# Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.1: Rule 2.1. Commencement of criminal proceedings

> Alabama · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R2_1

## Section

- **Citation:** Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.1
- **Heading:** Rule 2.1. Commencement of criminal proceedings
- **Jurisdiction:** Alabama
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Alabama Rules of Court / Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure / Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.1

## Text

Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure

Rule 2. Commencement and prosecution of criminal proceedings.

Rule 2.1. Commencement of criminal proceedings.

All criminal proceedings shall be commenced either by indictment or by
complaint.

Committee Comments

The usual procedure for commencing a criminal action is by a complaint.
The grand jury also may act on matters presented to it without there being a
complaint, and thus the charging instrument “commencing” the action is the
indictment (which encompasses also presentments). Under the Alabama
Constitution of 1901, criminal actions may not be “commenced” by an information,
but under the very limited procedure provided in Rule 2.2(e), infra, once an action
is commenced by complaint, the defendant may be proceeded against by
information.

## Nearby sections

- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.1 Rule 1.1. Scope](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_1.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.2 Rule 1.2. Purpose, objectives, and construction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_2.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.3 Rule 1.3. Computation and enlargement of time](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_3.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.4 Rule 1.4. Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_4.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.5 Rule 1.5. Applicability of rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_5.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.1 Rule 2.1. Commencement of criminal proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R2_1.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.2 Rule 2.2. Prosecution of criminal proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R2_2.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.3 Rule 2.3. Contents of a complaint](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R2_3.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.4 Rule 2.4. Duty of judge or magistrate upon making of a complaint](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R2_4.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.1 Rule 3.1. Issuance of arrest warrant or summons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R3_1.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.2 Rule 3.2. Contents of arrest warrant or summons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R3_2.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.3 Rule 3.3. Execution and return of arrest warrant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R3_3.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.4 Rule 3.4. Service of summons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R3_4.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.5 Rule 3.5. Defective arrest warrant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R3_5.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R2_1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.