Neo
Campaign Veteran
As I read AL Code 13A-3-23 (d) & (e) now, I cannot be arrested at the scene if it appears I acted in a justifiable manner.
(d) A person who uses force, including deadly physical force, as justified and permitted in this section is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless the force was determined to be unlawful.
(e) A law enforcement agency may use standard procedures for investigating the use of force described in subsection (a), but the agency may not arrest the person for using force unless it determines that there is probable cause that the force used was unlawful.
The new law (first reading attached) appears to say that you will now be charged up front and will have to prove self-defense at a pre-trial hearing in order to have the charges dropped. This is a huge step backwards. I JUST heard about this today and have included a link to a news article below.
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2016/05/bill_updating_alabama_self-def.html
(d) A person who uses force, including deadly physical force, as justified and permitted in this section is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless the force was determined to be unlawful.
(e) A law enforcement agency may use standard procedures for investigating the use of force described in subsection (a), but the agency may not arrest the person for using force unless it determines that there is probable cause that the force used was unlawful.
The new law (first reading attached) appears to say that you will now be charged up front and will have to prove self-defense at a pre-trial hearing in order to have the charges dropped. This is a huge step backwards. I JUST heard about this today and have included a link to a news article below.
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2016/05/bill_updating_alabama_self-def.html