Jefferson County, Alabama Arrest Records

Jefferson County arrest records are official documents created by law enforcement agencies when a person is taken into custody within the county. These records are created at the moment of arrest and show details about the arrest incident, including who was arrested, the charges involved, and where and when the arrest occurred.

Arrest records are open to the general public under the state's Open Records Act. This statute grants every citizen the right to inspect and copy any public writing held by a government body, including law enforcement agencies.  Also, the Alabama Code §§ 41-9-590 et seq governs the collection, storage, and dissemination of criminal justice information and offender records. While individual arrest records held by local agencies may be public, detailed statewide criminal history records may not be accessed by members of the public. Arrest records in Jefferson County are maintained by the county Sheriff's Office or by the local municipal police departments operating within the county, such as the Birmingham Police Department and the Bessemer Police Department.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Jefferson, Alabama?

Yes. Arrest records are public in Jefferson County, Alabama. Under the Alabama Code § 36-12-40, every citizen has a right to inspect and copy public records held by state and county agencies, including law enforcement bodies. This may include arrest logs, booking records, and incident reports maintained by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and local police departments.

However, while Alabama law does not require a person to explain why they want a record, some agencies may ask for a government-issued ID when a request is made in person. There is no residency requirement, as anyone can request public records. Some agencies charge a standard fee for copying or processing records. Requests may typically be submitted in person, by mail, or through an agency's online portal.

What Do Public Jefferson County Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records in Jefferson County typically include information identifying the arrestee and basic details related to the case. Information found in a public Jefferson County arrest record includes:

• The full name of the arrested person
• The date of birth and gender of the arrested person
• Physical description of the arrestee, such as height, weight, hair, and eye color
• The date, time, and location of the arrest
• Name of the arresting officer
• The agency that made the arrest
• Charges filed at the time of arrest
• Booking number
• Mugshot (if permitted)
•  Bond amount and bail status

However, not all information in an arrest record may be accessible to the general public. Certain types of data may be withheld, either for privacy reasons or because they are protected under state or federal law. They include:

• Information protected under privacy laws, such as home addresses or medical data
• Records involving juveniles, which are sealed under Alabama's juvenile justice laws
• Records sealed or expunged by court order under Alabama Code § 15-27
• Ongoing investigation files whose disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations

Jefferson County,  Alabama Arrest Search

Members of the public who wish to locate arrest records at the state or federal level have several ways available to them. The Criminal Justice Information Service Division of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) maintains and processes requests for criminal history record information. Interested persons may submit the Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information (Form 46) to obtain these records. Requesters are required to pay a $25 fee and provide a government-issued ID to obtain their own criminal history. Qualified employers may also access the most up-to-date, comprehensive Alabama criminal records available for prospective or current employees via the Alabama Background Check System. Users are required to pay an annual subscription fee of $120, along with a fee of $15 for each background check conducted through this system.

Interested persons who wish to look up federal arrest records may contact the FBI to request an Identity History Summary/Rap Sheet. This contains arrest data collated by law enforcement nationwide. You may request these records through an FBI-approved channeler, via mail, or online. Alternatively, the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER)  maintained by the US Federal Courts may provide federal arrest records to registered users. To obtain this information, search for federal criminal court cases linked to arrests. Information includes cases prosecuted by U.S. attorneys in federal district courts, like the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, which oversees Jefferson County.

Jefferson County Inmate Locator

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office provides the general public with an online Inmate Locator. Members of the public may search this portal at no cost. Individuals may use this online tool to find out if someone is held in custody, and may search for a currently detained individual by name, booking number, or subject number. Information typically obtained from the search includes the inmate's name, charge description, bond, booking date, and housing facility. Jail personnel from either of the two jail facilities may also answer basic questions about the charges and bond of a detainee over the phone. Furthermore, to obtain information on detained individuals, one may contact the Sheriff's Office located at

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 

2200 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd

Birmingham, AL 35203

Phone: (205) 325-5700

Active Warrant Search in Jefferson County

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate, authorizing a law enforcement officer to take a specific individual into custody. This document is issued when the court finds probable cause to believe a crime has been committed and that the specific individual named in the document committed it. An arrest warrant typically contains information identifying the person to be arrested, the alleged offense, and sets conditions such as bail amount. The Warrants Division of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is responsible for serving warrants and managing warrant records.

The Sheriff's Office provides the general public with access to warrant information via phone or in person. Interested persons may visit the Sheriff's Office in person to request warrant information or contact the Warrants Division directly at (205) 325-5725 (Birmingham Warrant Division) or (205) 481-4201 (Bessemer Warrant Division)  for information about active warrants via phone. One may also contact the local circuit or district courts operating within the county for warrant information.

Warrants are considered public records in Alabama, and access is governed by the general Open Records Law. However, the court may restrict access to some warrant information if the disclosure of such information would endanger an investigation or the safety of the individuals involved. 

Agency / Resource	Purpose	Search Methods	Notes
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office	Maintains and serves warrants	Phone at (205) 325-5725, (205) 481-4201, or in person	official records available
Jefferson County Circuit Court (Birmingham)	Issues warrants, maintains case records	In person or via phone at (205) 325-5355	official records available
Jefferson County District Court (Bessemer)	Handles misdemeanor and district court warrants	In person, or via phone at (205) 497-8520	official records available
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency	Statewide criminal records and background checks	Online	official records available

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Jefferson County

Individuals who wish to look up arrest records for free in Jefferson County may search the Inmate Locator tool provided by the county's Sheriff's Office for current jail bookings at no charge. Results may include the arrestee’s name, charges, booking dates, bond amount, housing location, and other information for individuals currently in custody.

Alternatively, interested persons may utilize the Alabama Department of Corrections Inmate Search tool. This online portal covers individuals who have been transferred to state facilities after conviction. Users may conduct name-based searches at no cost, and results include basic custody and charge information.

However, it is important to note that free search tools typically show only current or recent inmate information or custody status. Older records may not appear via these search tools. Also, to get accurate results, users may need to input the inmate's full name or date of birth. Record seekers may not obtain full arrest reports or other detailed documents by searching these free tools, and information that has been sealed, expunged, or redacted by court order will not appear. Individuals who need older or certified records for legal, employment, or background-check purposes may need to request formal records at the Sheriff's Office or ALEA.

Jefferson County Arrest Report

An arrest record and an arrest report are distinct. An arrest record is a summarized entry created in a law enforcement database or system when an individual is booked into custody. Information typically found in an arrest record includes the person's identifying information, the charges, and the booking details. Arrest records are accessible through the Sheriff's Office inmate inquiry system or through a formal public records request.

On the other hand, an arrest report is a narrative document prepared by the arresting officer after an arrest. This document describes what the officer observed, the circumstances that led to the detention, statements made by the suspect or witnesses, and the sequence of the event. It is typically longer and more detailed than an arrest record and includes victim details or investigative notes. To obtain an arrest report in Jefferson County, submit a formal public records request directly to the agency that made the arrest.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Jefferson County

Jefferson County permits expungement in line with Alabama Code Title 15, Chapter 27. This law governs the expungement of criminal records in Alabama, detailing who qualifies to have certain arrests and criminal records cleared from their public record. Anyone who wishes to expunge an arrest record must first determine if they are eligible and obtain a certified criminal history from the ALEA. You will also need to obtain certified copies of the arrest record, disposition, or case action summary from the county court or the municipality where the case was handled.

Next, one may file a formal petition in the Jefferson County Circuit Court and also serve copies of the petition to the District Attorney and the arresting agency. Filing an expungement petition requires a few of $500. If neither the District Attorney nor the arresting agency files an objection, the judge may approve the petition without a hearing, but if they object, the judge will schedule a hearing.

How Do You Remove Jefferson County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Interested persons may remove a Jefferson County arrest record by requesting that the record be expunged or sealed by the County Circuit Court. When the court issues an order to seal or expunge an arrest record, one may use that legal order to remove the arrest record from public view. You can submit a request to local law enforcement agencies to remove your arrest records if an agency still has your mugshot displayed on its website. Some petitioners may be required to submit an official copy of the court order as proof that the record was sealed, expunged, or that the case was dismissed.