Search Alabama Warrant Records
Alabama warrant records are public documents in most cases. Each of the 67 counties keeps its own warrant files at the sheriff's office. Municipal courts track city warrants separately. The state does not have one central database for all warrants. You can search these records by phone, online, or in person at local offices. This guide shows you how to find warrant records across the state of Alabama.
Alabama Warrant Records Quick Facts
What Are Alabama Warrant Records?
A warrant is a court order. It tells law enforcement to take action. Judges and magistrates issue warrants in Alabama. Each type serves a different purpose. The records show who has an active warrant and why it was issued.
Arrest warrants are the most common type. A judge signs one when there is probable cause that a crime occurred. The warrant tells officers to bring a person to court. It lists the charges and any bail amount set by the judge. Under Code of Alabama § 15-7-4, arrest warrants must be based on sworn complaints.
Search warrants let officers search property. They must state what place will be searched and what items police seek. Under Code of Alabama § 15-5-12, search warrants expire after 10 days. Officers must return them to the court with a list of items taken.
Bench warrants issue when someone fails to appear in court. The judge orders the arrest right from the bench. These are common for missed court dates or unpaid fines. Capias warrants are similar but issue for failing to follow a court order, such as not paying child support.
How Alabama's Warrant System Works
Alabama uses a decentralized system. There is no single statewide warrant database open to the public. Each county sheriff maintains local warrant records. City police track municipal warrants. You must check each agency that might have issued a warrant.
Several people can issue warrants in Alabama. Circuit court judges handle felony cases. District court judges handle misdemeanors. Municipal court judges issue warrants for city violations. Licensed magistrates can also sign warrants. District court warrant clerks process paperwork in some counties.
The sheriff's office executes most warrants. Deputies serve arrest warrants and bring people to court. They also carry out search warrants with local police. The sheriff keeps records of all warrants issued in the county. Some offices post active warrants online. Most require a phone call or visit.
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) runs the state criminal history repository. They do not maintain a public warrant search. ALEA processes background checks for $25 that may show warrant history. The Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC) links data between agencies but is not open to the public.
How to Search Alabama Warrants
The best way to search depends on the warrant type. County warrants go through the sheriff. City warrants go through municipal court. State charges may need an ALEA check. Here are your main options.
Call the county sheriff's office first. This works in all 67 counties. Give them the person's name and date of birth. Staff can check for active warrants. Many offices provide this by phone for free. Some require you to visit in person with ID. Each county sets its own policy.
Check online where available. Some Alabama counties post warrant lists on their websites. Mobile County has a dedicated warrant search portal. Tuscaloosa County lists over 15,000 active warrants online. Morgan County, DeKalb County, and Fayette County also post warrant lists. Most rural counties do not have online access.
The Alacourt system provides court record access. Visit pa.alacourt.com to search by name. A search costs $9.99 and shows one case. This database covers all 67 counties. It shows court cases that may involve warrants. It does not show all active warrants directly.
For city warrants, contact the municipal court. Each city tracks its own warrant records. Call the court clerk with the person's name. Some cities have online case search tools. Mobile, Birmingham, and Decatur offer online municipal record searches.
What Alabama Warrants Contain
Warrant records include key facts about the case. The information helps identify the person and explains why the warrant was issued. Rules for what must be included come from Alabama's Rules of Criminal Procedure.
An arrest warrant contains:
- Defendant name or physical description
- Offense charged
- Command to arrest and bring to court
- Bail amount if any
- Court date for appearance
- Issuing judge's signature
- County of issuance
A search warrant contains:
- Place or person to be searched
- Items police are looking for
- Sworn affidavit with probable cause
- 10-day time limit for execution
- Issuing judge's signature
Under Rule 3.2 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure, arrest warrants must follow a set form. Rule 3.3 covers how warrants are executed and returned to the court.
Are Alabama Warrants Public?
Most warrant records are public in Alabama. Code of Alabama § 36-12-40 gives citizens the right to inspect public records. Code of Alabama § 36-12-41 allows copies upon request. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
Some limits apply. Juvenile cases are sealed. Some search warrants stay sealed until executed. A judge may seal records in rare cases. Mental health warrants are confidential. But most adult criminal warrants are open to anyone who asks.
Warrants remain active until resolved. They do not expire in Alabama. A ten-year-old warrant is still valid. The only ways to clear a warrant are to be arrested, turn yourself in, or have the court recall it. Outstanding warrants can affect jobs, housing, and travel.
Alabama Warrant Search Fees
Fees vary by source and method. Many sheriff offices check warrant status for free by phone. Online databases may charge per search. Background checks cost more. Here is what to expect.
ALEA background checks cost $25. You fill out a form and provide fingerprints. Results take 4-5 weeks by mail. ALEA checks cover state records going back 7 years by default. You can request up to 30 years for an extra fee. These checks may show past warrants or arrests.
Alacourt searches cost $9.99 per name. Each case detail costs $9.99 more. Document images cost $5 for the first 20 pages. Extra pages are $0.50 each. This covers all 67 counties but only shows court cases, not all active warrants.
Copy fees at sheriff offices vary. Plain copies run $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more. Some offices charge a search fee. Others do basic checks for free. Call ahead to ask about costs before you visit.
State Warrant Resources
Alabama has several state-level resources for warrant and criminal record searches. These work alongside county sheriff offices. Use them when you need statewide data or cannot find local records.
| ALEA Criminal Records |
301 South Ripley Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: (334) 242-4371 alea.gov/criminal-records |
|---|---|
| ALEA Fugitive Search |
High-profile wanted persons only ALEA Fugitive Database |
| Alacourt Public Access |
Court record search for all 67 counties $9.99 per search pa.alacourt.com |
| Alabama E-Forms |
Official court forms eforms.alacourt.gov |
The ALEA fugitive search only shows high-profile cases. It does not list all active warrants in the state. For a complete warrant check, contact the county sheriff where the person lives or where a crime may have occurred.
Counties With Online Warrant Search
Most Alabama counties require phone or in-person warrant checks. A few have online warrant databases. These let you search from home at any time. The list below shows counties with the best online access.
Mobile County has a full warrant search portal at mobileso.com/warrant-search. Search by name to find active warrants. This is one of the best online tools in the state.
Tuscaloosa County lists over 15,000 warrants at tcsoal.org/warrants. The database includes warrants from multiple agencies. You can search by name online.
Morgan County posts active warrants at morgancountysheriffal.gov/warrants.php. The list shows names, charges, and warrant dates. Over 20,000 warrants are on file.
DeKalb County maintains a warrant list at dekalbcountysheriff.org/warrants.php. It shows names, dates, charges, and bond amounts.
Fayette County posts warrants at fayetteso.com/warrants.html. Pike County has warrant info at pikecountyalsheriff.com.
For all other counties, call the sheriff's office. Phone numbers are listed on each county page.
Browse Alabama Warrant Records by County
Each county in Alabama has its own sheriff's office that maintains warrant records. Pick a county below to find contact info, search methods, and online resources for warrant lookups.
Warrant Records in Major Alabama Cities
City residents may have warrants at both the county and municipal level. Pick a city below to learn about municipal court warrants and which county sheriff handles local records.