counties run pretrial diversion programs that can keep first-time offenders off the record. But Alabama’s expungement statute (Ala. Code § 15-27-1) is one of the narrower ones in the South — recent 2021 amendments expanded eligibility, but most convictions still cannot be expunged. Getting the right outcome upfront is critical.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Alabama

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in Alabama

Which one is closest to yours?

DUI / DUI-controlled substance

Alabama uses .08 BAC per se under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191, with enhanced penalties for BAC ≥ .15, child in vehicle, or refusal. Mandatory ignition interlock for many first offenses. Fourth DUI in 10 years is a Class C felony.

Sound like yours? A Alabama attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

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Exhibit D

How much do Alabama criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Alabama · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Alabama are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Alabama work on hourly or flat-fee arrangements — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under ABA Model Rule 1.5(d) and the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. Flat fees are common for misdemeanors and many felonies; complex cases (homicide, multi-count federal, lengthy trials) typically use hourly billing with a retainer. Many attorneys offer payment plans and most provide a free initial consultation.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Alabama criminal defense compensation can include

A Alabama criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal — through motion to suppress, lack of probable cause, Speedy Trial Act, or DA nolle prosequi under Ala. R. Crim. P. 13.1.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Alabama criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Alabama attorney will review it for free.

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No. Politely decline and ask for a lawyer. Alabama officers can and will use anything you say — including off-the-cuff statements at the scene — in front of a grand jury or trial jury. Miranda warnings only apply during custodial interrogation, so casual conversation is fair game. You have the right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment and Article I, Section 6 of the Alabama Constitution. Use it.

Yes. Even a Class A misdemeanor in Alabama can carry up to a year in jail, a $6,000 fine, and a permanent record that shows up on background checks. Many Alabama counties offer pretrial diversion or deferred prosecution programs that an experienced attorney can negotiate — but only if you ask before pleading. A guilty plea forecloses those options.

State charges are filed by an Alabama district attorney in circuit or district court and governed by the Alabama Code. Federal charges are filed by a U.S. Attorney in the Northern, Middle, or Southern District of Alabama and follow the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which often produce longer sentences and limited parole (federal abolished parole in 1987). Federal drug, firearm, and white-collar cases in Alabama frequently start as state investigations and get adopted federally.

Most Alabama criminal cases — well over 90% — end in a negotiated plea. Your attorney negotiates with the DA on charge reduction, sentencing recommendation, or alternative resolution (diversion, youthful offender, drug court). The judge must accept the plea, and Alabama judges generally follow the recommendation but aren’t bound by it. A good defense attorney pushes for a binding plea under Ala. R. Crim. P. 14.3(b) when possible.

Maybe. Ala. Code § 15-27-1 allows expungement for non-convictions (dismissals, acquittals, no-bills) without much restriction. The 2021 amendments expanded expungement to certain misdemeanor convictions (after 3 years) and some non-violent felony convictions (after 180 days post-completion of sentence). Sex offenses, violent felonies, and crimes of moral turpitude that affect voting rights are generally excluded.

Alabama treats anyone under 18 as a juvenile under Ala. Code § 12-15-101, though serious felonies (capital offenses, Class A felonies with a firearm, certain repeat offenders) can be transferred to adult court. Juvenile records are generally confidential and can be sealed under Ala. Code § 12-15-136 upon reaching age 23 or by court order — but transfers to adult court create a permanent adult record.

Alabama’s per se BAC limit is .08 (.04 for commercial drivers, .02 for under-21) under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191. Alabama is an implied consent state — refusing a chemical test triggers automatic license suspension (90 days for first refusal) under Ala. Code § 32-5-192. Ignition interlock devices are mandatory for first-offense DUIs with BAC ≥ .15, refusal cases, and any DUI with a minor in the vehicle (Ala. Code § 32-5A-191(n)).