Opinion ID: 1796794
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Civil or Criminal Contempt.

Text: Contempts are characterized as either civil or criminal. Civil contempt seeks to compel or coerce compliance with orders of the court, while a criminal contempt is one in which the purpose of the proceeding is to impose punishment for disobedience of orders of the court. Charles Manufacturing Co. v. United Furniture Workers, 361 So.2d 1033, 1035 (Ala.1978); Ex parte Abercrombie, 277 Ala. 479, 172 So.2d 43 (1965); Carroll v. State, 350 So.2d 723 (Ala.Crim.App.1977). The sanction for civil contempt continues indefinitely until the contemnor performs as ordered. A critical distinction is that the sanction for criminal contempt is limited in Alabama district and circuit courts to a maximum fine of $100 and imprisonment not to exceed five days. Ala. Code 1975, § 12-11-30, § 12-12-6, and § 12-15-12; Graham v. State, 427 So.2d 998 (Ala.Civ.App.1983).