The transmission of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) from a person who knows or should know they have the disease to another person who is not informed of that fact before engaging in sexual contact with the infected person may result in both civil liability (for money damages) and criminal liability (for penalties).

Laws vary from state to state and some states have both civil and criminal statutes (laws enacted by the state legislature) that specifically address the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. In other states civil lawsuits may be filed and criminal prosecutions may be made under traditional legal theories such as negligence in a civil lawsuit and battery (harmful or offensive physical contact without consent) in a criminal prosecution.

In Alabama, the transmission of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) by an individual who knows or should have known about their infection to an uninformed partner can lead to both civil and criminal consequences. Under Alabama law, civil liability may arise if the infected person's actions are deemed negligent, meaning they failed to take reasonable care to prevent transmitting the disease to their partner. This could result in a lawsuit for monetary damages. On the criminal side, Alabama Code § 22-11A-21 makes it a Class C misdemeanor for anyone who knows they are infected with an STD to engage in conduct that is likely to transmit the disease to another person without informing them of the infection. This includes sexual contact. The penalties for a Class C misdemeanor in Alabama can include fines and jail time. It's important for individuals to be aware of these laws and to take appropriate measures to inform partners of any STDs to avoid legal repercussions.