{"data":{"id":"us-al/ala.-code-38-9-7","jurisdiction":"us-al","citation":"Ala. Code § 38-9-7","heading":"Violations; Penalties.","body":"(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to abuse, neglect, exploit, or emotionally abuse any protected person. For purposes of this section, residence in a nursing home, mental institution, developmental center for people with an intellectual disability, or other convalescent care facility shall be prima facie evidence that a person is a protected person. Charges of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or emotional abuse may be initiated upon complaints of private individuals, as a result of investigations by social service agencies, or on the direct initiative of law enforcement officials.\n(b) Any person who intentionally abuses or neglects a person in violation of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class B felony if the intentional abuse or neglect causes serious physical injury.\n(c) Any person who recklessly abuses or neglects a person in violation of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class C felony if the reckless abuse or neglect causes serious physical injury.\n(d) Any person who intentionally abuses or neglects a person in violation of this chapter, shall be guilty of a Class C felony if the intentional abuse or neglect causes physical injury.\n(e) Any person who recklessly abuses or neglects a person in violation of this chapter, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if the reckless abuse or neglect causes physical injury.\n(f) Any person who emotionally abuses a person in violation of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.\n(g) Any person who exploits a person in violation of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class C felony, where the value of the property, assets, or resources or illegal services provided to a protected person by an unlicensed hospital exceeds one hundred dollars ($100).\n(h) Any person who exploits a person in violation of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, if the value of the property, assets, or resources or illegal services provided to a protected person by an unlicensed hospital does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100).\n(i) If a violation of this section is also a violation of any other Alabama criminal statute, then a conviction or acquittal under either statute bars prosecution under the remaining statute.","path":["Title 38 Public Welfare.","Chapter 9 Protection of Aged Adults or Adults with a Disability."],"source_url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=38-9-7","current_through":"Act 2026-611","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T14:01:51Z","sha256":"fca12f13a73de52cd9f14c9ae880c67b7b5d49fe8bfa9097e838663c33a516e3","source_id":"us-al","stale":false,"prev":"us-al/ala.-code-38-9-6.1","next":"us-al/ala.-code-38-9-8"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}