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Terms Used In Alabama Code 13A-12-54

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1

When an affidavit is made before a court of competent jurisdiction that the complainant has probable cause to believe and does believe that any house or any part of a house, particularly designating the same, is being kept or maintained contrary to the provisions of this division, or that a gaming table is being exhibited or kept at said place, or that said house or part of a house or any room therein is provided with electric bells or other instruments or appliances hereinabove set forth for communicating with the occupants of such place or room, or that some other offense under this division is being committed at said house or room, then the court to whom the application is made shall examine the complainant or affiant under oath and other witnesses, if he so desires, touching the matter charged in the affidavit, and, if the said court has probable cause for believing that the act or offense alleged in the affidavit is being committed, he shall issue his warrant directed to any lawful officer of the State of Alabama commanding him to enter the house or room and to arrest all parties found therein and to bring them before such court to be dealt with according to law.