Alabama criminal-history, court and incarceration records use different official systems
Alabama does not offer one free government database containing every arrest, prosecution, conviction, court document and incarceration record. ALEA maintains the state’s fingerprint-based criminal-history repository; Alabama’s Unified Judicial System provides trial-court access through Alacourt and Just One Look; county Circuit Clerks maintain the official trial-court files; and the Alabama Department of Corrections provides current state-prison information. This guide shows which system to use for each task.
Start by identifying the record type
Alabama criminal information is distributed among several agencies. Searching the wrong database can produce a misleading “no record” result even when a record exists elsewhere.
State criminal history
Fingerprint-supported Alabama criminal-history information maintained by the Criminal Records Identification Unit.
Criminal court case
Case number, charges, court activity, rulings and available documents from Alabama trial courts.
Official court file
Local public-access terminals, certified records, older case files and clerk-maintained documents.
Arrest or incident record
Arrest reports, incident reports, booking information and local law-enforcement records.
State prison record
Current incarceration information for people in Alabama Department of Corrections custody.
Criminal appeal
Appeals from felony, misdemeanor and municipal-ordinance criminal cases handled by the Court of Criminal Appeals.
What Alabama Law Enforcement Agency criminal-history records contain
Alabama’s Criminal Records Identification Unit is part of ALEA’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division. ALEA states that the unit’s Criminal History Section maintains fingerprint files for arrested offenders in Alabama and works to ensure that offender information is accurately reflected in the state’s criminal-history repository.
The same unit includes the Automated Fingerprint Identification Services section, which stores, analyzes, matches and retrieves fingerprint images.
ALEA Criminal RecordsSearch Alabama criminal court cases through the Unified Judicial System
Alabama’s Administrative Office of Courts provides statewide electronic trial-court access through Alacourt and its on-demand service called Just One Look.
The official Alabama court website describes Just One Look as on-demand access to Alabama State Trial Court Records, one case at a time.
Open Just One Look Alabama Administrative Office of CourtsWhat can be searched?
The current Alacourt public access system lists:
- criminal records
- civil records
- small-claims records
- state traffic records
- domestic-relations cases
- child-support records
- search by name
- search by case number
Practical search workflow
Open Just One Look
Use the official Alabama trial-court records portal rather than relying first on a commercial background-check website.
Search by name or case number
If you already know the case number, use it. It is usually more precise than a name search.
Open the matching case
Check the county, defendant identity, case type, charges and case activity before assuming the result belongs to the person you are researching.
Read the case-action summary
Review rulings, settings, docket activity and the final disposition rather than stopping at the original charge.
Order the document if needed
Available document images can be purchased online, or you can request copies from the Circuit Clerk maintaining the official court file.
Current Just One Look pricing
Alabama’s current Alacourt Access page lists the following on-demand pricing.
| Service | Current listed price | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Name search | $9.99 | One case detail is included; additional selected cases may carry another case fee. |
| Case-number search | $9.99 | One selected case detail included. |
| Document images | $5 for first 20 pages | $0.50 per page thereafter. |
| District case monitoring | $19.99 | Monitoring for the lifetime of the selected case. |
| Circuit case monitoring | $29.99 | Monitoring for the lifetime of the selected case. |
Use the county Circuit Clerk when you need the official trial-court record
Alabama Circuit Clerks serve as official record keepers for Circuit and District Court proceedings. Local clerk offices can be especially important for:
- certified copies
- older or archived files
- records not available online
- public terminal searches
- pleadings and court orders
- case-disposition verification
- warrant-related court records
- local criminal file questions
Several Alabama Circuit Clerk offices explicitly provide public-access computers where members of the public can search electronic court information during normal business hours.
Alabama’s Judicial System organizes trial courts by judicial circuit and county. Use the court directory to find the correct clerk rather than guessing which courthouse holds the file.
Find Alabama trial courtsHow to request copies and certified Alabama court records
Copy fees and request procedures can vary by clerk and record type. Local Circuit Clerk offices commonly require a written request identifying the case and exact documents needed.
Information worth providing
- defendant’s full legal name
- case number if known
- date of birth when known
- aliases or former names
- charge or case type
- approximate filing date
- specific document requested
- whether certification is needed
Example of local copy charges
Marion County’s official Circuit Clerk page currently lists:
| Service | Published local example |
|---|---|
| Copies up to 20 pages | $5 |
| Pages after the first 20 | $0.50 per page |
| Clerk certification | $5 |
These are an example from one county, not a guaranteed statewide price. Confirm the actual fee with the clerk handling your case.
How to obtain your own Alabama criminal-history record from ALEA
ALEA provides an official Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information (CHRI). The process is fingerprint-based and designed to help the subject of the record review information associated with their identity.
Open ALEA CHRI ApplicationComplete the CHRI application
Fill in the personal identification fields and required release information.
Sign correctly
The form requires the applicant’s signature with two witnesses or notarization, according to the current ALEA form instructions.
Include valid photo identification
Provide the required copy of a current valid photo ID.
Obtain classifiable fingerprints
ALEA requires a fingerprint card prepared by an authorized law-enforcement agency or other qualifying fingerprint source.
Include the current fee
ALEA currently lists a $25 administrative fee for a personal request, payable by money order or cashier’s check. Each additional copy is currently $5 extra.
Submit by mail or in person
Follow ALEA’s current mailing or in-person submission instructions shown below.
ALEA Criminal Records
Alabama Law Enforcement AgencyPO Box 1511
Montgomery, AL 36102-1511
ALEA headquarters
301 South Ripley StreetMontgomery, AL 36104
Adams Avenue side
ALEA currently directs CHRI questions to 334-676-7897.
Why ALEA uses fingerprints for a personal criminal-history review
Fingerprints provide much stronger identity verification than a name-only search. This matters because two unrelated people may share the same name, birth date or similar identifiers.
Possible identity match
Useful for finding court cases, but common names can produce unrelated people.
Identity-based record
Fingerprints allow ALEA to associate criminal-history information with the correct identity.
Final disposition
The court file remains the key source when a charge, dismissal or sentence needs formal verification.
How to challenge inaccurate Alabama criminal-history information
ALEA’s CHRI form supports both review and challenge of Alabama criminal-history information. If your record contains an entry you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, gather documentation before submitting the challenge.
Useful supporting information can include:
- court case number
- arrest date
- arresting agency
- charge
- court disposition
- certified dismissal or judgment
- identity documents
- ALEA record identifiers
Alabama Background Check System is for qualifying employers — not an unrestricted public search
ALEA operates the Alabama Background Check System (ABC), a secure web-based system that allows qualifying employers to obtain Alabama criminal-record information for current and prospective employees when authorized.
It should not be confused with an ordinary public court-record search.
ALEA Alabama Background Check SystemContact for Alabama Background Check
ALEA currently lists: 1-866-740-4762 or 334-676-7897, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Central Time.
Arrest reports and court records are not the same thing
An arrest report generally comes from the police department, sheriff or other law-enforcement agency that handled the incident. A criminal court record comes from the Alabama court where charges were filed.
| Record type | Typical custodian | What it may contain |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest report | Police / sheriff | Incident, arrest circumstances, officer information and listed charges. |
| Booking / jail record | County sheriff / jail | Booking date, custody status, bond and local jail information. |
| Court record | Alabama court / Circuit Clerk | Filed charges, hearings, rulings, judgment and disposition. |
| ALEA CHRI | ALEA Criminal Records Identification Unit | State criminal-history information associated with fingerprints and reported criminal events. |
Alabama warrant and fugitive information
Warrant information can be maintained by the issuing court and the law-enforcement agency responsible for serving the warrant. Alabama does not provide one public statewide name-search page containing every active local warrant.
ALEA does operate a public Fugitive Search within its Community Information Center. That service is useful for the specific fugitives ALEA publishes, but it is not a complete statewide warrant database.
ALEA Community Information CenterSearch current Alabama state-prison inmates through ADOC
The Alabama Department of Corrections provides an official Inmate Search.
You can search using an Alabama Institutional Serial number or an inmate’s full name. ADOC explains that the AIS number is a unique six-digit number and is generally the quickest way to find a specific inmate.
Open ADOC Inmate SearchThe search also does not include inmates sentenced under Alabama’s Youthful Offender Act.
Alabama Department of Corrections
301 South Ripley StreetP.O. Box 301501
Montgomery, AL 36130
Main:
334-353-3883
Toll free: 1-855-WE-R-ADOC
Alabama Sex Offender Registry
ALEA’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division maintains Alabama’s public Sex Offender Registry using information supplied by local law-enforcement agencies.
Search Alabama Sex Offender RegistryALEA notes that not every person with a sex-related offense will necessarily appear publicly. Public dissemination can depend on the offense, juvenile or youthful-offender status, out-of-state status and Alabama’s registration laws.
Search Alabama criminal appeals separately
Alabama’s Court of Criminal Appeals hears appeals of felony and misdemeanor cases, city-ordinance criminal matters and post-conviction writs in criminal cases.
Alabama now provides an Appellate Courts Public Portal for public docket and case-search information. Unregistered public users can use the portal’s search functions.
Court of Criminal Appeals Alabama Appellate CourtsAlabama’s Judicial System states that appellate decisions released after May 19, 2023 are available through the current appellate decision search, while older decisions remain accessible through the archived opinions system.
Alabama criminal-record expungement starts with ALEA history and ends with a court order
ALEA provides information and forms for Alabama criminal-record expungement under Alabama Code Section 15-27.
ALEA makes an important distinction: ALEA does not grant an expungement. An Alabama court grants the expungement.
ALEA Expungement InformationEven where a record is expunged from ordinary public use, restricted government or law-enforcement access can remain available where authorized by Alabama law.
Juvenile and Youthful Offender records follow different rules
Juvenile and Youthful Offender matters should not be treated like ordinary adult criminal records. Access can be limited, and some information is not disseminated publicly through the same systems.
ADOC specifically states that its public inmate-search statistics and inmate search do not include people sentenced under the Youthful Offender Act.
ALEA also explains that certain juvenile and youthful offenders are not displayed publicly on the Alabama Sex Offender Registry.
Federal criminal cases in Alabama are separate from Alabama state records
Alabama has three federal judicial districts: Northern, Middle and Southern. A federal prosecution is not stored as an Alabama Unified Judicial System criminal case.
Use PACER to locate federal district and appellate court cases.
Search Federal Court RecordsALEA Criminal Records location in Montgomery
ALEA currently directs in-person criminal-history applicants to its 301 South Ripley Street location in Montgomery, using the Adams Avenue side.
Alabama criminal-record search tips that save time
Know whether you need court history or ALEA CHRI
Just One Look searches court cases. ALEA’s fingerprint review searches the state’s criminal-history repository.
Keep the case number
Once a paid Just One Look search finds the correct case, save the exact case number for all later requests.
Use the clerk for older files
A record can exist even when every document is not available through online access.
Bring more identifiers
Full name, DOB, aliases, case number and charge help a clerk find the correct person faster.
Need proof? Get certification
Use a clerk-certified court record instead of a screenshot when formal proof is required.
Recent arrest? Search locally first
Check the arresting police agency or county jail before expecting a completed court or ALEA record.
Current prisoner? Use AIS number
ADOC says the six-digit AIS number is the fastest way to locate a specific state inmate.
Do not confuse expungement with deletion everywhere
Public access can change while authorized governmental access remains possible under Alabama law.
Check appeals when the result changed
A trial-court result can later be reviewed by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.
Common questions about Alabama criminal records
1. Can I search Alabama criminal court records online?
Yes. Alabama’s Unified Judicial System provides trial-court access through Alacourt and Just One Look. The system supports criminal records and searches by name or case number. Just One Look is a paid on-demand service.
2. How much does Just One Look cost?
The current Alacourt public-access page lists a name search at $9.99 and a case-number search at $9.99, with one case detail included. Document-image and case-monitoring fees are separate.
3. Can I obtain my own Alabama criminal-history record?
Yes. ALEA provides an Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information. The process requires fingerprints, valid photo identification, the completed application and the current personal-request fee.
4. How much does an ALEA personal criminal-history request cost?
ALEA currently lists a $25 administrative fee for a personal request. Each additional copy is currently $5.
5. Can I search another person’s complete ALEA criminal history online?
Alabama does not provide an unrestricted public website for another person’s complete fingerprint-based ALEA criminal-history repository. Public court records, employer background systems and personal CHRI review are separate access paths.
6. Where can I find an Alabama state inmate?
Use the Alabama Department of Corrections Inmate Search. You can search using the person’s AIS number or full name. ADOC states that the online system covers currently incarcerated inmates and does not provide historical inmate data online.
7. How do I obtain a certified Alabama criminal court record?
Contact the Circuit Clerk that maintains the criminal case. Provide the case number, defendant name and exact document needed, and state that certification is required. Copy and certification charges can vary by county.
8. Why is an arrest missing from my Alabama criminal history?
ALEA’s expungement materials note that not every historical charge necessarily appears in the state criminal-history repository. Older records may not have been submitted, some records may not have been automated, or a record may have been legally restricted or expunged.
9. Who grants an Alabama expungement?
An Alabama court grants an expungement. ALEA provides criminal-history records and expungement information but does not itself decide whether an expungement petition is granted.
10. Are federal criminal cases included in Alabama court searches?
No. Federal cases are separate from Alabama state trial-court records. Use PACER to search federal district and appellate court cases.
Official Alabama sources used for this guide
- ALEA — Criminal Records Identification Unit
- ALEA — Alabama Background Check System
- ALEA — Application to Review / Challenge Alabama CHRI
- ALEA — Criminal Record Expungement
- Alabama Administrative Office of Courts
- Alacourt Just One Look — Trial Court Records
- Alabama Unified Judicial System — AlaFile / Alacourt Information
- Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
- Alabama Appellate Courts
- Alabama Department of Corrections — Inmate Search
- ALEA — Alabama Sex Offender Registry
- ALEA Community Information Center
- PACER — Federal Court Records