Code of Alabama
Ala. Code § 13A-1-3 (2026)
General Purposes of Title.
✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
The general purposes of the provisions of this title are:
(1) To proscribe conduct that unjustifiably and inexcusably causes or threatens substantial harm to individual and/or public interests;
(2) To give fair warning of the nature of the conduct proscribed and of the punishment authorized upon conviction;
(3) To define the act or omission and the accompanying mental state that constitute each offense;
(4) To differentiate on reasonable grounds between serious and minor offenses and to prescribe proportionate penalties for each;
(5) To insure the public safety by preventing the commission of offenses through the deterrent influence of the sentences authorized, the rehabilitation of those convicted and their confinement when required in the interests of public protection; and
(6) To prevent arbitrary or oppressive treatment of persons accused or convicted of offenses.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §105.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19
cases, 1985–2015 · leading case: Thompson v. State, 525 So. 2d 820 (Ala. 1985).
Thompson v. State, 525 So. 2d 820 (Ala. 1985). “) Code 1975, § 13A-1-3, referred to in § 13A-1-6, states the general purposes of the Alabama Criminal Code as follows: "The general purposes of the provisions of this title are: "(1) To proscribe conduct that unjustifiably and inexcusably causes or threatens substantial harm to…”
Key v. State, 890 So. 2d 1043 (Ala. Crim. App. 2002). “See also § 13A-1-3, Ala.Code 1975; and § 13A-1-6, Ala.”
Gholston v. State, 620 So. 2d 719 (Ala. 1993). “Code 1975, provides, “All provisions of this title shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, including the purposes stated in section 13A-1-3.” The “purposes stated in section 13A-1-3” include: “(1) To…”
Carroll v. State, 599 So. 2d 1253 (Ala. Crim. App. 1992). “Code 1975, § 13A-1-6: "All provisions of this title shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, including the purposes stated in section 13A-1-3." Among the purposes stated in § 13A-1-4 is that found in…”
Buchannon v. State, 554 So. 2d 494 (Ala. 1989). “) Also, § 13A-1-6 states: "All provisions of this title shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, including the purposes stated in section 13A-1-3." (Emphasis added.) Clearly, the stated purpose of…”
Ex Parte Soto, 991 So. 2d 691 (Ala. 2008). “Alabama Code 1975, § 13A-1-6, provides that "[a]ll provisions of [the Alabama Criminal Code] shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, including the purposes stated in Section 13A-1-3," one of which is…”
Ex Parte State, 568 So. 2d 857 (Ala. 1990). “[4] The subsections of § 13A-1-3 that would be applicable to this case would be those stating the purpose: "[t]o give fair warning of the nature of the conduct proscribed and of the punishment authorized upon conviction," and "[t]o define the act or omission and the accompanying…”
State v. Dean, 940 So. 2d 1077 (Ala. Crim. App. 2006). “Code 1975, provides that "[a]ll provisions of [the Alabama Criminal Code] shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, including the purposes stated in Section 13A-1-3." The § 13A-1-6 Commentary explains…”
Bonds v. State, 205 So. 3d 1270 (Ala. Crim. App. 2015). “Code 1975 (“All provisions of this title shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, including the purposes stated in Section 13A-1-3.”); see also Hatcher v. Diggs, 76 Ala.”
Bryan Pettibone v. State of Alabama., 91 So. 3d 94 (Ala. Crim. App. 2011). “Code 1975, § 13A-1-6: “All provisions of this title shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, including the purposes stated in section 13A-1-3....”’ “Carroll v. State, 599 So.”
D.A.D.O. v. State, 57 So. 3d 798 (Ala. Crim. App. 2009). “Code 1975, § 13A-1-6: ‘All provisions of this title shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, including the purposes stated in section 13A-1-3.’ Among the purposes stated in § 13A-l-[3] is that found…”
Jennifer Crawford v. State of Alabama., 100 So. 3d 610 (Ala. Crim. App. 2011). “Code 1975, § 13A-1-6: ‘All provisions of this title shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, including the purposes stated in section 13A-1-3.’ Among the purposes stated in § 13A-1-4 is that found in…”
— Ala. Code § 13A-1-3(1) — 1 case
Buchannon v. State, 554 So. 2d 494 (Ala. 1989). “) Also, § 13A-1-6 states: "All provisions of this title shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, including the purposes stated in section 13A-1-3." (Emphasis added.) Clearly, the stated purpose of…”
— Ala. Code § 13A-1-3(2) — 1 case
Ex Parte Soto, 991 So. 2d 691 (Ala. 2008). “Alabama Code 1975, § 13A-1-6, provides that "[a]ll provisions of [the Alabama Criminal Code] shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, including the purposes stated in Section 13A-1-3," one of which is…”
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