Alabama Arrest Records

In Alabama, law enforcement agencies create arrest records as evidence that a person has been taken into custody. Local police and sheriff departments executing these arrests are responsible for maintaining these records. Likewise, the Alabama Law Enforcement Criminal Records Department maintains a database of all arrested persons in Alabama.

Alabama arrest records are vital evidence in criminal prosecution—they contain crucial information about the alleged offense, the arrestee, consequent criminal charges (if applicable), and all other interactions ensuing from the arrest.

A typical Alabama arrest record search will reveal the following information:

• The subject's full name
• Biodata (age, gender, date of birth, race, etc.)
• The subject's physical description (height, weight, eye color, physical markings, etc.)
• Booking number
• Mugshot
• Location of arrest
• Booking date and time
• Arresting agency
• Charges and bond information (if applicable)

Are Arrest Records Public in Alabama?

Yes. Alabama arrest records are public records. The Alabama Open Records Law, Code §36-12-40, states that citizens have the right to access public records through all available mediums, except the law provides otherwise. Although the language of the law reads "citizens," residents and non-residents alike may submit public records requests. It is only on rare occasions that the state may deny a request based on citizenship status.

Public record custodians may also restrict access to confidential records exempt from public disclosure per federal or state law or those sealed or expunged by court order.

How Do I Look Up Arrest Records in Alabama?

Researchers may look up Alabama arrest records through any of the following custodians:

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

The ALEA is the principal source of criminal records in Alabama. The Criminal Records Department maintains information on all arrested persons throughout the state. Interested persons can complete the Application To Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information, attach all required documentation, and mail the request to the address below. Requesters will be required to pay a $25 administrative fee in the form of a money order or check made payable to the ALEA, Criminal Records and Identification Unit.

*Alabama Law Enforcement Agency *

*Criminal Records and Identification Unit *

*ATTN: Record Challenge *

*P.O. Box 1511 *

*Montgomery, Alabama 36102-1511. *

Local Sheriff's Office and Police Departments

City and county law enforcement agents are also custodians of Alabama arrest records. Researchers can access these records at the sheriff's office, police department or online at their official website or designated search applications. Some law enforcement agencies only upload logs of recent arrests. For example, the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office updates its arrest search site with information on offenders booked within the last 24 hours.

Counties that do not maintain arrest logs online may have inmate rosters of arrested persons convicted by a court of jurisdiction or awaiting trial while in custody. For example, the Dale County Inmate Roster provides details of the offender's arrest (the arresting agency, charges, and booking date).

**Alabama Courts **

The Alabama Court System provides on-demand online access to trial court records for every case heard within Alabama. This case search service, Just One Look is a subscription-free service that allows users to look up criminal court case records. Interested persons can find information on the nature, reason, time, date, and location of an arrest and other material information within a criminal case record. Residents can find records of district courts, municipal courts, and county courts.

Besides the aforementioned sources, interested persons may use privately owned search sites to investigate criminal history or find records of arrests and incarceration. Third-party sites collate information from multiple government sources to provide information in one place for easy access.

Free Arrest Record Search in Alabama

There is no free central arrest records repository for Alabama. However, interested persons may contact their local law enforcement agencies (police departments, sheriff's offices) for information on recently arrested persons. One may also obtain arrest records free of charge on their websites. To search for an arrest record, researchers should know and provide relevant information like the offender's name, description, location, or date of the arrest.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Alabama?

Unless deleted, criminal records remain on an individual's profile permanently and may affect their chances of finding employment, housing, or integrating with their community. Arrest records are not expunged automatically. The subject of the record must apply for the expungement.

The statutory guidelines for sealing records in Alabama are codified in Title 15, Chapter 27 of the Code of Alabama, signed by the legislature in 2014. The statute was later reformed and improved into the Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment and Eliminate Recidivism (REDEEMER) Act in 2021.

The purpose of erasing criminal records is to remove all arrests, charges, and convictions from a person's profile in Alabama. The duration of which an arrest might remain on an individual's record depends on several factors:

• The age of the offender: juvenile records are not public records;
• The nature of the crime committed;
• Whether or not the offender was charged for the crime;
• The conviction or dismissed charges.

How to Seal Arrest Record in Alabama

In Alabama, a person must be eligible to petition for sealing arrest records under Section 15-27-1. This section explains that "an individual who was charged on the grounds of a misdemeanor offense, a violation, a traffic violation, or a municipal ordinance violation may petition the criminal division of the Circuit Court in the county where the charges were filed to expunge (erase) the said charges" under the following circumstances:

• No criminal charges were filed;
• The case is dismissed temporarily, and 90 days have elapsed;
• The case was temporarily dismissed and has not been refiled for over a year, and the offender has not been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor during the past two years;
• The case has been officially dismissed, and the prosecution has not refiled within 90 days;
• The person has been acquitted, and more than 90 days have passed;
• The prosecutor has abandoned the charge without reserving the right to prosecute later.

In any of the above scenarios or others provided in the statute, individuals can petition for criminal record expungement after the prescribed waiting period (1 year for misdemeanors and 5 years for felony charges). The next step is to apply to review or challenge a criminal history record to the ALEA to get a certified copy of the criminal record (this will be needed as a supporting document during the petition proceedings). Then, the applicant must obtain, complete, and file the Petition for Expungement of Records. If the presiding judge approves the petition, the record (or the page containing sensitive information) will be redacted, sealed or removed by court order and exempt from public disclosure.