Class A Misdemeanor in Alabama: Classes, Penalties, Bail
A Class A misdemeanor in Alabama is the most serious level of misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $6,000. Alabama also has Class B and Class C misdemeanors and a lower category called violations. Each level carries its own jail limit, its own fine limit, and its own recommended bail range.
Someone just arrested on a misdemeanor? Call today: 205-401-8052. Bail Bonds of Alabama answers 24 hours a day.
Key takeaways
- A Class A misdemeanor in Alabama carries up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $6,000.
- A Class B misdemeanor carries up to six months and $3,000, and a Class C misdemeanor carries up to three months and $500.
- Recommended bail runs $300 to $6,000 for a Class A misdemeanor under Rule 7.2(b) of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure.
- Misdemeanor bail in Alabama starts at $300 for each charge under Ala. Code § 15-13-105.
- Missing court on a misdemeanor can add a new charge of bail jumping in the second degree.
Alabama misdemeanor classes at a glance
| Class | Maximum jail | Maximum fine | Recommended bail | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | 1 year | $6,000 | $300 to $6,000 | Assault in the third degree, theft of property in the fourth degree |
| Class B misdemeanor | 6 months | $3,000 | $300 to $3,000 | Menacing, resisting arrest |
| Class C misdemeanor | 3 months | $500 | $300 to $1,000 | Harassment, disorderly conduct |
| Violation | 30 days | $200 | $300 to $500 | Offenses the Criminal Code classifies as violations |
Jail limits come from Ala. Code § 13A-5-7. Fine limits come from Ala. Code § 13A-5-12, which also lets a court instead fine up to double the defendant’s gain or the victim’s loss. Bail ranges come from Rule 7.2(b) of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure, last amended by the Alabama Supreme Court on March 16, 2023.
Need to know the bail on a specific charge tonight? Call today and we will look it up with you.
What is a Class A misdemeanor in Alabama?
A Class A misdemeanor is the highest misdemeanor level in Alabama. The sentence is a definite term of up to one year in the county jail, and the fine can reach $6,000.
Two common examples:
- Assault in the third degree. Causing physical injury to another person with intent, recklessly, or with criminal negligence using a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, under Ala. Code § 13A-6-22.
- Theft of property in the fourth degree. Theft of property worth $500 or less that is not taken from the person of another, under Ala. Code § 13A-8-5.
Recommended bail for a Class A misdemeanor is $300 to $6,000. Judges can set it higher or lower based on the factors in Rule 7.2(a)(3), such as prior record, family ties, and employment. Call today if a Class A charge has someone you love sitting in jail.
What is a Class B misdemeanor in Alabama?
A Class B misdemeanor carries up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $3,000.
- Menacing. Intentionally placing or trying to place another person in fear of imminent serious physical injury by physical action, under Ala. Code § 13A-6-23.
- Resisting arrest. Intentionally preventing or trying to prevent a peace officer from making a lawful arrest, under Ala. Code § 13A-10-41.
Recommended bail for a Class B misdemeanor is $300 to $3,000. At a normal bail bond fee of 10% to 15%, a $3,000 bail costs about $300 to $450 to post.
What is a Class C misdemeanor in Alabama?
A Class C misdemeanor carries up to three months in jail and a fine of up to $500.
- Harassment. Striking, shoving, kicking, or touching someone with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm, or directing abusive language or gestures at them, under Ala. Code § 13A-11-8.
- Disorderly conduct. Fighting, making unreasonable noise, or blocking traffic with intent to cause public inconvenience or alarm, among other acts, under Ala. Code § 13A-11-7.
Recommended bail for a Class C misdemeanor is $300 to $1,000. Smaller bail still means a night or more in jail if nobody posts it, so call today and we will get it moving.
What is a violation in Alabama?
A violation sits below the misdemeanor level. The sentence can be up to 30 days in the county jail, and the fine can reach $200. Recommended bail on the Rule 7.2(b) schedule is $300 to $500, and municipal-ordinance violations run $300 to $1,000.
Is a DUI a misdemeanor in Alabama?
A first-offense DUI is generally a misdemeanor in Alabama. Under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191, a first conviction can bring up to one year in jail and a fine of $600 to $2,100, and repeat offenses and aggravating factors raise the penalties.
DUI has its own line on the bail schedule: $1,000 to $7,500 under Rule 7.2(b). DUI is also excluded from Alabama’s expungement law. Read bond hearings in Alabama for how bail gets set, and call today: 205-401-8052.
How much is bail for a misdemeanor in Alabama?
Misdemeanor bail in Alabama starts at $300 for each offense charged, under Ala. Code § 15-13-105. From there the schedule sets the recommended range by class.
| Bail | Typical bail bond fee at 10% to 15% |
|---|---|
| $1,000 | $100 to $150 |
| $3,000 | $300 to $450 |
| $6,000 | $600 to $900 |
Two charges mean two bail amounts, so a family can face more than the single range suggests. At Bail Bonds of Alabama, creative financing is available, upon approval, with 0% interest when paid in full within 12 months.
What happens if you miss court on a misdemeanor?
A missed court date on a misdemeanor can bring a warrant, a bond forfeiture, and a new charge. Bail jumping in the second degree covers failing to appear on a misdemeanor or a Class C felony charge and is itself a Class A misdemeanor, under Ala. Code § 13A-10-40. That section excludes misdemeanor traffic charges under Title 32.
Every release order also requires committing no new offense under Rule 7.3(a). A new arrest while out on bond can lead a judge to change or revoke release. Read failure to appear in Alabama for how to fix a missed date.
Can a misdemeanor be expunged in Alabama?
Some can. Alabama’s expungement law, Ala. Code § 15-27-1, was expanded by the REDEEMER Act in 2021. Charges that end without a conviction, such as a dismissal or acquittal, can qualify after 90 days. Certain nonviolent misdemeanor convictions can qualify three years after the sentence, fines, costs, and restitution are complete.
Violent offenses, sex offenses, crimes of moral turpitude, and serious traffic offenses including DUI are excluded. A licensed attorney can tell you whether a specific record qualifies.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Class A misdemeanor in Alabama?
The most serious misdemeanor level, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $6,000. Examples include assault in the third degree and theft of property in the fourth degree.
How long can you go to jail for a Class B misdemeanor in Alabama?
Up to six months, with a fine of up to $3,000.
What is a Class C misdemeanor in Alabama?
The lowest misdemeanor level, punishable by up to three months in jail and a fine of up to $500. Harassment and disorderly conduct are Class C misdemeanors.
How much is bail for a Class A misdemeanor in Alabama?
The recommended range is $300 to $6,000 under Rule 7.2(b) of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure. A judge can set it higher or lower.
Can you get a bail bond for a misdemeanor?
Yes. Bail Bonds of Alabama posts misdemeanor bonds in Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair Counties for a fee of normally 10% to 15% of the bail. Call 205-401-8052.
Where to go next
- How do bail bonds work in Alabama? The whole process, start to finish
- Aniah’s Law: when an Alabama judge can deny bail
- Failure to appear in Alabama
- Alabama Courts & Charges: every guide to the court process
- Find an Inmate and bail bonds in Jefferson County, Shelby County, and St. Clair County
Bail Bonds of Alabama has served Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair Counties since 2014. One call. That’s all. Call today: 205-401-8052, 24 hours a day.
This article is general information about misdemeanor charges in Alabama. It is not legal advice. For advice about a specific case, talk to a licensed Alabama attorney.