Search Tuscaloosa County Arrest Records

Tuscaloosa County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office. The jail sits on 26th Avenue. Sheriff Ron Abernathy runs a facility that holds about 600 inmates. It houses both minimum and maximum security offenders. You can search for current inmates on the Sheriff's website. Just click the "Inmates" tab and enter a name or booking number. Tuscaloosa County is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit. Court records for criminal cases are on Alacourt. With the University of Alabama here, this county sees a lot of arrests each year.

Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office

The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement for areas outside city limits. They also run the county jail. Sheriff Ron Abernathy is in charge of all jail work and booking. The department has an online inmate search. Anyone can use it to look up people in custody. This is your best bet for finding someone who was just arrested in Tuscaloosa County.

Sheriff's Office Contact Information

Tuscaloosa County Jail

The county jail is in a different spot than the main Sheriff's Office. Bookings, visits, and bond payments all happen at the jail. They hold people waiting for trial and inmates serving short terms. Security ranges from minimum to maximum. The jail sees thousands of bookings each year. When UA football season rolls around, arrest numbers go up. The same goes for the rest of the school year.

How to Search for Inmates Online

The Sheriff's Office has a free inmate search on their site. Here's how to find someone in custody:

1. Go to tcsoal.org
2. Click on the "Inmates" tab in the main navigation
3. Enter the person's last name and first name, or enter their booking number if known
4. Click search to view matching results

Results show the inmate's name, booking date, charges, bond, and mugshot. Keep in mind this only shows current inmates. Once someone gets out, their info comes off the list. For old booking records, call the jail or check Alacourt for filed charges.

Court Records and Case Information

Alacourt Public Access

When an arrest leads to charges, the case goes into the court system. You can search it on Alacourt Public Access. This database covers all 67 Alabama counties. That includes Tuscaloosa. Search by name or case number. You'll find case filings, hearing dates, and sentencing info. Alacourt is free. It gives you more detail than the jail roster because it tracks the whole case from start to finish.

Tuscaloosa County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk's office keeps all official court records for Tuscaloosa County. This covers felony cases, appeals, and trials. Need a certified copy? The Circuit Clerk can help. These are often needed for background checks or legal matters. Just walk in during normal business hours.

District Court

Misdemeanors and traffic tickets go through Tuscaloosa District Court. Looking for records of less serious crimes? Check with the District Court Clerk. You can also find these on Alacourt. But the actual paper files stay at the courthouse.

Alabama VINE Notification System

Need to track an inmate? Want to know when they get out? Sign up for Alabama VINE. It's free. Search for offenders by name. Then sign up for phone, email, or text alerts. VINE is really helpful for crime victims. You'll know right away if someone gets moved or released from the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

Additional Resources

Tuscaloosa Police Department

Tuscaloosa has its own police department. It's separate from the Sheriff's Office. City cops handle arrests inside city limits. But those people still get booked at the county jail. Want records of a city police arrest? Call the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Just know the booking record is at the county jail.

University of Alabama Police Department

The University of Alabama has its own police force. They cover the campus. UA Police make arrests on university grounds. Those people go to the county jail for booking. Arrests spike on game days and big events. For campus incidents, reach out to UA Police directly.

Federal Court Records

Tuscaloosa County falls under the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Western Division. Federal cases get heard in Birmingham. Search federal records on PACER. Federal inmates aren't held at the county jail. Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator to find them.

Alabama Department of Corrections

Someone convicted and sent to state prison won't be at the county jail. Use the ADOC Inmate Search to find them. It shows where they're held, how long their sentence is, and when they might get out.

Fees for Arrest Records

How much does it cost to get arrest records in Tuscaloosa County? That depends on what you need. Online searches on the Sheriff's inmate roster and Alacourt are free. Certified copies and background checks cost money.

Processing Times

Legal Framework for Arrest Records

Public Records Law

Alabama's public records law is at Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. It gives every resident the right to see and copy public records. Arrest records, booking logs, and court files count. The only exceptions are records protected by other laws. Think juvenile records and sealed files.

What Information Is Public

Most arrest info is public in Alabama. This includes booking records like name, date, time, and charges. Mugshots are public. So are bond amounts. Arrest reports become public after a warrant is served. Court filings, dockets, case outcomes, and sentences are all public too. Same with conviction history. Some personal details get blacked out though. Social Security numbers, home addresses, and phone numbers stay private.

Records That Are Not Public

Some arrest records stay private. Under Alabama Code Section 12-15-102, juvenile records are confidential. That's anyone under 18. The public can't see them. Expunged records are off limits too. Same with sealed court files. Ongoing investigations stay private. And you can't get info on warrants that haven't been served yet.

Expungement

Alabama lets you expunge some arrest records. This falls under Title 15, Chapter 27 of the Alabama Code. You might qualify if your case was dismissed or never prosecuted. Acquittals count too. So does finishing a diversion program like drug court, mental health court, or veteran's court. Some non-violent convictions qualify after a waiting period. File the petition in the circuit court that heard your case. It costs $500. Can't afford it? Fee waivers exist for hardship cases. If granted, your record gets sealed from public view. One big catch: violent felonies and sex offenses can never be expunged.

Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Website

Here's a screenshot of the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office website. You can use it to find the inmate search and other services.

Search Tuscaloosa County Records

Use this search tool to look up arrest records and court cases. It works for Tuscaloosa County and all of Alabama.

Cities in Tuscaloosa County

Tuscaloosa County has several towns and cities. The City of Tuscaloosa is the biggest. It has over 100,000 people. City police make arrests, but everyone gets booked at the county jail.

Other places in Tuscaloosa County include Northport, Brookwood, Coaling, Coker, Lake View, Moundville, and Vance. These smaller towns don't have their own pages. But you can use the county resources listed above to search arrest records.

Nearby Counties

Can't find who you're looking for? They might be in a nearby county. Each county runs its own jail. Records are kept separate.

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