Alabama Police Records

Alabama police records are maintained by law enforcement agencies at the state, county, and city level. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency serves as the central repository for criminal history records in Alabama. Each of the 67 county sheriff offices maintains arrest records and jail rosters. Municipal police departments handle incident reports for crimes that occur within city limits. You can access many of these records online through official databases and sheriff websites. This guide explains how to find arrest records, inmate information, crash reports, and criminal history in Alabama.

Search Alabama Police Records

What Are Alabama Police Records

Police records in Alabama include many types of documents. Each serves a different purpose and comes from a different source.

Arrest records show when someone was taken into custody. These records include the person's name, the charges filed, the booking date, and bond amounts. County sheriffs and city police create these records. They get sent to ALEA within 30 days of the arrest.

Incident reports detail crimes or events that police respond to. An officer writes up what happened, who was involved, and what action was taken. These come from the agency that responded to the call.

Alabama police records contain facts such as:

Name and booking photo of the person arrested
Charges filed and bond amount set
Date, time, and location of the incident
Names of officers involved in the case
Witness statements and officer notes
Disposition of the case if resolved

Crash reports document traffic accidents. These include driver information, vehicle details, a diagram of the crash, and any injuries. ALEA troopers handle highway accidents. Local police handle crashes on city streets.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency criminal records page

Criminal history records compile a person's full arrest and court history. ALEA maintains the statewide database. You need fingerprints for a full background check in Alabama.

Where to Find Police Records in Alabama

Alabama uses a mixed system. Records exist at state, county, and city levels. Where you look depends on what you need.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency handles statewide criminal records. ALEA took over this role in 2015 when several state agencies merged. Their Criminal Justice Information Services Division runs the central database. This is where all fingerprint records and criminal histories are stored in Alabama.

You can reach ALEA at 1-866-740-4762. Their office is at 301 S. Ripley Street in Montgomery. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Central Time.

County sheriff offices maintain jail records. Each of Alabama's 67 sheriffs runs the county jail. They keep records of current inmates, recent bookings, and releases. Most counties now post this data online for free.

City police departments handle local crimes. If something happened in a city, that city's police have the report. Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and other cities each run their own records systems.

Note: Court records for criminal cases are kept separately at the Circuit Clerk's office in each county.

How to Search Alabama Police Records Online

Online access has grown in Alabama. Many records are now just a click away. Here are the main options.

Most county sheriff websites have inmate rosters. Go to any county sheriff site and look for a link like "Inmate Search" or "Who's in Jail." You can search by name to see who is currently in the county jail. These are free to use. They show the person's photo, charges, bond amount, and booking date.

ALEA offers online services for some records. You can order crash reports at the ALEA portal for $17. Background checks can also be done online for $15. The ALEA Records Request Portal handles these requests.

Alacourt Access portal for searching Alabama court records

Alacourt Access at pa.alacourt.com lets you search court records. This covers criminal cases filed in Circuit Court. A name search costs $9.99 and includes one case. You pay more for additional cases or document images.

The Alabama Sex Offender Registry is free to search. Go to community.alea.gov to look up registered offenders in Alabama. This includes photos, addresses, and offense details.

For state prison inmates, the Alabama Department of Corrections has a search tool. Visit doc.alabama.gov to find anyone in state prison. This does not include county jail inmates.

Alabama Criminal Background Checks

Background checks in Alabama go through ALEA. There are several ways to get one done.

Online background checks cost $15. You submit your request through the AccessGov portal. Results come back faster than mail requests. This option works for name-based checks.

By mail, the fee is $25. You must fill out the ALEA application form. Two witnesses must sign it, or you can get it notarized. Include a copy of your photo ID and a money order. Mail it to P.O. Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102-1511.

Fingerprint-based checks provide the most complete results. Many employers require these. You get printed at a local police station or sheriff's office. The prints go to ALEA for processing. This takes longer but catches more records.

To request your own record in Alabama, you will need:

Completed ALEA application form
Current photo ID (driver's license works)
Payment by money order or cashier's check
Two witness signatures or notarization

Employers can sign up for the ALEA subscription service. This costs $95 per year. It gives faster access for businesses that run many checks.

Note: Criminal history from ALEA is not public record under Alabama law. Written permission is needed from the person whose record you want.

Alabama Arrest Records and Mugshots

Arrest records in Alabama are generally public. The booking photo, or mugshot, is also public in most cases.

When someone gets arrested, the jail creates a booking record. This includes the person's name, date of birth, charges, and a photo. Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, citizens have the right to inspect public records. Arrest records fall under this law.

County sheriffs post current inmate lists online. Most update daily. You can see everyone in the jail right now. Some also show recent releases going back 48 hours.

Mugshots appear on sheriff inmate rosters. They are considered public records in Alabama. However, some information gets withheld. The home address of the person arrested is not public. Neither are Social Security numbers or driver's license numbers.

Expungement can remove records in certain cases. Under Alabama Code Section 41-9-625, agencies must expunge records when charges are dropped. They must also clear records when someone is found not guilty. The disposition must be reported to ALEA within 30 days.

Note: Just because someone was arrested does not mean they were convicted. Arrest records show only that charges were filed.

How to Get Crash Reports in Alabama

Traffic accident reports in Alabama come from the agency that responded. This could be ALEA, a sheriff, or city police.

For crashes on state highways, ALEA troopers respond. You can order these reports online for $17 at the ALEA portal. By mail, the cost is $15. You need the case number, the driver's name, or the license plate to find your report.

City police handle crashes on city streets. Contact the records division of that police department. Most charge $10 to $25 for a crash report. Processing takes 3 to 7 days after the accident.

County sheriffs respond to crashes in rural areas. Call the sheriff's office to request a copy. Fees vary by county.

To get a crash report in Alabama, provide the following:

Date and location of the accident
Name of at least one driver involved
Case number if you have it
Payment for the applicable fee

Alabama Code Section 32-10-7 governs who can buy crash reports. Involved parties can always get a copy. Insurance companies and attorneys can also obtain them.

Alabama Open Records Law

The Alabama Open Records Act controls access to police records. This law is found in Sections 36-12-40 through 36-12-46 of the Alabama Code.

Section 36-12-40 states the basic right. Every resident has the right to inspect and copy public records. Police records are included unless a specific law says otherwise.

Section 36-12-41 requires agencies to provide copies. They can charge a reasonable fee. Most departments charge per page for copies.

There is a catch. Only Alabama residents can request public records. You must show proof like a driver's license or voter registration card. This residency rule changed how the law works in Alabama.

Alabama law does not set a response deadline. Agencies can take as long as they need. There is no penalty for delays. This is a gap many have criticized.

Some records are exempt from disclosure in Alabama:

Active investigations that could be harmed
Security plans and procedures
Juvenile records and names
Home addresses and phone numbers
Social Security and driver's license numbers

If denied, you can sue in circuit court. There is no administrative appeal process. You have two years to file after a denial.

Alabama Inmate Search Options

Alabama has two main systems for finding inmates. One covers county jails. The other covers state prisons.

Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search page

County jail inmates appear on sheriff websites. Almost every county in Alabama has an online roster now. Search by the person's name. You will see their photo, charges, bond, and booking date. These update frequently, often daily.

State prison inmates are in the ADOC system. The Alabama Department of Corrections runs 25 facilities across the state. Their search tool at doc.alabama.gov shows anyone in state custody. You can search by name or by the AIS number (Alabama Institutional Serial).

The ADOC search shows:

Inmate name and photo
Current facility location
Sentence dates and release info
Offenses they were convicted of

For victim notification, use VINELink. This free service sends alerts when an inmate's status changes. You can register at vinelink.com to get updates by phone, email, or text.

Note: County jails hold people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. State prisons hold those convicted of felonies and serving longer terms.

Police Record Fees in Alabama

Costs vary by agency and record type. Here is what to expect.

ALEA charges set fees for statewide records. A criminal background check costs $25 by mail or $15 online. Crash reports are $17 online or $15 by mail. These payments must be by money order or cashier's check for mail requests. Credit cards work online.

Local police departments set their own fees. Incident reports usually cost $10 to $25. Accident reports fall in the same range. Copy fees run $0.50 to $1.50 per page. Some departments charge a flat $25 processing fee for FOIA requests.

Inmate rosters are free at most sheriff websites. You pay nothing to search who is in jail. Copies of arrest records may have a fee if you need paper documents.

Courts charge separately for case records. A name search on Alacourt Access costs $9.99. Document images cost $5 for the first 20 pages. Certified copies from the Circuit Clerk cost more than plain copies.

Note: Fees change over time. Contact the specific agency to confirm current costs before submitting payment.

Start Your Search

Use the search tool below to find police records in Alabama. Search arrest records, inmate rosters, and criminal history databases.

Search Police Records in Alabama

Browse Alabama Police Records by County

Each county sheriff in Alabama runs their own jail and keeps arrest records. Select a county below to find inmate rosters, contact information, and local resources.