Amendment 557
(a) Crime victims, as defined by law or their lawful representatives, including the next of kin of homicide victims, are entitled to the right to be informed, to be present, and to be heard when authorized, at all crucial stages of criminal proceedings, to the extent that these rights do not interfere with the constitutional rights of the person accused of committing the crime.
(b) Nothing in this amendment or in any enabling statute adopted pursuant to this amendment shall be construed as creating a cause of action against the state or any of its agencies, officials, employees, or political subdivisions. The legislature may from time to time enact enabling legislation to carry out and implement this amendment.
Alabama Contact Person:
Phillip Burdeshaw or Peter Petrillo at 334-260-1135 or 260-1170.
Offenders Required to Register:
Any person convicted, incarcerated, and released for offenses such as rape in the first or second degree, sodomy in the first or second degree, sexual torture, sexual abuse, or incest when the offender is 20 years old or older and the victim is 18 years old or younger.
Information Collected:
The following information is collected: name, address, sex, age, physical description, current photograph, a statement of the sex crime(s) for which the offender has completed the sentence, date of release, and a DNA sample.
Administrating Agency:
The State Department of Public Safety along with local law enforcement agencies.
Timeframe for Registration:
Offenders must register within 30 days of release and within 30 days of changing address.
Applies to Out of State Offenders:
Yes.
Duration of Requirement:
Lifetime registration is required.
Verification of Address:
Yes, address verification is mandatory.
Penalties for Non-Compliance:
Failure to comply results in a felony charge, punishable by 1 to 10 years imprisonment and up to a $1,000 fine.
Access to Information:
Notification is provided by mail and by posting a copy of the notice at the city hall and the police station nearest to the offender’s declared residence. The extent of notification depends on the population density:
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Notification to all residents within 1,500 feet in cities with populations of 5,000 or more.
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Notification to all residents within 2,000 feet in municipalities with populations under 5,000.
Confidentiality Provision:
No confidentiality provision is in place.