Code of Alabama
Ala. Code § 13A-10-42 (2026)
Hindering Prosecution or Apprehension - Definition of “Criminal Assistance.”
✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
For the purposes of Sections 13A-10-43 through 13A-10- 45, a person renders “criminal assistance” to another if he:
(1) Harbors or conceals such person;
(2) Warns such person of impending discovery or apprehension; except that this subdivision does not apply to a warning given in connection with an effort to bring another into compliance with the law;
(3) Provides such person with money, transportation, weapon, disguise or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension;
(4) Prevents or obstructs, by means of force, deception or intimidation, anyone except a trespasser from performing an act that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person; or
(5) Suppresses, by an act of concealment, alteration or destruction, any physical evidence that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §4635.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11
cases, 1986–2018 · leading case: Collier v. State, 212 So. 3d 268 (Ala. Crim. App. 2015).
Collier v. State, 212 So. 3d 268 (Ala. Crim. App. 2015). “Specifically, Dwayne claims that his actions did not amount to criminal assistance because, he says, the language of §§ 13A-10-42(4) and (5), Ala.”
Nalls v. State, 815 S.E.2d 38 (Ga. 2018). “"); see also Ala. Code § 13A-10-42 (defining "criminal assistance").”
Nalls v. The State (two Cases), 304 Ga. 168 (Ga. 2018). “Code § 13A-10-43 (a) (“A person commits the crime of hindering prosecution in the first degree if with the intent to hinder the apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of another for conduct constituting a murder or a Class A or B felony, he renders criminal…”
Goodwin v. State, 644 So. 2d 1269 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993). “"Neither the statutory definition of hindering prosecution in the first degree, § 13A-10-43, nor the statutory definition of criminal assistance, § 13A-10-42, `states that a person may render criminal assistance to himself.”
Ex Parte Burton, 783 So. 2d 887 (Ala. 2000). “" The indictment charged Burton with the act set out in subsection (4) of § 13A-10-42, which provides that a person renders criminal assistance to another person if he or she "[p]revents or obstructs, by means of force, deception or intimidation, anyone except a trespasser from…”
Michael Craft v. State of Alabama., 90 So. 3d 197 (Ala. Crim. App. 2011). “It is clear, however, that [the husband] could have been charged with hindering prosecution in the first degree, § 13A-10-43, Code of Alabama 1975, by his acts of aiding the defendant in the destruction and concealment of physical evidence. See § 13A-10-42(5).”
State v. Browder, 486 So. 2d 504 (Ala. Crim. App. 1986). “'" Commentary, § 13A-10-42 through § 13A-10-44. In United States v.”
Yearby v. State, 95 So. 3d 20 (Ala. Crim. App. 2012). “) See § 13A-10-42, Ala.Code 1975 (“For the purposes of Sections 13A-10-43 through 13A-10-45, a person renders 'criminal assistance' to another if he: (1) Harbors or conceals such person .”
Ex parte State of Alabama., 190 So. 3d 37 (Ala. 2014). “” Ala,Code 1975, § 13A-10-42. The language of § 13A-10-43(a) does not provide that a person may be charged with and convicted of rendering criminal assistance- to himself or of hindering his own prosecution: ■ “Neither the statutory definition of hindering prosecution in the…”
Ex parte State, 212 So. 3d 283 (Ala. 2016). “I am not convinced of the correctness of the portion of the analysis in the Court of Criminal Appeals’ decision to the extent it holds that the word “discovery” in Ala. Code 1975, § 13A-10-42, refers only to the “discovery” of physical location; I believe that it may be possible…”
Washington v. State, 562 So. 2d 281 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990). “” § 13A-10-42. Neither the statutory definition of hindering prosecution in the first degree, § 13A-10-43, nor the statutory definition of criminal assistance, § 13A-10-42, “states that a person may render criminal assistance to himself.”
— Ala. Code § 13A-10-42(1) — 1 case
Goodwin v. State, 644 So. 2d 1269 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993). “"Neither the statutory definition of hindering prosecution in the first degree, § 13A-10-43, nor the statutory definition of criminal assistance, § 13A-10-42, `states that a person may render criminal assistance to himself.”
— Ala. Code § 13A-10-42(4) — 2 cases
Collier v. State, 212 So. 3d 268 (Ala. Crim. App. 2015). “Specifically, Dwayne claims that his actions did not amount to criminal assistance because, he says, the language of §§ 13A-10-42(4) and (5), Ala.”
Ex Parte Burton, 783 So. 2d 887 (Ala. 2000). “" The indictment charged Burton with the act set out in subsection (4) of § 13A-10-42, which provides that a person renders criminal assistance to another person if he or she "[p]revents or obstructs, by means of force, deception or intimidation, anyone except a trespasser from…”
— Ala. Code § 13A-10-42(5) — 4 cases
Michael Craft v. State of Alabama., 90 So. 3d 197 (Ala. Crim. App. 2011). “It is clear, however, that [the husband] could have been charged with hindering prosecution in the first degree, § 13A-10-43, Code of Alabama 1975, by his acts of aiding the defendant in the destruction and concealment of physical evidence. See § 13A-10-42(5).”
State v. Browder, 486 So. 2d 504 (Ala. Crim. App. 1986). “'" Commentary, § 13A-10-42 through § 13A-10-44. In United States v.”
Collier v. State, 212 So. 3d 268 (Ala. Crim. App. 2015). “Specifically, Dwayne claims that his actions did not amount to criminal assistance because, he says, the language of §§ 13A-10-42(4) and (5), Ala.”
Ex parte State, 212 So. 3d 283 (Ala. 2016). “I am not convinced of the correctness of the portion of the analysis in the Court of Criminal Appeals’ decision to the extent it holds that the word “discovery” in Ala. Code 1975, § 13A-10-42, refers only to the “discovery” of physical location; I believe that it may be possible…”
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