The Retail Theft Crime Prevention Act introduces comprehensive legal definitions and penalties for retail theft in Alabama, categorizing offenses based on the value of stolen merchandise. It defines retail theft as the unauthorized control over retail merchandise with the intent to deprive the owner, encompassing actions such as concealment and altering price tags. The bill establishes three degrees of retail theft: first-degree for amounts exceeding $2,500 or involving firearms, second-degree for amounts between $500 and $2,500, and third-degree for amounts not exceeding $500, with penalties ranging from Class B felonies to Class A misdemeanors. Additionally, organized retail theft, which involves collaboration to commit theft, is classified as a Class B felony, with specific thresholds for severity based on the total value of stolen items.

The bill also introduces amendments to existing laws, including the establishment of prima facie evidence for retail theft, allowing remote issuance of warrants for retail theft crimes, and mandating coordinated training among law enforcement agencies to combat organized retail crime. It clarifies that violations can be prosecuted in circuit or district courts and specifies that the crime is considered committed in any county where any part occurred. Importantly, the bill states that mere possession of improperly priced merchandise does not imply guilt. The act is set to take effect three months after passage and approval by the Governor and is exempt from certain local funding requirements due to its focus on criminal offenses.