Contempt

If a person is able to comply with the terms of a court order but fails to do so, the court can find that person in contempt.  A person who obstructs the court’s administration of justice can also be found in contempt.  Alabama law divides contempt into civil contempt and criminal contempt.  In civil contempt, the court will try to coerce a person into complying with the court’s order, provided the person has the means to do so.  A criminal contempt proceeding is punitive in nature and the sanctions are intended to punish repeated or aggravated failure to comply with the court order.  Sanctions for contempt can include fines, incarceration or other penalties.