# Ala. Code § 15-18-1: Section 15-18-1 Legal Punishments; Sentencing; Liability of Department of Corrections for Costs

> Alabama · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-1

## Section

- **Citation:** Ala. Code § 15-18-1
- **Heading:** Section 15-18-1 Legal Punishments; Sentencing; Liability of Department of Corrections for Costs
- **Jurisdiction:** Alabama
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Alabama Code / Title 15 / Chapter 18 / Section 15-18-1

## Text

(a) The only legal punishments, besides removal from office and disqualification to hold office, are fines, hard labor for the county, imprisonment in the county jail, imprisonment in the penitentiary, which includes hard labor for the state, and death.

(b) In all cases in which the period of imprisonment in the penitentiary or hard labor for the county is more than three years, the judge shall sentence the party to imprisonment in the penitentiary. In all cases of conviction for felonies in which imprisonment or hard labor is for more than 12 months and not more than three years, the judge may sentence the party to imprisonment in the penitentiary, confinement in the county jail, or to hard labor for the county, at his or her discretion, any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding. In all cases in which the imprisonment or sentence to hard labor is 12 months or less, the party shall be sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail or to hard labor for the county. No misdemeanor prisoner may be sentenced to the penitentiary.

(c) This section shall not be construed to relieve the Department of Corrections of any responsibility imposed upon it by law to make payment of costs under any provisions of law applicable thereto.

## Nearby sections

- [Ala. Code § 15-18-1 Section 15-18-1 Legal Punishments; Sentencing; Liability of Department of Corrections for Costs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-1.md)
- [Ala. Code § 15-18-4 Section 15-18-4 Service of State Sentence Concurrently with Federal Sentence in Federal Penal System](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-4.md)
- [Ala. Code § 15-18-5 Section 15-18-5 Credit Towards Sentence for Time Spent Incarcerated - Pending Trial](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-5.md)
- [Ala. Code § 15-18-6 Section 15-18-6 Credit Towards Sentence for Time Spent Incarcerated - Time Between Recapture and Return to Penal System for Recaptured Escapees](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-6.md)
- [Ala. Code § 15-18-7 Section 15-18-7 Applicability of Sections 15-18-5 and 15-18-6 to Prisoners Presently Incarcerated](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-7.md)
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- [Ala. Code § 15-18-8.1 Section 15-18-8.1 Rules and Regulations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-8.1.md)
- [Ala. Code § 15-18-8.2 Section 15-18-8.2 Discretion of Sentencing Judge to Determine Probation Revocation Sentence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-8.2.md)
- [Ala. Code § 15-18-9 Section 15-18-9 Penalties for Persons Previously Convicted of Felonies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-9.md)
- [Ala. Code § 15-18-21 Section 15-18-21 Offense Punishable by Imprisonment in County Jail](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-21.md)
- [Ala. Code § 15-18-60 Section 15-18-60 When Prosecutor Liable for Costs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-60.md)
- [Ala. Code § 15-18-61 Section 15-18-61 Confession of Judgment by Prosecutor for Costs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-61.md)
- [Ala. Code § 15-18-62 Section 15-18-62 Imprisonment for Failure to Pay Fines and Costs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-62.md)
- [Ala. Code § 15-18-63 Section 15-18-63 Imposition of Additional Hard Labor to Pay Costs; When Defendant Discharged](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-63.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AL_T15_C18_S15-18-1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.