Dallas County Arrest Records
Dallas County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office. They run the county jail in Selma. Once charges get filed, the 4th Judicial Circuit Court handles all criminal cases in the county.
Dallas County Arrest Records Quick Facts
Dallas County Sheriff's Office
The Dallas County Sheriff's Office covers law enforcement in the county's unincorporated areas. They also run the county jail in Selma. The office books and houses inmates, serves warrants, guards the courthouse, and handles civil processes. No matter who makes the arrest, Sheriff's deputies or city police, everyone gets processed at this jail.
| Address | 105 Lauderdale Street Selma, AL 36701 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (334) 874-2590 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Jail operations 24/7 |
How to Search for Inmates
Want to find someone in the Dallas County Jail? Call the Sheriff's Office at (334) 874-2590. Staff can tell you if the person is there. They'll share the charges and bond amount too. Dallas County doesn't have a public online inmate roster, some smaller counties in Alabama don't. So you'll need to call or show up in person for current booking info.
Have the full name ready when you call. A date of birth helps too. There might be others with the same name. Jail staff will give you the charges, bond, and booking date. Ask about visiting hours if you want to see the person.
Booking Process
When someone gets arrested in Dallas County, they go to the county jail. Staff take fingerprints and a mugshot. They collect personal info and enter charges into the system. Booking can take a few hours, more if the jail is busy. After booking, bond gets set based on the charges. Some offenses have preset bond amounts. More serious charges need a judge to set bond at a hearing.
Court Records and Case Information
After an arrest, the case goes to the courts. The 4th Judicial Circuit covers Dallas and Wilcox counties. Cases are heard at the Dallas County Courthouse in Selma. Circuit Court takes felony cases. District Court handles misdemeanors and traffic tickets. Both courts keep records. These become public once charges are formally filed.
Alacourt Case Search
The Alacourt Public Access system is the best way to search court records in Dallas County. It's free and covers all 67 Alabama counties. Go to pa.alacourt.com to start. Pick Dallas County from the dropdown. Choose your case type, Criminal, District, Traffic, etc. Then type in the name. Results show case numbers, charges, court dates, and case status. You'll also see if someone was found guilty and what sentence they got.
Alacourt gets updated as cases move through the system. But very recent arrests might not show up right away. It takes time for charges to get filed and entered. If an arrest just happened a day or two ago, those records might not be there yet.
Circuit Court Clerk
The Dallas County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all official court records. Need a certified copy of a court document? This is where to get it. The office has case files and judgments. They also handle expungement petitions if you want to clear your record.
| Address | 105 Lauderdale Street Selma, AL 36701 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (334) 874-2523 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
District Court
Dallas County District Court handles misdemeanors and traffic tickets. They also hold preliminary hearings for felonies. Minor offenses stay in District Court. Serious felony charges start here with a preliminary hearing. Then they move to Circuit Court for trial. You can search District Court records on Alacourt too.
Additional Arrest Record Resources
Alabama VINE
The Alabama VINE system lets you track inmates in Dallas County. Get alerts when their status changes. The service is free and covers all Alabama county jails. Sign up for phone, email, or text alerts. You'll know when an inmate gets released, transferred, or escapes. Call 1-877-846-3425 or visit the website to search or sign up.
Selma Police Department
The Selma Police Department covers law enforcement inside city limits. When Selma police arrest someone, that person goes to the Dallas County Jail for booking. Need a police report from a Selma arrest? Contact their records division. The police department has details about the arrest. The Sheriff's Office has the booking info.
| Address | 1401 Alabama Avenue Selma, AL 36701 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (334) 874-2125 |
State Prison Inmates
Inmates with sentences over one year get transferred out. They go from Dallas County Jail to a state prison. Use the ADOC Inmate Search to find someone in state prison. It shows where they're housed, their sentence, and release date. County jail records only cover people waiting for trial or doing short sentences.
Federal Court Records
Federal cases in Dallas County go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. These are crimes like drug trafficking, bank robbery, or crimes on federal land. They're handled apart from state cases. Use PACER to search federal court records. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has an Inmate Locator too. It helps find people serving federal time.
ALEA Criminal History Check
Want a full criminal history report? Request records from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). You'll get a statewide record with arrests and convictions from all Alabama counties. Fill out ALEA Form 46, provide fingerprints, and pay $25. Mail requests to ALEA Criminal Records Unit at P.O. Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102-1511. You can also go in person to their Montgomery office.
Fees for Arrest Records
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Alacourt Case Search | Free |
| Alabama VINE | Free |
| ADOC Inmate Search | Free |
| Police Report Copy | $5.00 - $10.00 |
| Certified Court Document | $1.00 - $5.00 per page |
| ALEA Criminal History Check | $25.00 |
| Expungement Filing Fee | $500.00 |
Processing Times
| Request Type | Typical Time |
|---|---|
| Phone inquiry to jail | Immediate |
| Alacourt case search | Immediate |
| Police report request | 3-5 business days |
| Certified court copies | 1-5 business days |
| ALEA background check | 5-10 business days |
Legal Framework for Arrest Records
Public Records Law
Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, every citizen can inspect and copy public records. Arrest records, booking logs, and court records are public info in Alabama. The jailer's logbook is called out by name in the law. It has booking dates, charges, and bond info. It must be available for people to look at.
What Information Is Public
In Dallas County, you can usually get these details: inmate names, birth dates, booking dates and times, charges, bond amounts, court dates, case outcomes, and mugshots. Some info stays private though. Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and home addresses are often withheld.
Records Not Available to the Public
Some records aren't public under Alabama law. Juvenile arrest records for those under 18 stay confidential per Alabama Code § 12-15-102. Records that have been expunged or sealed aren't public anymore. Active investigations and unserved warrants are usually kept from public view too.
Expungement in Dallas County
Alabama lets you expunge some arrest records under Title 15, Chapter 27 of the Alabama Code. You might qualify if your charges were dropped. Or if you were found not guilty. Completing drug court or mental health court counts too. Some non-violent convictions can be cleared after a waiting period. To start, file a petition with the Dallas County Circuit Court. Pay the $500 filing fee. A judge looks at your petition and may set a hearing. If approved, the expungement order goes to ALEA and other agencies. They seal the records from public view.
Legal Resources
Legal Services Alabama
Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help to low-income folks in Dallas County and across the state. They can help you understand charges. They also help with expungement petitions and other legal issues. Can't afford a lawyer? This is a good place to start.
| Phone | 1-866-456-4995 |
|---|---|
| Website | legalservicesalabama.org |
Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral
Need to hire a lawyer for a criminal case in Dallas County? The Alabama State Bar has a referral service. Call (800) 392-5660. They'll connect you with criminal defense attorneys in this area. The service helps you find a lawyer who handles your type of case.
Public Defender
Charged with a crime in Dallas County but can't afford a lawyer? You have the right to a public defender. The court appoints one if you qualify based on income. Ask the judge at your first court date. Or call the Circuit Court Clerk's office to learn how to apply.
Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
The Alabama Appleseed Center works on criminal justice reform. They have resources for people dealing with the court system. Check out their guides on expungement and other topics. Good stuff if you want to clear your record or know your rights.
Search Dallas County Records
Use the search tool below. Look up arrest records and criminal history for Dallas County and other spots in Alabama.
Cities in Dallas County
Dallas County has several towns. Selma is the county seat and the biggest city. About 17,000 people live there. Other places include Orrville, Valley Grande, and Plantersville. No city in Dallas County has over 100,000 people. So all arrests go through the Dallas County Sheriff's Office jail in Selma.
Selma Police handle law enforcement in Selma. The Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated areas and smaller towns. No matter who makes the arrest, booking happens at the county jail. For arrest info in any Dallas County community, call the Sheriff's Office at (334) 874-2590.
Nearby Counties
Need to search arrest records in nearby counties? Pick one below. Each county has its own jail and booking records.