Search Alabama Arrest Records

Alabama arrest records are kept by county sheriff offices. They get reported to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC). ALEA runs this system. Each of the 67 counties has its own jail roster and booking data. The Alacourt system lets you search court case records once charges get filed. Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, these records are public. You can view them or get copies. Search online through county sheriff sites, the ADOC inmate search, or Alabama VINE.

How to Search for Arrest Records in Alabama

County Sheriff Offices (Current Jail Inmates)

Most county sheriff offices in Alabama post online inmate rosters. These show who is in jail right now. You can see the name, booking date, charges, bond, and mugshot. To search, go to the sheriff's site for the county where the arrest took place. Look for "Inmate Search," "Jail Roster," or "Recent Bookings." Type in the name to see booking info. Not all 67 counties have online search tools. Some smaller counties need you to call or go in person to the jail. It varies quite a bit from one place to the next.

Alacourt (Court Case Records)

The Alacourt Public Access system lets you search court records across the state. Charges must be filed first before they show up here. Go to pa.alacourt.com. Pick the county. Choose the case type like Criminal or Traffic. Then type in the name or case number. You can find the case number, what charges were filed, hearing dates, and case status. It also shows if there was a conviction or dismissal. Sentencing info is there too. This system works for all 67 counties and all case types.

Alabama Department of Corrections (State Prison)

The ADOC Inmate Search helps you find people in state prison. Type in the last name. That part is required. First name is optional. You can also search by AIS number, which is a 6-digit inmate ID. Results show where the person is held, their sentence details, and when they might get out. One thing to note: this only shows state prison inmates. County jail inmates are not in this system. Old records are not online either. The search caps out at 50 results.

ALEA Criminal History Check

ALEA gives out official criminal history reports. Go to their Criminal Records Unit page to start. Fill out ALEA Form 46. This is the Application to Review Criminal History. Add a copy of your photo ID. You need fingerprints on an FBI-approved card. Then pay the fee. Mail it to ALEA Criminal Records & Identification Unit, Attn: Background Checks, P.O. Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102-1511. You can also go in person at 301 S. Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36104. Use the Adams Ave side entrance.

Alabama VINE System

The Alabama VINE system tracks inmate status. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. You can see if someone is still in jail or got released. Call 1-877-846-3425 or use the site to search by name. Sign up for alerts by phone, email, or text. You get notified when the inmate status changes. Maybe they got out, moved, or had a court date. The service is free and works across the whole state.

Fees for Arrest Records

Processing Times

Secondary Sources for Arrest Information

Sex Offender Registry

The ALEA Sex Offender Registry has info on more than 16,000 sex offenders in Alabama. You can search by name or by address. Results show offender details, photos, and what they did. The system also lets you sign up for alerts. You get notified if a registered offender moves into your area. This is a useful tool for keeping track of who lives nearby. Many people check it when they move to a new place or have kids in school.

Federal Court Records

Three U.S. District Courts handle federal cases in Alabama. The Northern District sits in Birmingham. It covers Jefferson, Madison, Tuscaloosa, and 28 more northern counties. The Middle District is in Montgomery. It handles cases for Montgomery and counties around it. The Southern District is based in Mobile. It covers Mobile, Baldwin, and 11 other southern counties. Use PACER to search federal court records. PACER stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. To find federal inmates, try the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Court Records via Circuit Clerks

Each county's Circuit Court Clerk keeps criminal case files. They have dockets and judgments on file too. District Court handles misdemeanor cases and traffic tickets. Municipal Court deals with city ordinance violations, like noise or code stuff. The records show case numbers, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. Sentences are in there as well. Call or visit the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was heard. They can get you copies of what you need. Fees vary by county but are usually pretty low.

Additional Resources

Historical and Archived Records

Older arrest records might be at the county courthouse. Check with their records department. The Alabama Department of Archives and History has historical records too. Some of these include old criminal justice documents from years back. A lot of older stuff only exists on microfilm or paper. That means you may need to go in person to see it. Online access is limited for anything from before the 1990s in most cases. Plan to spend some time digging if you need something old.

State-Specific Systems

Alabama runs a few specialized criminal justice systems. AlaFile is for electronic court filing. Lawyers and courts use it to submit documents. AlaPay handles fine payments. You can pay traffic tickets and other court fines through it. The Alabama Criminal Justice Information System (ACJIS) is the big one. It handles over 15 million transactions per month. ACJIS connects to the FBI's NCIC database and links to all 50 states through Nlets. This is how law enforcement shares info across state lines.

Tips for Searching

Start with free tools first. Try Alacourt, county jail rosters, and ADOC search before you pay for anything. Know which county the arrest happened in. Records are kept at the county level. Check more than one source. An arrest might show in a jail roster but not in court records yet. That happens when charges have not been filed. Call the sheriff's office if they do not have online search. For old records, send a written public records request to the right agency. Some places want ID before they release anything. If you mail a request, expect it to take longer than going in person.

Legal Framework for Arrest Records

Public Records Access

Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, every resident can inspect and copy any public record. Some records have limits, but most are open. This law is the basis for accessing arrest records. Alabama Code § 36-12-41 says agencies can charge fees for copies. The fees must be reasonable. Most of the time you are looking at a few dollars per page for certified copies.

What Information Is Public

These arrest details are public in Alabama: the jail logbook (booking record), mugshot photos, arrest reports after a warrant gets served, charges at booking, bond info, court records, case outcomes, and conviction data. Some things can be kept private though. Home address of the person arrested does not have to be shared. Same goes for phone number, Social Security number, and driver's license number. Occupation, employer name, and work address can also be withheld. The sheriff has some say in what personal info gets released.

Records That Are Not Public

Some records are off limits. Warrants that have not been served stay private. Juvenile records for anyone under 18 are sealed. Expunged records and sealed court files are not public. Details from active investigations are also kept quiet. Per Alabama Code § 12-15-102, juvenile cases are confidential. If a minor was involved in a delinquent act, that record is not open to the public. Adults cannot dig up someone's juvenile history.

Expungement in Alabama

Alabama lets people expunge some arrest records. This falls under Alabama Code Title 15, Chapter 27. You might qualify if charges were dropped or never filed. Same if you were found not guilty at trial. People who finished a diversion program like drug court or mental health court can apply too. Some non-violent felony convictions qualify after a waiting period. Most misdemeanors can also be expunged after some time passes. But violent felonies, sex crimes, and certain serious offenses cannot be expunged. Those stay on your record for good.

To expunge a record, file a petition in the circuit court where the case was heard. Pay a $500 filing fee. If you cannot afford it, ask for a fee waiver based on hardship. Get a certified criminal history from ALEA. You might need to attend a hearing, depending on the case. If the judge grants it, the order goes to ALEA. They update their records. Once expunged, the record is sealed from public view. Most job applications do not require you to disclose expunged records. One catch though: law enforcement can still see them. And anyone applying to be a peace officer must still disclose expunged records.

Key State Contacts

ALEA Criminal Records Unit

Alabama Department of Corrections

Administrative Office of Courts

Alabama VINE

Start Your Search

Use the search tool below to access arrest record information from Alabama and other states.

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Each of Alabama's 67 counties operates its own sheriff's office and jail facility. Select a county to find local arrest record resources and contact information.

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Major cities in Alabama have dedicated resources for arrest record searches. City police arrests are typically booked at the county jail.

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