Alabama Criminal Records Search

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How to Check for Alabama Criminal Records

The State of Alabama does not have a website portal where you can check criminal records for someone who committed crimes in the state. However, you can contact local law enforcement or district courts to get information that is publicly accessible. You can also use a third-party online system to obtain complete criminal histories for someone in the state. Alabama does use the VINE system for locating someone in the prison system but due to lack of appropriations does not have a website for this purpose.

Federal Records vs. Court Criminal Records in Alabama

Although Alabama has an online system for lawyers and court employees, they do not offer the general public online access to federal or local court documents. You can, however, use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system to find federal court records for criminal cases. You can also visit the courthouse for both federal and district criminal court cases and request copies of documents. You may have to pay a fee and wait for your order to be processed by the clerk’s office.

How Long do Felony or Misdemeanor Charges Last?

Alabama has some strict laws about expungement. Only not-guilty and dismissed charges are eligible for expungement. No convictions for felonies or misdemeanors may be removed from your record, and they will remain there forever. Even if your violent felony arrest was proven not guilty, you still have to wait five years before you can petition the court to have it removed. For non-violent lesser offenses, you must wait 90 days before applying for expungement. There is a whole list of other requirements you must comply with also.

Who Can Lookup your Criminal Background?

Although Alabama does not offer the general public access to criminal records, there are dozens of online portals that do keep this information up to date so that anyone can request a copy of your criminal background. Employers, the military, schools, government agencies, other law enforcement officers and anyone else have the right to look up your criminal history.

Why Check Someone’s Filed Criminal Charges?

You might need to check on someone’s criminal history before hiring them for a job or to watch your children or elderly family member. Sometimes landlords use them before renting property to someone new. Gun dealers always check someone’s criminal history before selling him or her firearms. It’s the federal law.

Types of Criminal Records

On a typical criminal record, you will find someone’s name, address, phone, email, age, height, weight, gender, race and physical description including any scars and tattoos. You can also view mug shots and fin-gerprints. His or her crimes, fines, bail, bond, sentencing, incarcerations, sex offenses, felonies, misdemeanors, and court documents will also be included.

How Are AL Criminal Records Created?

Alabama criminal records are created when someone gets arrested, charged with a crime, moved to the jail, released from jail, sent to pris-on, released from prison, gets sentenced to probation or anything else along their way through the criminal justice system. Everything that is documented along the way becomes their criminal history record.