Strangulation or Suffocation
Ala. Code § 13A-6-138 — choking a family member, household member or dating partner is a Class B felony
Strangulation is intentionally causing asphyxia by closing or compressing the blood vessels or air passages of the neck with external pressure. Suffocation is intentionally causing it any other way, such as blocking the airway or keeping someone from breathing.
Who handles this in Alabama: Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Alabama directory.
A Class B felony. An assault meant to cause physical harm, or menacing, carried out by strangulation or suffocation or an attempt at either, is domestic violence by strangulation or suffocation when the victim is family, a household member or a dating partner. It is a Class B felony.
Sources for this section (1)
- Ala. Code § 13A-6-138 — Domestic Violence by Strangulation or Suffocation
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Alabama attorney.