Clarke County Arrest Records

Law enforcement officers in Clarke County, Alabama, can legally arrest individuals they catch committing a crime or they suspect of a criminal offense, according to the Code of Alabama §15-10-3. The Clarke County Sheriff's Department, together with police departments in cities such as Grove Hill, Jackson, and Thomasville, handles arrests within their specific areas.

The agency making the arrest, whether the Clarke County Sheriff's Department or a local police department, keeps the arrest records. These records initiate criminal proceedings and provide a glimpse into someone's criminal history. As a result, people can often find arrest details in Clarke County Court Records, in criminal history files managed by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), or in the district attorney's office records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Clarke County?

Yes. Per Alabama Public Records Law, specifically Code of Alabama § 36-12-40, arrest records in Clarke County are public. However, records relating to ongoing investigations juvenile records and expunged documents are exempt from public disclosure.

Clarke County Arrest Statistics

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) compiles arrest statistics for Alabama counties through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, available at Alabama Crime Statistics. The Part II Crimes Overview and Appendix A of older reports detail arrests by law enforcement agencies in the county, but the most recent ones provided on the Crime Dashboard online do not capture arrest information. While specific arrest numbers for Clarke County are not publicly detailed in the most recent version of ALEA's reports, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) UCR program provides a snapshot of arrests, including categories like drug abuse, liquor violations, and other offenses on their online Crime Data Explorer.

According to the FBI UCR, the Clarke County Sheriff's Office reported a total of 451 arrests in 2023; A break down showed:

• Simple Assault: A total of 41 arrests, accounting for 9.0% of the reported arrests.
• Drug/Narcotic Offenses: A total of 38 arrests (8.4%)
• Aggravated Assault: A total of 21 arrests (4.6%)
• Burglary: A total of 14 (3.1%)

Find Clarke County Arrest Records

Clarke County residents may obtain arrest records by submitting a criminal history request to the ALEA, the state's official records custodian. Interested persons may initiate the process by filling out the "Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)" form, which must be notarized or witnessed by two adults. They then attach a classifiable fingerprint card, captured by a law-enforcement agency bearing an FBI ORI, a $25 cashier's check or money order, and a valid photo ID. Acceptable identification includes an unexpired U.S. driver's license, a U.S. or foreign passport, or an immigration document. ALEA charges $5 for each additional copy of the report.

Applicants must submit a notarized form (or one signed by two witnesses), a $25 cashier's check or money order, a valid photo ID, and a classifiable fingerprint card taken by a law enforcement agency with an Originating Agency Number issued by the FBI.

Acceptable forms of ID include an unexpired U.S. driver's license, U.S. or foreign passport, or immigration document. Fingerprints must be submitted on an official FBI "Applicant" card or its digital equivalent. Additional copies of the record cost $5 each.

Completed applications and supporting documents can be submitted in person at 301 S. Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36104, or mailed to:

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Criminal Records and Identification Unit
ATTN: Background Checks
P.O. Box 1511
Montgomery, AL 36102-1511

Eligible third parties may access arrest records through the Alabama Background Check System, which requires a $95 annual subscription. This database offers online access to name-based criminal history information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Clarke County

Individuals seeking to gain free access to Clarke County arrest records may explore a third-party public records online database. Many of these platforms collate and maintain arrest and other public records from various government agencies and provide access to some basic information free of charge.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Alabama, arrest records remain on a person's record indefinitely unless expunged or sealed, as the Code of Alabama does not specify a retention period for purging arrest records. The only way to remove an arrest from a record is through expungement or sealing, as outlined in the following section.

Expunge Clarke County Arrest Records

The Code of Alabama, Sections 15-27-1 and 15-27-2, permits individuals to expunge arrest records in non-conviction cases under specific conditions. Eligible circumstances include:

• Charges dismissed with prejudice after more than 90 days
• A not-guilty verdict after 90 days
• Charges nolle prossed without conditions after 90 days, with no refiling
• An indictment quashed when the statute of limitations has expired or no intent to refile exists

The 2021 REDEEMER Act (Act No. 2021-286), effective July 1, 2021, broadened expungement eligibility to encompass certain nonviolent misdemeanor and felony convictions, excluding violent crimes, sex offenses, and major traffic violations.

To request expungement in Clarke County, applicants must do the following:

• Request a certified criminal-history report from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency by submitting the required form, a photographic ID, fingerprints, and a $25 processing fee.
• Complete the statewide Petition for Expungement of Records available through the Alabama Office of Administrative Courts.
• Remit a $500 nonrefundable filing fee for each incident they seek to expunge.
• File the petition in the circuit court where the original charges were brought.
• Serve notice on designated parties, including the district attorney's office.
• Appear at a court hearing, if scheduled, where the judge evaluates whether expungement serves justice.

When a court approves the petition, it orders the records sealed and removed from public view, although law-enforcement agencies may retain sealed files for limited statutory purposes.

Clarke County Arrest Warrants

Judges or magistrates in Clarke County issue arrest warrants as formal orders empowering officers to detain named individuals. Under Alabama Code § 15-10-2, deputies must announce their authority and present the warrant upon request. To secure a warrant, law enforcement submits an affidavit establishing probable cause, particularly when the alleged offense did not occur in the officer's presence or arises from following up on an investigation. Each warrant specifies the defendant's name, the stated charge, the date and place of issuance, the issuing judge's signature and official title, the court or agency that issued it, and any bail amount set.

Do Clarke County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Clarke County do not expire until executed, the suspect surrenders, or the court recalls the warrant.