# Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.3: Rule 2.3. Contents of a complaint

> Alabama · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R2_3

## Section

- **Citation:** Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.3
- **Heading:** Rule 2.3. Contents of a complaint
- **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. 2.3

## Text

Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure

Rule 2. Commencement and prosecution of criminal proceedings.

Rule 2.3. Contents of a complaint.

A complaint is a statement made upon oath before a judge, magistrate, or
official authorized by law to issue warrants of arrest, setting forth essential facts
constituting an offense and alleging that the defendant committed the offense. The
complaint may be written, typed, electronic, or computer-generated.

[Amended 10-27-2020, eff. 2-1-2021.]

Committee Comments

Ala.Code 1975, § 15-7-1, defines a “complaint” as “an allegation made
before a proper judge or magistrate that a person has been guilty of a designated
public offense.” It serves the dual purpose of being the accusatory instrument in
most misdemeanor cases and commencing preliminary proceedings in felony
cases. This rule makes no change in Alabama law or practice, but it pulls together
the parts of the instrument variously termed complaint, affidavit or warrant. See
Ala.Code 1975, § 15-7-2. A traffic ticket issued pursuant to Rule 19, A.R.J.A., will
be sufficient to constitute a complaint.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule 2.3, Rule
4.3, Rule 4.4, and Rule 7.4, effective February 1, 2021, is published in that volume
of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from __ So. 3d.

## 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_3. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.