Code of Alabama
Ala. Code § 13A-5-7 (2026)
Sentences of Imprisonment for Misdemeanors and Violations.
✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
(a) Sentences for misdemeanors shall be a definite term of imprisonment in the county jail or to hard labor for the county, within the following limitations:
(1) For a Class A misdemeanor, not more than one year.
(2) For a Class B misdemeanor, not more than six months.
(3) For a Class C misdemeanor, not more than three months.
(b) Sentences for violations shall be for a definite term of imprisonment in the county jail, not to exceed 30 days.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §1230; Acts 1978, No. 770, p. 1110.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 41
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1986–2025 · leading case: Moore v. City of Leeds, 1 So. 3d 145 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008).
Moore v. City of Leeds, 1 So. 3d 145 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008). “A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by not more than one year in jail, § 13A-5-7(a)(1), and a fine of not more than $2,000.”
Ex Parte Edwards, 816 So. 2d 98 (Ala. 2001). “" Section 13A-5-7, Ala.Code 1975, lists the term of punishment for a Class A misdemeanor as "not more than one year.”
Ex Parte Gentry, 689 So. 2d 916 (Ala. 1996). “Moreover, interpreting § 13A-5-7, Ala. Code 1975, as the State suggests would violate the constitutional limitations designed to reserve capital punishment for only the most egregious crimes, by expanding the scope of the death penalty to apply to intentional murders…”
Ex Parte State, 960 So. 2d 740 (Ala. 2006). “Code 1975 (prescribing the sentences of imprisonment for felonies); § 13A-5-7 (prescribing the sentences of imprisonment for misdemeanors and violations); and § 13A-5-9 (prescribing the sentences of imprisonment for habitual felony offenders).”
Thomas v. State, 634 A.2d 1 (Md. 1993). “APPENDIX MAXIMUM PENALTIES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS FOR SIMPLE ASSAULT AND BATTERY JURISDICTION MAXIMUM PENALTY Alabama 1 year and/or $2,000, Ala. Code § 13A-5-7, 13A-5-12 and 13A-6-22 (1977, 1982 Repl.”
Ex Parte Long, 600 So. 2d 982 (Ala. 1992). “Criminally negligent homicide is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, § 13A-5-7(a)(1), and a fine of not more than $2,000, § 13A-5-12(a)(1).”
Cent. Alabama Fair Hous. Ctr. v. Magee, 835 F. Supp. 2d 1165 (M.D. Ala. 2011). “1975 Ala.Code § 13A-5-7(a)(3). In addition, § 40-12-255 requires that the owner of a manufactured home obtain a permit “to move said manufactured home on the highways of Alabama,” and a current registration is required to obtain the moving permit.”
R.L.L. v. State, 564 So. 2d 474 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990). “Ala.Code § 13A-5-7(a)(2) (1975). According to the appellant, his transfer to DYS caused him to receive punishment disproportionate to what an adult convicted of the same crime would have received.”
Gargis v. State, 998 So. 2d 1092 (Ala. Crim. App. 2007). “III. Little Tony contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to allow him to be transported from the jail to the courthouse in street clothes and without shackles.”
Johnson v. State, 994 So. 2d 950 (Ala. Crim. App. 2007). “See § 13A-5-7(a)(1), Ala.Code 1975. Also, "the Habitual Felony Offender Act does not apply to misdemeanor convictions.”
Bryan Pettibone v. State of Alabama., 91 So. 3d 94 (Ala. Crim. App. 2011). “This Court remanded the case for sentencing as to Taylor’s second-degree-sexual abuse conviction pursuant to § 13A-5-7(a)(l), Ala.Code 1975, as a Class A misdemeanor, because the record did not "indicate that the offense in this case was a second or subsequent offense of…”
Fausnight v. Perkins, 994 So. 2d 912 (Ala. 2008). “See § 34-14A-14 (providing that "[a]ny person who undertakes or attempts to undertake the business of residential home building" without holding the requisite license "shall be deemed guilty of a Class A misdemeanor"); §§ 13A-5-7 and -12 (setting forth the sanctions for…”
— Ala. Code § 13A-5-7(3) — 1 case
Avery v. State, 825 So. 2d 129 (Ala. Crim. App. 2001).
— Ala. Code § 13A-5-7(a) — 2 cases
Brooks v. State, 706 So. 2d 821 (Ala. Crim. App. 1997).
M.A.T. v. State, 574 So. 2d 1016 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990).
— Ala. Code § 13A-5-7(a)(1) — 9 cases
Ex Parte Edwards, 816 So. 2d 98 (Ala. 2001). “" Section 13A-5-7, Ala.Code 1975, lists the term of punishment for a Class A misdemeanor as "not more than one year.”
Moore v. City of Leeds, 1 So. 3d 145 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008). “A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by not more than one year in jail, § 13A-5-7(a)(1), and a fine of not more than $2,000.”
Ex Parte Long, 600 So. 2d 982 (Ala. 1992). “Criminally negligent homicide is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, § 13A-5-7(a)(1), and a fine of not more than $2,000, § 13A-5-12(a)(1).”
Gargis v. State, 998 So. 2d 1092 (Ala. Crim. App. 2007). “III. Little Tony contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to allow him to be transported from the jail to the courthouse in street clothes and without shackles.”
Johnson v. State, 994 So. 2d 950 (Ala. Crim. App. 2007). “See § 13A-5-7(a)(1), Ala.Code 1975. Also, "the Habitual Felony Offender Act does not apply to misdemeanor convictions.”
— Ala. Code § 13A-5-7(a)(2) — 3 cases
R.L.L. v. State, 564 So. 2d 474 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990). “Ala.Code § 13A-5-7(a)(2) (1975). According to the appellant, his transfer to DYS caused him to receive punishment disproportionate to what an adult convicted of the same crime would have received.”
Rump v. State, 832 So. 2d 667 (Ala. Crim. App. 2001).
Jones v. State, 764 So. 2d 568 (Ala. Crim. App. 1999).
— Ala. Code § 13A-5-7(a)(3) — 5 cases
Moore v. City of Leeds, 1 So. 3d 145 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008). “A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by not more than one year in jail, § 13A-5-7(a)(1), and a fine of not more than $2,000.”
Cent. Alabama Fair Hous. Ctr. v. Magee, 835 F. Supp. 2d 1165 (M.D. Ala. 2011). “1975 Ala.Code § 13A-5-7(a)(3). In addition, § 40-12-255 requires that the owner of a manufactured home obtain a permit “to move said manufactured home on the highways of Alabama,” and a current registration is required to obtain the moving permit.”
Rump v. State, 832 So. 2d 667 (Ala. Crim. App. 2001).
Deborah R. Tisdale v. State of Alabama (Ala. Crim. App. 2022).
Pickett v. State, 802 So. 2d 1106 (Ala. Crim. App. 2001).
— Ala. Code § 13A-5-7(a)(l) — 5 cases
Moore v. City of Leeds, 1 So. 3d 145 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008). “A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by not more than one year in jail, § 13A-5-7(a)(1), and a fine of not more than $2,000.”
Bryan Pettibone v. State of Alabama., 91 So. 3d 94 (Ala. Crim. App. 2011). “This Court remanded the case for sentencing as to Taylor’s second-degree-sexual abuse conviction pursuant to § 13A-5-7(a)(l), Ala.Code 1975, as a Class A misdemeanor, because the record did not "indicate that the offense in this case was a second or subsequent offense of…”
Lee v. State, 727 So. 2d 887 (Ala. Crim. App. 1998).
United States v. Terry, 424 F. Supp. 2d 1292 (M.D. Ala. 2006).
Taylor v. State, 23 So. 3d 692 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008).
— Ala. Code § 13A-5-7(b) — 7 cases
Johnson v. State, 675 So. 2d 512 (Ala. Crim. App. 1995).
Satterwhite v. City of Auburn, 945 So. 2d 1076 (Ala. Crim. App. 2006).
Carroll v. State, 215 So. 3d 1135 (Ala. Crim. App. 2015).
Tulley v. City of Jacksonville, 199 So. 3d 779 (Ala. Crim. App. 2014).
Cox v. State, 710 So. 2d 525 (Ala. Crim. App. 1997).
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