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The best way to find an arrest report, the warrant list and judicial records in Alabama!

 

I would love to tell you that simply waling into the office of the local sheriff’s department or the clerk of court will be enough to get a criminal background check done. Unfortunately, life is never that simple; at least not, when you are talking about a criminal case search in Alabama.

 

Of course, I am not saying that a warrant search or an arrest inquiry is a lost cause in the state. But, don’t expect any one agency to give you all the dirt on your subject. If I were to put it simply, I’d say that you will need to spend at least a few hours going through the websites of different state agencies to get the information you need.

 

Now, will you always find the required criminal records online? Hell, No! There are always some nuggets that have to be dug out by visiting a law enforcement or judicial agency. Unfortunately, this option may not work for everybody, and I am going to tell you why. But before that, let us start by talking about public criminal records that are the easiest to find.

Arrest records from Alabama

 

Well folks, I don’t think this one needs much of an explanation. However, the thing that I should clarify here is that information on arrests in a particular county could pertain to the arrest history of just one person or it could mean the arrest log for that specific area.

Also, it goes without saying that the local law enforcement agency is the best place to conduct an arrest inquiry. Because most police departments offer their jail records online, you won’t have to struggle much to get your hands on data pertaining to recent arrests. And that brings me to the next logical question-

 

So, can I get details on all arrests in Alabama from the sheriff’s office?

 

No! The Sheriff’s Office of your county will only provide information on arrests made by them. In fact, the information posted on the websites of most law enforcement agencies in the state is limited to arrests in a specific time period. Usually, you will be given information on arrests for last 24 hours to last 5 days.

 

As far as jail records go, these too are limited to arrests made in the last 1-3 months and will only contain information about detainees who are still holed up in the county jail. In other words, if your subject or any other person was arrested but released on bail later, as is the norm, you may/may not find his name in the arrest log.

 

That said, if your arrest inquiry is aimed at getting information about a specific individual, it can be hard to get this data online. Because two state agencies offer something close to this through paid services, you can’t expect the police to undercut them and give you the data for free.

 

But if you visit the Sheriff’s Department and place your request for the arrests records in person or send in your request through mail, they may help you out. And, with that I come to the next obvious question-

 

Will online arrest records from Alabama be enough for a crime history search?

 

No sirree! An arrest report, even if it offers details on all the arrests in the name of a person, is just that- Information only on arrests and nothing else. What I am trying to say here is that even if you know that John Doe was detained in connection with a crime, how will you know if he was convicted of the offense?

And if there is no conviction involved, how can you be sure if the charges were true? Even if you consider that Mr. Doe was acquitted of the charges, how will you know what these charges were or if he is currently under trial? Plus, just because a person has not been arrested yet, does not mean that the police are not on a lookout for him.

 

Do you see my point here? What I can say is that an arrest report only paints half the picture but it is a good way to start investigating the criminal involvements of a subject. However, for a complete criminal history, you will need to know a lot more than just about the arrests in the name of your person of interest.

 

What information can I get from an online arrest log?

 

Well, that depends on the agency that is offering the information. Some law enforcement agencies are known to scrimp; they keep things simple with just the name of the detainee, age and the bare minimum details on the charges against him/her.

 

Then, there are other agencies that are quite generous and provide everything from the details needed to identify the detainee to data on current and past charges and even the arrest mugshots. It is almost as good as accessing a part of the police blotter.

How do I initiate an arrest inquiry in AL?

 

Like I said before, you can drive down to the Office of the Sheriff for a person specific arrest search. But, I always recommend that you start your arrest search online. You will find that most police departments provide their arrest booking data on their website.

 

This is offered in the form of a list or as a searchable arrests log that can be queried by using the name of a person. Of course, there are some agencies that limit themselves to providing details on just the most wanted persons. Let us look at a few examples here, and you will know what I am talking about.

 

1. Coffee County arrests: The Sheriff’s Office of Coffee County not only provides a complete listing of their jail records but also information on releases in the last 48 hours on their website at https://www.coffeeso.us/roster-choose.
2. Jail records from Washington County: The jail records for Washington County are available at http://www.washcoso.com/whos-in-jail/. This is a straight-forward list of all inmates currently lodged in the county jail regardless of date of arrest. You can find information on the arrest booking for last 24 hours at http://www.mobileso.com/24-hour-booking/. This page not only has information on the detainees but also on the charges against them along with the arrest mugshots.
3. Arrests in Walker County: The Sheriff’s Department of Walker County does not offer access to its jail records nor to its arrest log on its website. However, you can find information on the most recent arrests, complete with arrest mugshots on the agency’s FB page at https://www.facebook.com/walkercountysheriff/.
4. Arrest log for Madison County: The law enforcement office of the area offers the facility to look through their jail records at http://jail.madisoncountyal.gov/smartwebclient/jail.aspx. The search tool allows you to find currently incarcerated inmates as well as those who were recently released.

 

Before I go to the next set of criminal records, let me clarify that you won’t always get the arrests records from the website of the local sheriff’s department. For instance, if you want to know if a person was just busted in St. Clair County or Lauderdale County, you will have to visit the law enforcement agency that made the arrest or which serves the area in which the arrest was made for the inquiry.

 

 

Arrest warrants from Alabama

 

If I were to compare a warrant check with an arrest inquiry, I’d say the former is undoubtedly harder than the latter. In my experience, most law enforcement agencies are none too keen on providing details on the active warrants they hold.

 

The logic is simple- The existence of an active warrant means that the alleged offender has not been arrested as yet. Think of it this way; the cops would not want to risk a suspect taking to his heels after finding out about the arrest warrant in his name.

 

So, a warrant list is seldom offered as easily and freely as court records or even the arrest log. That said, you will find the most wanted page on the websites of most law enforcement agencies. Now, there are no guarantees that you will find the name of your subject in this list but I can tell you this- the most wanted list is a good way to start a warrant lookup.

 

Having said that, let me clarify that law enforcement offices typically follow one of three approaches when it comes to offering their warrant list online:

1. They give you the whole nine yards; bench warrants as well as all active warrants, whether they are linked to felonies or misdemeanors.
2. They only provide details on the small fry; meaning they give you information on bench warrants but not on their criminal warrants.
3. They tell you about some of the outstanding warrants; basically, people who are the most wanted suspects for a specific area.

 

You may have noticed the use of a bunch of new terms above, such as active warrants, bench warrants and outstanding warrants. If you have searched for data on warrants before, I bet you have come across them already and if this is your first warrant check, I am sure you are wondering:

 

What is the difference between arrest warrants and bench warrants?

 

First things first, you can get arrested if you have either of these in your name. But bench warrants are the lighter of the two. Make no mistake; these are also court issued orders for arrest but they are released in connection with minor offenses; more violations of civic or court rules than actual criminal acts.

 

So, if you are conducting a third party warrants search and find one or two bench warrants against your subject, it is more an indication of the fact that he/she is not good at following rules than of a criminal bent of mind. Of course, bench warrants may also be issued in case of Class C and D misdemeanors and in connection with economic crimes. Hence, I always factor these into the criminal background report of a person.

 

Now, if you find a bench warrant in your name, it’s best to approach the magistrate’s court and have it sorted out by paying the required fine. As far as arrest warrants go, these are typically connected to misdemeanors of a serious nature and felonies. Arrest warrants are termed as active warrants upon issue. But, if they are not served within a short period after issue, they are stored in the criminal database as outstanding warrants.

 

Where should I go for a warrant check in Alabama?

Well, you can get details on these orders from the warrant division of the sheriff’s office of your area or from the clerk of court’s office. Because the police are responsible for apprehending individuals who have arrest warrants in their name, they are bound to have information on such decrees.

 

Moreover, when a criminal act has led to the issue of the warrant, you can be sure that the order was sought by the police. As far as bench warrants are concerned, the cops are not involved in the process of issue, but they are responsible for serving them.

 

In Alabama, if you want to launch your warrant lookup through the judiciary, you will have to use the State’s Court Connect System and pay a fee for this information (more on this in the next section). But as always, I like to talk about the free stuff before I move to the paid options. So, let me tell you more about this…

 

How can I access information on AL warrants online and for free?

 

From what I know, at least one-third of the law enforcement agencies in the state offer a warrants search facility online. As I told you earlier, it may just be a most wanted list or simply a compilation of bench warrants. But, it’s still worth the shot because you don’t pay for the information. Plus, the warrant inquiry can be conducted without registration, which means it’s discreet. Here are a few examples to get you started:

1. Warrants from Mobile County: The Warrant Division of the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office offers details on bench warrants and failure to appear warrants (alias warrants) from the district, circuit, small claims and traffic courts at http://www.mobileso.com/warrant-search/.
2. Warrant list for Calhoun County: The local law enforcement provides access to their warrant list at http://www.calcoso.org/warrants/.
3. Tuscaloosa County warrants search: You will find the link to the Tuscaloosa County warrant database on the page at https://www.tcsoal.org/divisions/jail/warrants. You can find arrest warrants by using the name of the suspect or the warrant no, and this is a complete list of the warrants issued in the area, not just the bench warrants.
4. Montgomery County warrant lookup: The Sheriff’s office does provide a search tool but you are basically getting access to the bench warrants database. You will find the facility at http://mcso.mc-ala.org/pubquery/.

 

How will I know about a warrant roundup in Alabama?

 

There is no way to get information on a warrant roundup before it happens, unless you are connected to the law enforcement agency that is conducting the operation. Once arrests are effected, you will hear about them through print media and television.

 

For instance, the St. Clair Sheriff’s Office conducted a warrant round up only for their felony arrest warrants in 2018 and after the arrest bookings, the law enforcement agencies involved in the operation were only too happy to offer information about the procedure and the individuals who were arrested. You can read all about it at https://www.newsaegis.com/community/arrested-in-st-clair-county-warrant-round-up/article_8630c4c4-95c7-11e8-bca2-e73fa509c675.html.

 

 

Alabama Court Records

 

Personally, I always turn to the court records first when launching a background search on a subject.  I know, you are probably thinking criminal court records here. But, I am talking about public court records in general, which include both civil and criminal court records.

 

Hear me out for a second, and you will know why I strongly recommend starting with a case search. The thing about judicial records is that they offer an insight into the life and the mindset of a person, whether the case lookup throws up results on civil or criminal matters.

 

For instance, if you find too many traffic tickets; it may be more than just a case of bad luck and perhaps has something to do with disregard for the law and even a callous attitude towards the safety of others. Along the same lines, if there is the mention of a civil suit in the courts public records, and the litigation pertains to a business deal gone south, this will tell you about the financial health of a person.

 

Similarly, a tort claim will give you a peek into the health status of your subject. I am sure by now you can see where I am headed with this. So, without further ado, let me answer the question that must be bubbling in your mind.

 

So, how do I access Alabama judicial records?

 

In most states across the country, a trip to the clerk of court’s office will get you the information you need if not the website of the agency. But, things are done differently in Alabama. The state has a central court repository that allows you to find case records from nearly all the courts in the judicial system of Alabama.

 

However, this is a paid service and you need to register with the Court Access website to access it. Although the fee is nominal (you will get detailed information on this below), they charge for every case search. So, the amount can build up if you don’t have all the specifics about your subject. Another problem is that you will have to register to use the service. If all of that sits well with you, let me answer your next question.

 

What information can I get from an AL courts records search?

 

The Court Connect website is essentially a tool that allows access to the Alabama Judicial Information System, which is the maintained by the Unified Judicial System of the State of Alabama. The court repository contains information from all the trial courts across the 67 counties of the state.

 

The database not only has details on all current/active court cases but also on both civil and criminal matters that have been disposed. In fact, the courts public access system can get you data that goes back to the 1970’s. Through a case search, you can find details on:

• All civil and criminal matters heard by the 41 circuit courts.
• All civil and criminal court cases handled by the district courts.
• Many cases handled by the municipal courts, particularly traffic related matters.
• Matters pertaining to family relations, alimony and child support.
• Trial court docket.

In addition to case information, the system can also help you with attorney tracking and attorney case information.

 

How can I launch a case lookup through the AL Courts Open access System?

 

The Court Connect website is available at https://pa.alacourt.com/. To use the case lookup tool, sign up for the service at https://pa.alacourt.com/frmSignUp.aspx. Registration is free, but subsequently, you will have to pay $9.99 for every name or case number based search that you initiate.

 

The fee will be charged to your credit card even if no case records are found in the name of your subject. If you want to follow an ongoing case till disposition, you will have to pay $19.99 for district cases and $29.99 for circuit cases. Images are also charged extra. For the first 20 pages, you will be charged $5 and thereafter, you will pay $0.50 per page.

 

Can I do a court docket search for free?

 

The Court Clerk of your judicial circuit may be able to help you in the matter. Typically, you will find this information on the clerk of court’s website, but it will be limited to the cases that are to be heard over the next day or two. Plus, you will only get the name of the party/parties involved in the matter. In most instances, you can’t even find the nature of the case from the docket listing, let alone the description of the charges. Here are a few examples that will clarify things:

1. For the First Judicial Circuit (Washington County), you can find the court docket list on http://washington.alacourt.gov/. Click on the “View Dockets” tab on your right, and you will be redirected to the docket list. The page will only offer details on the cases that will be handled on the next business day along with the case number, time of hearing and the name of the judge.
2. Similarly, for Madison County Circuit Court or the 23^rd Judicial Circuit, you will find the docket search facility at http://23judicialcircuit.org/. Pick the name of the judge from the dropdown menu and you can access the list of cases that the judge will preside over in the next few days.

 

In contrast, the clerk of courts’ offices of the 33^rd and 4^th Judicial Circuits of Alabama do not provide a listing of the court dockets on their website.

 

What are the other options for a case search, besides the AL Court Connect network?

Only a few clerks offer the facility to launch a case search through their office. The thing to remember here is that when the case lookup request goes through the court clerk of one county, the records you get will be limited to that specific court and area. Here are a few examples:

• Hoover City courts records (Shelby County): You can get information from the City of Hoover Municipal Court by filing a case search request with the official in charge of records keeping. Use the form at http://www.hooveral.org/DocumentCenter/View/56. They charge $5 for 1-20 pages of report and an additional $5 for certification. Fill the form and take it to the Municipal Court at 2020 Valleydale Rd. Hoover, Alabama 35244-2095.
• Mobile City case search (Mobile County): The local Municipal Court is among the very few judicial entities in the state that allow you to launch a case lookup online. The tool is available at https://www.municipalrecordsearch.com/mobileal/Cases. You can find case information by using the name of your subject as the search criteria as long as you also have his/her date of birth.
• City of Troy court records search (Pike County): A similar facility is also offered by the Municipal Court of Troy City at https://www.municipalrecordsearch.com/troyal.

 

 

Criminal Records of Alabama

 

Everything that we have discussed so far, think of criminal records as the assimilation of all of that. The thing is that in Alabama, the local police can only provide a criminal background check for law enforcement purposes.

 

As far as the other methods discussed above are concerned, they are fantastic for accessing criminal records online but have no official standing. So, what do you do when you need more than just public criminal records?

 

Well, there are three agencies that can help you with a criminal check, depending on the type and kind of information you need and the subject of your inquiry. Two of these, charge for the criminal background check while the third offers a free tool for a criminal search, but the information this third agency offers does not qualify as a formal criminal history report and cannot be used as such.

 

Before we talk about how you can access criminal records, let me tell you why and when you’d need to approach these different state offices for a background check.

What kind of criminal records can I access through Alabama state agencies?

 

1. Personal criminal background search: You will need a background report for employment, immigration and adoption. A state-wide criminal check will usually be enough although some employers and countries do ask for nation-wide background reports. Another reason to look for information on criminal cases in your name is to know if you are a victim of identity theft and to ensure that the information in your background report is accurate.

 

2. Third party criminal lookup: There can be scores of reasons to perform a third party criminal history lookup. Typically, employers do a background check on current and prospective employees. It is also not unusual for home owners to perform a criminal lookup on prospective renters. Of course, you may also have personal reasons for launching a search for criminal court cases. In Alabama, if you need a formal report in response to your criminal case search, you will need a signed consent form from the subject.

 

3. Access to criminal public records for AL: These are criminal records of cases that resulted in a conviction. You can get such criminal case records online or you could get an official copy of the information from the agency concerned, more on this coming up.

 

Where should I go for a personal criminal check?

 

A personal criminal case search can be initiated through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. This is a fingerprint based inquiry. You will be charged $25 for the criminal search and the results will include information from the state and national (FBI) criminal database.

 

You will have to submit a current photo ID along with the Alabama Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) form (https://www.alea.gov/sites/default/files/inline-files/ALEA%20Application%20to%20Review%20AL%20CHRI%202017_0.pdf) and a cashier’s check or money order of $25 and an additional $5 for each extra copy. Take all of this to the agency office at 301 S. Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 (Adams Ave side). You will be fingerprinted and told when to expect the results of the inquiry.

 

Alternatively, you can get the fingerprinting done at the local law enforcement office (you will have to pay for the service separately), and send the fingerprint cards and other documents by mail to PO Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102-1511/

 

Which agency should I approach for a third party criminal search?

 

The Alabama Background Check System, which is administered by the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center, offers employers the facility to conduct criminal history checks on employees and prospective employees.

 

The criminal background checks will set you back by $15/ record, regardless of the results of the inquiry, which simply means that you pay the fees even if no records are found in the name of the subject. Plus, you have to pay an annual subscription fee of $95. This is a name based, online criminal check so, you will have to furnish the following details:

1. Full name of the subject
2. Race
3. Gender
4. Date of birth
5. Social security number
6. Alabama Driver’s License number

 

Of the numeric identifiers (from 4-6), you will have to provide at least 2. In addition, you will need a signed consent form from the subject to initiate the inquiry. To sign up for the service go to https://www.alabamainteractive.org/acjic_background_check/. Only authorized employers are allowed to use the service. Once you have registered with the site, go to https://www.alabamainteractive.org/acjic_background_check/ to log in to the system and access the information you need.

 

If you need information on a specific criminal court docket from the report, you will have to use the ALACourt website and pay extra for it.

Can I find Alabama criminal records online?

 

You can get this data from the Alabama Department of Corrections. The agency offers two facilities to access criminal court records:

1. You can find this information online with the free criminal check service available at http://www.doc.state.al.us/InmateSearch. You can initiate the criminal search by using the name of the subject or the Alabama Institutional Serial Number. Along with the arrest mugshots, you will also find information on all conviction charges in the criminal records of a person, information needed for positive identification, sentencing and incarceration data and parole details.

 

2. You can initiate a formal criminal check through the Alabama DOC by sending in your request by mail to the agency at Alabama Criminal Justice Center Research & Planning Division, 301 South Ripley Street P. O. Box 301501 Montgomery, AL 36130-1501. To file the request, use the document at http://www.doc.state.al.us/docs/Form023APublicRecordsRequestForm.pdf. You will be charged a minimum processing fee of $25 but the actual cost of the criminal lookup can be more depending on labor and production charges.

 

What if I am interested in a local criminal background check?

 

I have already clarified that the sheriff’s office of your area will not help you with a background search. Ditto for the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. However, in some cities, the municipal courts do offer the facility to launch a local criminal docket search. The thing to note here is that the results of your criminal case search will be limited to just the municipal court records.

 

For example, if you approach the Municipal Court in the City of Mobile for a local criminal record search, they will not give you details on any criminal or civil matters handled by the District Courts or the Circuit Court of Mobile County or even the other municipal courts in the county. Again, this service, too, is only offered by a handful of judicial offices in the state. I am listing a few of them below:

• City of Madison criminal records: You can request a local criminal background check or an arrest report from the Madison City of Clerk’s office by filling the form at https://madisonal.justfoia.com/Forms/Launch/d705cbd6-1396-49b7-939e-8d86c5a87deb. You will be charged $5 for an arrest report and $10 for the criminal history check and the results will only be about the criminal cases that were handled by local law enforcement and judiciary.
• City of Foley criminal case search: The Municipal Court of Foley will perform a misdemeanor check for you, but you will have to go the courthouse to file the request for the criminal record search. Take a photo ID along and visit them on non-court days at 200 E. Section Avenue, Foley, AL 36535. Court is in session on the first three Tuesdays and the second Thursday each month, except for on public holidays.

 

City of Decatur criminal case search: For records from the Municipal Court of Decatur City, you can visit them at 402 Lee St NE, Decatur, AL 35601 or write to them at court@decatur-al.gov or Decatur Municipal Court, P.O. Box 488, Decatur, AL 35601.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row]