Free Alabama Criminal & Arrest Records Search: All Counties in AL

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Free Alabama Arrest Records & Criminal Records Search

Access Alabama Records: background checks, warrants, probation and parole, court records, and all criminal and arrest records.

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With slightly over 5 million people riding the Crimson Tide in Alabama, knowing how to search Alabama criminal and arrest records can provide insight into anyone’s past. This free guide provides the information, skills, tools and links to resources where individuals can perform a public record criminal record check for personal reasons, or a professional background check for employment, housing licensure etc.

Information is also provided on the laws and regulations outlining how records can be accessed, what records are available to the public, and how these records can be used legally to make important decisions.

Are Criminal Records & Arrest Records Public Information in Alabama?

Per Code of Alabama 36-12-40, the public has the right to inspect or request a copy of any document or writing produced by any governmental agency operating in the state, including local or state government agencies, except where the statutes expressly prohibit the disclosure of the record.

Exceptions to disclosure of records include the following:

• Juvenile records,
• Records that could negatively impact the security of others such as the identity of witnesses or victims in a police report,
• Any record that jeopardizes the safety of a government agency or entity such as confidential information or the security of a jail or other facility.
• Investigative reports for criminal cases that are still pending in court, and the disclosure of which could negatively impact the investigation.

Simply put, this means Alabama adult criminal records are considered public records, and are available for inspection or copying, but the records could be redacted (meaning, parts of the record will be blacked out or removed) to protect victim identity, witnesses or the names of jurors in court transcripts. For example, the names of victims may be blacked out of an arrest report before it is released to the public.

Federal agencies such as the US Bureau of Prisons or federal courts operating in Alabama must comply with the federal Freedom of Information Act which states that records generated by public entities are considered public record except when release of the records can create a risk to national security or to individuals listed in the records such as witnesses or victims.

Arrest records in Alabama are also considered public record and can be found through local law enforcement or through statewide or national background checks.

Alabama: What Shows Up on Criminal Records Searches vs Arrest Records Searches

Many people use arrest records and criminal records interchangeably; however, there are very distinct differences between the two. An arrest record simply shows someone was taken into custody by a law enforcement agency in Alabama on suspicion of committing a crime.

Arrest records in Alabama show who was arrested, where and when they were taken into custody, why they were arrested and their mugshot. It is not a complete criminal record.

Arrests occur before a hearing has been started in court, or can occur at any time during the hearing if the defendant fails to show up for court.

Alabama criminal records are much more extensive than arrest records, and actually contain the arrest record as part of the overall criminal history. Criminal records show the court data in addition to the arrest record.

The criminal records shows if the person was convicted or acquitted, or if the charges were dropped, the sentencing information, diversion programs or deferred prosecutions, and if charges were reduced in nature. For example, if someone was arrested for a felony drug charge and plead to a misdemeanor drug charge in a plea arrangement.

An arrest or charge is what starts the entire process of building a criminal history on someone, and knowing where that person was arrested is key to finding out where to start when searching a complete criminal record.

How To Find Recent Arrests & Why Someone Is in Jail in Alabama for Free

If someone is wondering who has been arrested in their city or town, or why someone they know is in jail in Alabama, they can learn how to find recent arrests in a variety of ways; however, there is some basic information they need in order to conduct a search.

You may also want to know how to find out if someone was arrested out of curiosity, or because you are trying to locate a friend or family member who hasn’t checked in with anyone for a while.

There is no central arrest directory or database for the state, so the search to find recent arrests will have to start locally. The searcher needs to know the name of the subject arrested, roughly when the person was taken into custody, and the city or county the person was arrested in.

Without this information, the person will have a great deal of difficulty locating the individual, or how to find out someone’s charges in jail.

It is also important to know if the person is being held in a county or city holding facility since Alabama has several municipal jails in addition to county facilities. Next, outlines how to look up arrest records in Alabama counties or cities.

County Arrest Records Search in Alabama: (AL Mugshots & Inmate Lookup)

The first place to start when looking for an arrest record in Alabama is to search the county sheriff’s office where the person resides or was during the time of the arrest.

The steps needed to locate county arrest records are outlined here and can show how to find out what someone was arrested for.

To simplify the search, the table below lists all the county sheriff’s offices in Alabama along with a link to the county jail, a contact number and whether or not the jail has an online portal to search daily arrests:

County Jail Inmate Search	Phone Number	Shows Mugshots?
Autauga County Sheriff’s Office	334-361-2500	✓
Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office	251-937-0202	✓
Barbour County Sheriff’s Office	334-775-3434	✓
Bibb County Sheriff’s Office*	205-926-9581	X
Blount County Sheriff’s Office	205-625-4127	✓
Bullock County Sheriff’s Office*	334-738-2670	X
Butler County Sheriff’s Office*	334-382-6521	X
Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office	256-236-6600	X
Chambers County Sheriff’s Office**	334-864-4333	✓
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office	256-927-3365	✓
Chilton County Sheriff’s Office	205-755-1053	✓
Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office	205-459-2166	X
Clarke County Sheriff’s Office*	251-275-8156	X
Clay County Sheriff’s Office	256-354-2176	✓
Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office	256-463-7336	✓
Coffee County Sheriff’s Office	334-894-5535	✓
Colbert County Sheriff’s Office	256-383-0741	✓
Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office*	251-578-1260	X
Coosa County Sheriff’s Office	256-377-2211	✓
Covington County Sheriff’s Office*	334-428-2640	X
Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Office+	334-335-4850	X
Cullman County Sheriff’s Office*	256-735-2400	X
Dale County Sheriff’s Office	334-774-2335	✓
Dallas County Sheriff’s Office*	334-874-2585	X
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office	256-845-3801	✓
Elmore County Sheriff’s Office	334-567-5441	✓
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office	251-809-0741	✓
Etowah County Sheriff’s Office	256-546-2825	✓
Fayette County Sheriff’s Office**	205-932-3206	✓
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office	256-332-8820	✓
Geneva County Sheriff’s Office*	334-684-5671	X
Greene County Sheriff’s Office**	205-372-3242	✓
Hale County Sheriff’s Office*	334-624-3081	X
Henry County Sheriff’s Office*	334-585-3293	X
Houston County Sheriff’s Office	334-677-4882	✓
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office	256-574-1884	✓
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office	205-325-5700	✓
Lamar County Sheriff’s Office+	205-695-7470	✓
Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office*	256-760-5757	X
Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office*	256-974-2250	X
Lee County Sheriff’s Office	334-749-5651	✓
Limestone County Sheriff’s Office*	256-232-0111	X
Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office*	334-210-8355	X
Macon County Sheriff’s Office*	334-727-2500	X
Madison County Sheriff’s Office	256-533-8820	✓
Marengo County Sheriff’s Office*	334-295-4208	X
Marion County Sheriff’s Office	205-921-7433	✓
Marshall County Sheriff’s Office	256-582-2034	✓
Mobile County Sheriff’s Office	251-574-4702	X
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office	585-753-4300	X
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office	334-832-4985	✓
Morgan County Sheriff’s Office	256-351-4800	✓
Perry County Sheriff’s Office*	334-683-6534	✓
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office	205-367-2000	✓
Pike County Sheriff’s Office	334-566-4347	✓
Randolph County Sheriff’s Office	256-357-4545	X
Russell County Sheriff’s Office	334-298-6535	✓
St Clair County Sheriff’s Office	205-594-2140	✓
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office	205-670-6066	✓
Sumter County Sheriff’s Office+	205-652-2841	✓
Talladega County Sheriff’s Office	256-362-2748	✓
Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office*	256-825-4264	X
Walker County Sheriff’s Office*	205-302-6464	X
Washington County Sheriff’s Office	251-847-2202	X
Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office*	334-682-9394	✓
Winston County Sheriff’s Office+	205-489-2115	X

*The Sheriff’s office does not have an online inmate roster or search tool. Inquiries must be made by calling the number provided in the table.
**The Sheriff’s Office has a mobile app on iPhone or Android devices with an inmate search tool that shows mugshots.
+Sheriff’s Office does not currently have a functional website.

Whether it is just curiosity about who is in jail in the county you live in, or you want to locate a friend or family member, below is how to find out if someone is in jail in Alabama:

1. Google Alabama inmate locator [county name].
2. Review the list of search returns and find the official sheriff’s department website. While most official government sites end in .gov or .us, sheriff’s office sites may end in .org, .net or even .com.
3. Click the link to the official website and search for a button on the page that says inmate roster or who’s in jail or something of that nature. This may appear on the homepage, but you may have to look deeper to find a link.
4. Click the link and follow the on-screen directions to search. Some departments post the entire inmate roster, so you simply need to scroll through it. Others allow a name-based search.
5. If the sheriff’s office does not publish the current arrests, you will need to call the main sheriff’s office number or the jail number to see if a loved one is being held at that facility.

As an example, if someone wanted to search for an inmate in the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office jail, they would do the following:

1. Google Alabama Morgan County Sheriff’s Office arrest records.
2. In the search results, they would click the link to the Morgan County inmate roster.

While county jails may be the best starting point, there are a number of city jails in Alabama as well, particularly in the major urban areas. These facilities are maintained by the local police department.

Look Up Recent Arrests in AL’s City Jails

When a person is arrested by a local police department in Alabama, they may be transported to the county jail or they may be held in a city holding facility. Below we provide the steps needed to check city jails.

The table below lists the city jails in Alabama along with a link to the official website, and states whether or not there is an online roster or mugshot database available through the website:

City Jail Inmate Search	Phone Number	Shows Mugshots?
Birmingham City Jail	205-254-6369	✓
Daphne City Jail*	251-620-0550	X
Dothan City Jail*	334-793-0215	X
Fultondale City Jail*	205-849-5456	X
Guntersville City Jail*	256-571-7571	X
Hoover City Jail*	205-444-7737	X
Mobile Metro Jail	251-574-6412	X
Montgomery Municipal Jail*	334-625-4636	X
Trussville City Jail*	205-661-4014	X

*The city jail does not have an online inmate roster or search tool. Inquiries must be made by calling the number provided in the table.

To find out if someone is in a city jail in your area or check on a loved one who was taken into custody, do the following:

1. Open a search engine such as Google on the computer.
2. In the search bar type Alabama [city name] jail roster.
3. Review the search results for the official city jail webpage. This may be included in the city government page or may be a stand-alone page (or both). Click the link for the official website.
4. Review the department’s page to find out if the city has its own jail or if the police partner with the local county sheriff’s office to house inmates. Most city jails fall under the administration division or special units division of the police department.
5. If there is no online roster, call the non-emergency number for the police department where the person was arrested to see where the individual was transported.

For example, if someone wanted to search for someone in the Birmingham city jail, they would do the following:

1. Google Alabama Birmingham city jail roster.
2. In the search results, they would click the Birmingham City Jail link.
3. They would then click the inmate search hyperlink to view the current roster.

Alabama also allows for the use of commercial bail bondsmen, so if someone is unable to find out if a person is in jail in their area, they can hire a bail bondsman to help locate the individual and help secure the release of the person pretrial. Bail bondsmen are not required to post bail or help find someone in jail, but their services can be a valuable tool for friends and family helping a recently arrested person.

Can You Run a Statewide Public Arrest Record Search in Alabama?

Unfortunately, Alabama doesn’t have a centralized arrest database that can be accessed by the public, so it isn’t possible to run a statewide public arrest record search. Arrest records in Alabama are included in an overall statewide criminal history, and steps for that are provided below.

For now, searchers will have to check county or city jails to locate an individual, learn about visitation and phone calls, and find out about bonding or bailing the person out of jail.

How To Contact an Inmate in Jail & Bail Them Out

When a person is arrested, making contact with them to bail them out or find out if a bond has been set is vital. To contact a person who has been arrested by local law enforcement, individuals can use the same search steps for locating an inmate to find out what the visitation and contact policies are for a particular law enforcement agency.

Searchers can use the tables above for the city and county jails for jail information for each particular agency. If the information is not listed on the website, call the non-emergency number to find out how to post a person’s bail or contact them in jail.

State law requires police or deputies facilitate contact with a friend or family member when a person is taken into custody either via mail, telephone, or in-person (or video) visits except in very rare circumstances. Rule 4.2 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure states a person has the right to make a telephone call to someone as quickly as possible following an arrest, meaning law enforcement must make reasonable efforts to allow someone to call a friend, family member, bail bondsman or attorney to let them know they have been arrested.¹

Someone can learn more details about a person’s background, however, by going beyond an arrest search to a full criminal records search.

How To Look Up Criminal Records in Alabama (Search AL Criminal Records)

Criminal records are generated out of the court system in Alabama because the court system is responsible for hearing all criminal charges that are filed against people in the state, here is how to access court records. The clerk of court’s office is the official holder of the records and is responsible for making sure the record is correct.²

The Alabama Judicial System maintains an online portal, called Just One Look, to grant public access to trial court records; however, it is required that a person register for an account, and there is a fee of $9.99 per name search on the portal.

Free terminals are provided at the courthouse to search for Alabama criminal records, but the searcher needs to be aware that only those records that were generated in that county will be included in the search returns.

For convenience, we have listed all the clerk of court’s offices with address and phone number below divided by judicial district. Judicial district refers to the county or counties of jurisdiction (or responsibility) for cases that originated in that county.

See the table below for clerk of court information:

Alabama Court District Clerk of Courts	Address	Phone Number
1st Judicial District
Clarke County Clerk of Court	114 Court St Grove Hill, Alabama 36451	251-275-3163
Choctaw County Clerk of Court	117 S Mulberry Avenue Ste 10 Butler, Alabama 36904	205-459-2155
Washington County Clerk of Court	45 Court St Chatom, Alabama 36518	251-847-2239
2nd Judicial District
Butler County Clerk of Court	700 Court Sq Greenville, Alabama 36037	334-382-3521
Crenshaw County Clerk of Court	29 S. Glenwood Avenue Ste 206 Luverne, Alabama 36049	334-335-6575
Lowndes County Clerk of Court	1 S Washington St Hayneville, Alabama 36040	334-548-2252
3rd Judicial District
Barbour County Clerk of Court	1 Court Sq Clayton, Alabama 36016	334-775-8366
Bullock County Clerk of Court	217 North Prairie Street Union Springs, Alabama 36089	334-738-2280
4th Judicial District
Bibb County Clerk of Court	35 Court Sq E Centreville, Alabama 35042	205-926-3103
Dallas County Clerk of Court	105 Lauderdale St Selma, Alabama 36701	334-874-2523
Hale County Clerk of Court	1001 Main Street Greensboro, Alabama 36744	334-624-4257
Perry County Clerk of Court	300 Washington St Ste 110 Marion, Alabama 36756	334-683-6106
Wilcox County Clerk of Court	12 Water St Ste 304 Camden, Alabama 36726	334-682-4126
5th Judicial District
Chambers County Clerk of Court	2 Lafayette St S Ste B114 Lafayette, Alabama 36862	334-864-4348
Macon County Clerk of Court	101 Rosa Parks Plz Tuskegee, Alabama 36083	334-724-2614
Randolph County Clerk of Court	1 Main Street S Wedowee, Alabama 36278	256-357-4551
Tallapoosa County Clerk of Court	125 N Broadnax Dadeville, Alabama 36853	256-825-1098
6th Judicial District
Tuscaloosa County Clerk of Court	714 Greensboro Avenue Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401	205-349-3870
7th Judicial District
Calhoun County Clerk of Court	25 W Eleventh St Anniston, Alabama 36201	256-231-1750
Cleburne County Clerk of Court	120 Vickery St Room 202 Heflin, Alabama 36264	256-463-2651
8th Judicial District
Morgan County Clerk of Court	302 Lee Street Northeast Decatur, Alabama 35601	256-351-4790
9th Judicial District
Cherokee County Clerk of Court	100 W Main Street Centre, Alabama 35960	256-927-3637
DeKalb County Clerk of Court	300 Grand Ave S Ste 200 Fort Payne, Alabama 35967	256-845-8525
10th Judicial District
Jefferson County Clerk of Court	716 Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard. North Birmingham, Alabama 35203	205-325-5355
11th Judicial District
Lauderdale County Clerk of Court	200 South Court Street Florence, Alabama 35630	256-760-5728
12th Judicial District
Coffee County Clerk of Court	230M Court Avenue Elba, Alabama 36323	334-897-2954
Pike County Clerk of Court	120 West Church Street Troy, Alabama 36081	334-566-5113
13th Judicial District
Mobile County Clerk of Court	205 Government St Ste 913 Mobile, Alabama 36644-2913	251-574-8511
14th Judicial District
Walker County Clerk of Court	1803 3rd Ave Ste 205 Jasper, Alabama 35501	205-384-7268
15th Judicial District
Montgomery County Clerk of Court	251 South Lawrence Street Montgomery, Alabama 36104	334-832-1260
16th Judicial District
Etowah County Clerk of Court	801 Forrest Avenue Gadsden, Alabama 35901	256-549-2150
17th Judicial District
Greene County Clerk of Court	400 Morrow Avenue Eutaw, Alabama 35462	205-372-3598
Marengo County Clerk of Court	101 East Coats Avenue Linden, Alabama 36748	334-295-2224
Sumter County Clerk of Court	115 Franklin Street Livingston, Alabama 35470	205-652-2291
18th Judicial District
Shelby County Clerk of Court	112 N Main St Columbiana, Alabama 35051	205-669-3760
19th Judicial District
Autauga County Clerk of Court	134 N Court St Prattville, Alabama 36067	334-358-6800
Chilton County Clerk of Court	500 Second Avenue North Clanton, Alabama 35045	205-755-1551
Elmore County Clerk of Court	8935 US Hwy 231 North Wetumpka, Alabama 36092	334-514-3116
20th Judicial District
Henry County Clerk of Court	101 Court Sq Ste J Abbeville, Alabama 36310	334-585-2753
Houston County Clerk of Court	114 N Oates St Dothan, Alabama 36303	334-677-4800
21st Judicial District
Escambia County Clerk of Court	314 Belleville Avenue Brewton, Alabama 36427	251-867-0305
22nd Judicial District
Covington County Clerk of Court	1K N Court Sq Andalusia, Alabama 36420	334-428-2520
23rd Judicial District
Madison County Clerk of Court	100 NorthSide Square Room 217 Huntsville, Alabama 35801	256-532-3300
24th Judicial District
Fayette County Clerk of Court	POB 906 Fayette, Alabama 35555	205-932-4617
Lamar County Clerk of Court	330 First St Northeast Vernon, Alabama 35592	205-695-7193
Pickens County Clerk of Court	20 Phoenix Avenue Carrollton, Alabama 35447	205-367-2050
25th Judicial District
Marion County Clerk of Court	132 Military Street S Hamilton, Alabama 35570	205-921-7451
Winston County Clerk of Court	10 Blake Drive Double Springs, Alabama 35553	205-489-5533
26th Judicial District
Russell County Clerk of Court	501 Fourteenth St Phenix City, Alabama 36867	334-298-0516
27th Judicial District
Marshall County Clerk of Court	424 Blount Ave Ste 201 Guntersville, Alabama 35976	256-571-7785
28th Judicial District
Baldwin County Clerk of Court	1100 Fairhope Ave Fairhope, Alabama 36532	251-928-3002
29th Judicial District
Talladega County Clerk of Court	148 E St N Talladega, Alabama 35160	256-761-2102
30th Judicial District
St Clair County Clerk of Court	100 6th Avenue N Suite. 400 Ashville, Alabama 35953	205-594-2184
31st Judicial District
Colbert County Clerk of Court	201 N Main St Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674	256-386-8511
32nd Judicial District
Cullman County Clerk of Court	500 Second Avenue Southwest Cullman, Alabama 35055	256-775-4660
33rd Judicial District
Dale County Clerk of Court	POB 1350 Ozark, AL 36361	334-774-5003
Geneva County Clerk of Court	200 North Commerce Street Geneva, Alabama 36340	334-684-5620
34th Judicial District
Franklin County Clerk of Court	410 North Jackson Avenue Russellville, Alabama 35653	256-332-8861
35th Judicial District
Conecuh County Clerk of Court	111 Court Street Rm 203 Evergreen, Alabama 36401	251-578-2066
Monroe County Clerk of Court	65 N Alabama Avenue Monroeville, Alabama 36460	251-743-2283
36th Judicial District
Lawrence County Clerk of Court	14451 Market Street Ste 300 Moulton, Alabama 35650	256-974-2432
37th Judicial District
Lee County Clerk of Court	2311 Gateway Drive Opelika, Alabama 36801	334-737-3526
38th Judicial District
Jackson County Clerk of Court	102 E Laurel St Scottsboro, Alabama 35768	256-574-9320
39th Judicial District
Limestone County Clerk of Court	200 Washington Street W Athens, Alabama 35611	256-216-3865
40th Judicial District
Clay County Clerk of Court	25 Court Sq Ashland, Alabama 36251	256-354-7926
Coosa County Clerk of Court	9709 US Hwy 231 Rockford, Alabama 35136	256-377-4988
41st Judicial District
Blount County Clerk of Court	220 Second Avenue East Oneonta, Alabama 35121	205-625-4153

When searching court records, the searcher needs to know the defendant’s name, approximate timeframe for the court hearing, and county in which the case was tried. To find your local clerk of court’s office and search the criminal records of someone in your life, do the following:

1. Open a search engine such as Google.
2. In the search bar type Alabama [county name] clerk of court’s office.
3. Proceed to the address listed for the clerk of court’s office and find the public terminals.
4. Use the terminal to perform a name-based search to see if the person has a criminal record in that area.

An example of this search could look like this:

1. Google Alabama Monroe County clerk of court’s office.
2. Review the search results to find the address for the clerk’s office or courthouse to learn the clerk’s office is located at 65 N Alabama Avenue Monroeville.
3. Follow steps 3 and 4 above to search records in person at the Monroe County courthouse.

The clerk of court’s office is a great place to find criminal records for the local area, but these offices do not provide statewide criminal record reports.

Run Statewide Criminal Record Search in Alabama Through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

A statewide criminal record is often required for employment or leasing, and it’s important to know where to run or request a statewide criminal record. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is the official criminal background check public records repository with steps to access Alabama criminal records through ALEA discussed next.

Alabama: How To Get a Copy of Criminal Records in AL

When a background check is needed for a job or to rent a house or apartment, it can be requested through the ALEA by doing the following steps:

1. Open the ALEA website.
2. Scroll to the Criminal History Record Information section on the page and click the link to access the public application to review criminal records in AL.
3. Complete the form and mail it to the address below.
   Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
   Criminal Justice Information Services Division
   Post Office Box 1511
   Montgomery, AL 36102-1511
4. Include a copy of the individual’s fingerprints and a cashier’s check or money order in the amount of $25.00 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy.
5. Make sure the applicant has signed the authorization to release the record found on the form.

Qualifying agencies or employers can also register for online access to Alabama criminal records by applying for an account with ALEA. Once the employers have a verified account, their human resources office can access up-to-date statewide criminal background information online at any time.³

The information that appears on the background check includes arrest records in Alabama, dispositions and pending charges, as well as sentencing data.

How Do I Find Out if Someone Is on Probation or Parole in Alabama?

When a person goes to court, disposition of the case is the most important part of the file, including any sentencing if the person is found guilty. Sentencing can include probation; however, probation can also be used as a pretrial diversion.

To illustrate just how many people are on probation and parole, the following image shows the combined total of probationers and parolees in Alabama, along with their ethnicities. Furthermore, these totals are also compared to the number of individuals on community supervision (including probation and parole) in other states across the United States.

It’s vital to know how to see if someone is on probation in Alabama; however, there is not an online probation search database that can be accessed.

Instead searchers will need to rely on searching court records as outlined in the section above titled How To Look Up Criminal Records in Alabama (Search AL Criminal Records). Probation is also included in statewide criminal background check information obtained through the ALEA.

Parole records are a different matter and can be searched online through the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles (ABPP). If you were the victim of a crime and want to see if the offender has been paroled or is up for parole, you can search by doing the following:

1. Open the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles (ABPP) website.
2. Hover the cursor over the word Data in the menu at the top of the screen.
3. From the drop-down menu, click the Parole Results link.
4. Scroll down the page to the month of the parole hearing and click one of the methods of opening the file (PDF by date or PDF by name, or Excel spreadsheet).
5. Find the name on the list and see the results of the parole hearing (denied or granted) and the date of the hearing.

APBB also has an online search link for upcoming parole hearings. If you are the victim or family member of a victim and want to know when a parole hearing is scheduled, you can find out by doing the following:

1. Open the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles (ABPP) website.
2. Hover the cursor over the word Hearing in the menu at the top of the screen.
3. From the drop-down menu, move the curse to Paroles, then click the Parole Hearings link in the side-open menu.
4. An alphabetical list (by offender last name) will populate. Search the list for the offender’s name and find out when the next parole hearing is scheduled.

Probation or parole does not mean a person’s record is automatically cleared of criminal history; however, there are steps individuals can take to clean up Alabama criminal records.

How To Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record in Alabama

When a person has a criminal conviction on their record, it can be a huge barrier to employment, licensure or housing; however, in some cases there are steps a person can take in Alabama to expunge or seal their criminal record. Expungements are covered in the Code of Alabama, Title 15, Chapter 27. Here we have provided the information needed to request an expungement.

The first step in expungement is determining if the matter is able to be erased from the record.⁴ The table below outlines the eligibility criteria for misdemeanor and felony convictions and non-convictions:

Criminal Classification	What is Eligible
Misdemeanor Non-Convictions	Charges dismissed with prejudice and more than 90 days have passed since dismissal No true bill by grand jury and more than 90 days have passed Defendant found not guilty and more than 90 days have passed since acquittal Charges dismissed without prejudice more than 1 year earlier and were not refiled AND the individual has not been charged or convicted of any other criminal offense in the previous two years.
Misdemeanor Convictions	All sentencing requirements have been met Three years have passed since conviction date Conviction was for a non-violent crime Conviction was not for a sex offense Person was not convicted of a serious traffic offense (such as vehicular homicide) Crime was not one of moral turpitude (in other words, crime did not violate community morality standards)
Felony Non-Convictions	Charges dismissed with prejudice and more than 90 days have passed since dismissal No true bill by grand jury and more than 90 days have passed Defendant found not guilty and more than 90 days have passed since acquittal One year has passed since the successful completion of a diversion program for drug offenses, mental health court program, veteran’s court, or approved deferred-prosecution program Charges dismissed without prejudice more than 5 years earlier and were not refiled AND the individual has not been charged or convicted of any other criminal offense in the previous 5 years.
Felony Convictions	Governor has granted a pardon AND a certificate of restoration of rights 180 days have occurred between the pardon and the petition to expunge Conviction was for a non-violent crime Conviction was not for a sex offense Person was not convicted of a serious traffic offense (such as vehicular homicide) Crime was not one of moral turpitude (in other words, crime did not violate community morality standards)

Next, if the matter meets one of the above criteria, the steps to expunging the matter are listed here:

1. Google how to expunge a record in Alabama.
2. Review the search returns to see if there is an official government website that covers steps to expunge a record. For example, individuals can obtain an expungement kit to help with clearing a record if the matter resulted in a non-conviction from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).⁵ Expunging convictions will be discussed later in this section.
3. Obtain an official ALEA criminal history form.
4. Add one of the following additional records: certified copy of the arrest from the law enforcement agency that took the person into custody, certified disposition record from the court, or certified case action summary from the court.
5. Complete and file a petition for expungement of records with the Alabama circuit court where the case was filed.
6. A payment of $300 must be made at the time of filing.
7. The court will determine if the petition for expungement will be granted or denied. If granted, the court will order that any agency having records pertaining to the matter expunged destroy those records and remove them from public view.

Expungements for felony and misdemeanor convictions were not available until the law was amended in 2021. Now, as seen in the table above, certain convictions can be expunged if all the criteria is met removing them from the misdemeanor or felony registry.

The steps for petitioning for an expungement of a conviction are similar to those for non-convictions and requires the following information:

1. Obtain or draft a statement under oath that the person meets the eligibility criteria. The petition serves as this sworn statement.
2. Get an official ALEA criminal history.
3. Include one of the following additional documents: certified copy of the arrest from the law enforcement agency that took the person into custody, certified disposition record from the court, or certified case action summary from the court.
4. Submit official documentation of disposition of the case.
5. Make sure all conditions of the sentencing including fees and fines have been paid in full.
6. Submit payment of $300 for the expungement at the time of filing.

When a petition is filed, a copy is forwarded to the district attorney’s office, the police department that filed the charges and/or made the arrest, and the clerk of court’s office to pull the case file and document the outcome of the expungement petition. If the district attorney (DA) doesn’t object within 45 days of the filing, the court can grant the petition with no further review or hearing.

If the DA objects to the petition, a hearing will be held to determine if the matter will be expunged.⁶

The process can be complicated, and it is important to make sure everything is done correctly from the onset of filing the petition to avoid delays in getting the record expunged. An attorney is not required to help with expunging a court record in Alabama, but an attorney can be a very valuable asset to the defendant, especially in matters where the person may have been pardoned or paroled from prison.

Alabama: How To Find Someone in Federal Prison & State Prisons

Individuals may want to know who is in prison in Alabama, or what someone who is in prison was charged with. Prison sentences follow convictions, usually for felony offenses; however, there are certain misdemeanor crimes that can also result in prison terms (such as habitual misdemeanor offenses or violent misdemeanors).

Here we provided information on how to search inmate records.

Alabama is home to two federal prison facilities, but these facilities can house federal inmates that were tried in any federal court throughout the country. To see if a person you know is in federal custody in Alabama, or see if a person in a highly-publicized federal case that you’ve followed is in an Alabama federal prison, complete the following steps:

1. Open United State Bureau of Prison (BOP) website.
2. Enter at minimum the first and last name of the offender.
3. Scroll through the list to review the search returns to see if the person is in BOP custody. The last section of each entry is either labeled Located At or Release Date.

Unfortunately, the US BOP does not allow searches to be done by facility, so it is important to have as much information as possible to narrow down the search results. For example, if you know the party’s middle name, race, gender and age it can cut down on the number of hits from the system.⁷

Federal convictions become part of a person’s FBI rap sheet that shows up on background checks.

Locating Alabama state prisoners can be done through the Alabama Department of Corrections website. For victims of crimes, family or friends of inmates, or others just interested in learning who is in state prison in Alabama follow these steps:

1. Open the Alabama Department of Corrections website.
2. Type the first and last name of the offender (or the AIS number if available) and click Search.
3. Review the list of search results.
4. To learn more about the offender, click the person’s name in the list to get additional details.

Information included in an Alabama DOC online offender record include the person’s full name and known aliases, demographics (age, race, description), where the person is in custody, level of custody (minimum, medium, or close custody also sometimes called maximum custody), a mugshot, any scars/marks/tattoos, charges of conviction, length of sentence, date of sentence, and when the person was admitted to the current facility. The record also shows when the person may be eligible for early release or parole.⁸

How To Find Out if You or Someone Else Has a Warrant in Alabama (Arrest, Bench, Active Warrant Search)

One thing people may also wonder about is whether or not there is a warrant out for their arrest, or if a friend or family member, coworker or other associate is wanted by the police. Here we provide steps to see if there is an active warrant out for someone in Alabama.

While warrants are not a conviction for a crime, they can have a serious negative impact on a person’s ability to obtain a job or remain in a job once the warrant is executed and the person is no longer available to work. Alabama’s Public Records Act, Code of Alabama 36-12-40, allows for the publication of warrants in the state.

Searching for active warrants is a great way to answer the questions: how do I know if I have been charged with a crime?

If you want to know if you or someone else is wanted by the police, do the following steps:

1. Google Alabama arrest warrants search.
2. Searchers will notice Alabama does not have a central warrant depository for the public by reviewing the search results; however, the search results will contain links to local law enforcement agencies that publish warrant lists or most wanted lists.
3. Click on any of the official law enforcement links that appear in the search results to review active warrants for that department.

A list of sheriff’s departments has been provided in the table above under the section County Arrest Records Search in Alabama: (AL Mugshots & Inmate Lookup). When searching for inmates in the county jail, searchers can also review the website to see if the agency also publishes warrant lists.

Another way to see if a law enforcement agency in Alabama publishes its warrant list is to do the following:

1. Google Alabama arrest warrants [county or city law enforcement agency]. For example, if you want to see if Birmingham PD publishes a warrant list, you would type Alabama arrest warrants Birmingham PD to reach the agency’s website; however, searchers will find Birmingham PD does not publish a warrant list. Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, however, where the city of Birmingham is located, does publish an online warrant search portal.
2. Enter the required information in the search portal for agencies that do publish lists, or review the roster for those that put all the outstanding warrants in one file.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office warrant portal allows the public to also submit an anonymous tip online if they know the whereabouts of a person wanted by the police. The search returns also list why the person is wanted (crime accused of committing), and a description of the person wanted along with the last known address.⁹

Warrant lists are often published to encourage those with a pending matter to turn themselves in and resolve the issue, or to enlist the help of the public to capture fugitives who pose a serious threat to the community. Warrant lists can also be used to show who is behind on child support obligations and have a warrant issued.

An Overview of Alabama Background Checks

For people working, volunteering, obtaining education or licensure, or living in Alabama or wishing to do business with certain agencies or organizations in the state, the chances of being subjected to a background check is high. The table below lists the agencies or entities in Alabama that provide or require a background check:

Agency That Performs or Requires Background Checks	Screening Reasons
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)	Employment Screenings Volunteer Screenings Personal Records Checks Expungements Corrections of Records Requests
Alabama Department of Human Resources	Childcare Workers Adult Protective Services Workers Adoptions Foster Parenting Social Workers Volunteers
Alabama Office of the Attorney General	Telemarketers Professional Fundraisers Health Studio Professionals Charitable Organization
Alabama Department of Education	School administrators Teachers Teacher assistants Volunteers Support staff Bus drivers Housekeeping staff
Alabama Board of Medical Examiners	Medical Doctors Surgeons Physician Assistants Certified Nurse Practitioners Midwives Anesthesiologists
Alabama Board of Nursing	Registered Nurses LPNs Certified Nursing Assistants Advanced or Specialist Nurses
Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling	Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) Associate Licensed Counselors LPC Supervisors

The purpose of a background check by a licensing board or employer is to look for disqualifying offenses such as violent felonies or crimes against children or other vulnerable populations that would present a danger to the clients or public and is how to check if someone has a criminal record.¹⁰

How To Search the Alabama Sex Offender Registry

Among the most serious disqualifying offenses is a conviction for a sex offense. While sex offense charges and convictions do show up on an official background check, the general public has the right to know who has been convicted of a sex crime and is living or working in their community.

Each state maintains a sex offender registry, and to search the Alabama registry and see if an offender lives near your home or child’s school, do the following:

1. Open the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) sex offender registry website.
2. Click the link on the page to review the registry disclaimer. Click the box to agree to the terms and conditions of the search site to continue.
3. Offenders can be searched by location (address of the searcher), name, city, or if they are non-compliant with the registry conditions. Offenders can also be searched by known internet or email names and addresses.
4. Since most searches will be name-based, click Name in the search box.
5. Enter the person’s first and last name and click Search.
6. Review the search results to find the subject of the inquiry.

The registry will show the following details about the offender:

• Mugshot
• If there is an alert issued for the offender
• Full name
• Address (or last known address)
• Demographics
• Criminal conviction
• Date of the conviction
• Link to view the address on a locator map.

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act included the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Registry which is maintained by the United States Department of Justice. Individuals can use the national registry to conduct a name-based search of  Alabama sex offenders as well, but it’s always best practice to start with the state registry.

Alabama Laws on Criminal Records & Arrest Records

Knowing how to search records should also include a basic understanding of the laws that govern background checks and use of Alabama criminal records. The protections criminal history subjects have regarding use of criminal history are discussed here.

While many states have adopted ban the box laws that prohibit inquiring about criminal history on applications or until a person has otherwise been deemed initially qualified for a position, Alabama has yet to pass a statewide statute that bans the box on applications about criminal history; therefore, agencies are free to inquire about a person’s record at any stage and disqualify the applicant based on the application answers.

Birmingham, Alabama is the only city to date to pass a ban the box, which went into effect in 2016 and prohibits asking about criminal history on applications for positions with the city government.¹¹

Code of Alabama Title 8, Chapter 35 allows individuals to request a consumer credit history freeze which prohibits a commercial consumer credit reporting agency from disclosing information on a background check including criminal history data unless the agency has the written consent of the subject. This can limit what third-party reporting agencies can disclose.

Title 24, Chapter 24, Section 8 of the Code of Alabama makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone applying for housing based on protected status such as race, age, gender and national origin. This includes using arrest records in Alabama as a basis to unlawfully deny housing to a certain demographic that is disproportionately impacted by criminal screenings.

Employers in Alabama must also follow the New Hire Act of 1997, Code of Alabama Title 25, Chapter 11, which requires employers disclose when they hire someone by entering the person’s information in the Alabama State Directory of New Hires.

Acts that are considered misdemeanor or felony offenses in Alabama are outlined in the Code of Alabama, Title 13A which lists all the crimes an individual can be charged with or arrested for in the state.

It is from this statute that the list of disqualifying offenses was generated.

In addition to state laws, anyone operating a business or leasing property must adhere to federal statutes that guide use of background checks for making decisions. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) limits the use of credit history to a seven-year lookback period for credit reporting and criminal non-convictions by commercial background check services providers.

FCRA regulations are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission which provides guidance to employers, consumer credit reporting agencies, and third-party people finder search sites, and the public on use of background checks. This is also where an employment candidate can file a complaint if a background check is conducted or used unlawfully.

Another federal agency responsible for maintaining the rights of employees is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC enforces federal anti-discrimination laws that prevent unlawful use of criminal background reports when making hiring decisions. Individuals can also file a complaint with the EEOC if they feel they have been unlawfully discriminated against due to information on a criminal history.

The EEOC also publishes guidelines for employers for using criminal records or arrest records in making hiring decisions, and how to remain in compliance with federal employment laws.Understanding the laws and knowing where to start are key in searching arrest records in Alabama. Using this free guide anyone can access Alabama criminal records and compile a complete history before making important decisions.