Alabama Code Title 16. Education § 16-28-17

It shall be the duty of the attendance officer, probation officer or other officer authorized to execute writs of arrest to take into custody without warrant any child required to attend school or be instructed by a private tutor who is found away from home and not in the custody of the person having charge or control of such child during school hours and who has been reported by any person authorized to begin proceedings or prosecutions under the provisions of this article as a truant. Such child shall forthwith be delivered to the person having charge or control of said child or to the principal teacher of the school or the private tutor from whom said child is a truant. If such child is an habitual truant, he shall be brought before the juvenile court for such disposition as the judge of said court finds proper from the facts.