What are Criminal Records in Alabama?
Alabama Criminal Records are the official records of all felony and misdemeanor criminal convictions in the state. Because of the Alabama Open Records Law, criminal records are available to the public and can be accessed by anyone. The law’s purpose is to disclose all documents held by government agencies to the public.
Every court and police station in the country maintains a database of criminal records. Those records include detailed information about the people who committed those crimes and their arrests and convictions. A criminal record will get updated each time an individual goes to court and is found guilty of a criminal transgression. These records are maintained by the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. Criminal records are public information in Alabama, and anyone can request them from the AOC.
Criminal records in Alabama include information on both felonies and misdemeanors, and they are typically divided into two categories: violent crimes and non-violent crimes. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and assault, while non-violent crimes include burglary, theft, drug possession, and DUI. All criminal convictions will remain on an individual’s record forever, even if they are later expunged or sealed.
What Criminal Records are Сonfidential in Alabama?
In Alabama, there are two types of criminal records: public and confidential. Public records are available to anyone who requests them, while confidential records are only available to the person named in the record and their immediate family members.
Confidential criminal records include juvenile records, certain drug offenses, and mental health commitment orders. These records are not available to the general public, but they may be accessed by law enforcement, employers, and landlords.
If you have a criminal record in Alabama, it is important to understand what information is accessible to the public and what is confidential. This will help you make informed decisions about your future and protect your rights.
What is Included in Alabama Criminal Records?
Alabama Criminal Records include information on felonies and misdemeanors committed within the state of Alabama. This information is maintained by the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
Criminal records in Alabama generally include the following information:
- The name, date of birth, race, and gender of the individual
- The offense committed
- The date of the offense
- The county where the offense was committed
- The sentence imposed
- Pending charges
- Dismissed or acquitted charges
Additionally, some criminal records may also include:
- Mugshots
- Fingerprints
- DNA samples
- Physical descriptions
Not all of this information is necessarily included in every criminal record, but this is generally the type of information that is included.
How to Access Criminal Records in Alabama?
When looking for criminal records in the state of Alabama, there are a few different places you can search. The Alabama State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) offers a public criminal history search on its website, which includes a name-based search option. For a more detailed criminal history report, you can contact the SBI directly.
The Alabama Department of Public Safety also offers a statewide criminal history database that is available to the public. This database can be searched by name or case number, and the results will include any convictions from Alabama courts.
Employers can look up criminal records for prospective employees through ALEA (Alabama’s Law Enforcement Agency) with the ABC (Alabama Background Check System). A fingerprint-based criminal history background check can only be requested by the subject of the search, and the information contained in the report is restricted. The rest of the public can acquire criminal history information through the Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information (CHRI).
If you know the county where the crime was committed, you can also check with the county courthouse or sheriff’s office for local criminal records. Each county in Alabama maintains its court records, so you will need to contact the specific county where you are interested in searching.
When searching for criminal records, it’s important to keep in mind that not all crimes are public records in Alabama. For example, juvenile records and expunged records are not available to the general public. If you’re not sure whether a particular record is public or not, it’s best to check with the agency that maintains the records before searching. There is a fee for requesting criminal records, and they can only be requested in person or by mail.
Sealing or Expunging Criminal Records in Alabama
If you have been convicted of a crime in Alabama, your criminal record will become a public record unless it is sealed or expunged. If you have been arrested but not convicted, your arrest record may still be accessible to the public. This means that anyone can request it, and it will be available to potential employers, landlords, and anyone else who wants to view it. If you are concerned about your criminal record, you may want to consider sealing or expunging it. Sealing or expunging your record will make it unavailable to the general public, but there are some exceptions. For example, sealed or expunged records can still be viewed by law enforcement and other government agencies. To seal or expunge your criminal record, you will need to petition the court. If you are interested in sealing or expunging your record, you should contact an attorney who specializes in this area of the law.