Bill > HB226

This bill amends Alabama's habitual offender law to clarify how certain pleas are treated for the purposes of determining repeat felony offenses. Specifically, it adds a provision stating that for the purposes of this law, a conviction based on a plea of "nolo contendere" (meaning no contest), a "best interests plea," or an "Alford plea" (where a defendant pleads guilty but maintains innocence) will be treated the same as a conviction based on a plea of guilty, unless those pleas have been expunged (legally cleared or erased). This change aims to ensure that individuals who have committed multiple serious felonies are subject to enhanced penalties under the habitual offender statute, regardless of the specific type of plea they entered in prior cases, providing a more consistent application of the law.

Justice

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