Coffee County Arrest Records

In Coffee County, arrests occur when there is probable cause to believe an individual has committed a crime. Law enforcement officers from Enterprise, Elba, and Ozark Police Departments, including the Sheriff's Office, carry out these arrests to maintain law and order.

Arrested persons are usually held in custody before their court appearances. During the arrest and booking process, arrest records, part of the broader Coffee County Court Records, are generated. They typically include the arrestee's physical description, booking photograph, the arresting officer, witnesses, and the circumstances of the incident. These and other public records, such as arrest warrants and criminal records, provide insights into a person's interactions with the criminal justice system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Coffee County?

Yes. The Alabama Public Records Law (APLA)—known as Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, grants the general public the right to view and make copies of official records, including arrest records. Consequently, anyone can request Coffee County arrest records created and stored by law enforcement agencies carrying out the "public's business" unless otherwise stated by the APLA and other statutes.

Notwithstanding, the Act exempts certain arrest records from public disclosure to protect privacy and security. These exemptions include:

1. Records that could identify uncharged suspects and disclose confidential information, witnesses, or specific investigative techniques.
2. Details that might threaten the lives or safety of law enforcement officers, victims, witnesses, or confidential informants.
3. Social security, residence phone, bank account, debit/credit card, and emergency phone numbers.
4. Juvenile records.
5. Arrest records with sensitive information such as medical records.
6. Records deemed as confidential by law.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The Alabama Public Records Law makes the following components of an arrest record available to the public:

• Arrestee's identification, such as their name, age, sex, and booking photograph, if available
• Description of the accusations against the offender
• The time and location of the arrest
• The arresting agency
• Specific charges or offenses for which the individual was arrested
• Bond or bail information, if applicable

Coffee County Arrest Statistics

According to a five-year analysis of figures from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office reported 2,071 arrests between 2019 and 2023. The gender distribution of the arrest figures showed that males constituted 75.68% (1,567) of all arrests within the period, while females accounted for 24.32% (504).

The racial composition of all arrests in the period under review showed that Whites were the predominant racial group arrested for various offenses, with 65.02%. Others include Blacks or African Americans, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and Asians, who accounted for 34.10% (706), 0.24% (5), and 0.10% (2) of all arrests, respectively. The racial identity of 0.43% (9) of the individuals arrested was unknown.

A breakdown of the type of offenses law enforcement officers detained offenders for between 2019 and 2023 showed that all other offenses aside from traffic were predominant, with 69.91% (1448), followed by possession of dangerous nonnarcotic drugs at 5.12% (106) and driving under the influence at 4.34% (94).

Find Coffee County Arrest Records

Requesters of Coffee County arrest records should explore the Alabama Department of Corrections’s Offenders Search tool. The database contains records on convicted and detained offenders in the state.

The search tool allows users to find offenders serving in the state's correctional facilities. Interested parties can search for offenders by first and last name or Alabama Institutional Serial (AIS) Number.

After entering the relevant search criteria, the tool typically yields information on an inmate's physical descriptors, aliases, scars, marks, or tattoos. Other details returned include incarceration and sentencing information.

Alternatively, record searchers seeking inmate arrest records may send a Public Records Request Form to the ADOC via the following options:

• Email: Send the completed form to public.records@doc.alabama.gov.
• Mail: Address it to ADOC, Attn: Research & Planning Division, P.O. Box 301501, Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1501.
• In-Person: Submit the completed form to ADOC Central Office, Attn: Research & Planning Division, 301 S. Ripley Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104.

Free Arrest Record Search in Coffee County

Since arrest and booking of offenders is typically a local affair, individuals seeking Coffee County arrest records should consider visiting the police precincts closest to where law enforcement arrested and booked a subject of interest. Some prominent law enforcement agencies maintaining law and order in the county include Enterprise, Elba, and Ozark Police Departments as well as the Coffee County Sheriff's Office.

Inmates are typically held in custody at the Coffee County Jail under the administration of the Sheriff's Office. Those seeking free arrest records may contact the Coffee County Sheriff's Office or the jailhouse at the following address:

Coffee County Sheriff’s Office

1133 E. McKinnon Street
New Brockton, AL 36351
Phone: (334) 894-5535

While searching and viewing the preceding records is free, fees are usually associated with producing copies or scanning these records.

Requesters searching for free Coffee County arrest records may want to look into third-party public record databases. These online companies typically have expertise in providing public records to customers via the Internet and gathering public information from various official sources, including law enforcement. Visitors can do simple searches for free, but they must typically pay for an in-depth report on a topic of interest.

Coffee County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest Records

These records report situations where someone was taken into custody by law enforcement. Such reports typically contain the date of the arrest, the charges, the arresting agency, and bond details, if applicable.

These reports solely contain information about the arrest itself, not the outcome. Even if the individual is proven innocent or the charges are withdrawn, the arrest will continue to exist.

Arrest records are used to follow incidents where someone was accused of breaking the law.

Criminal Records

Criminal records are more comprehensive than arrest records. They include not just arrest information but also details about any charges, court proceedings, convictions, and sentences.

Criminal records encompass an individual's complete criminal history, from arrests to final dispositions, such as convictions, acquittals, and dismissals.

Criminal records provide a total description of a person’s interactions with the criminal justice system.

In essence, arrest records focus on the initial incident where an individual is taken into custody. At the same time, criminal records provide a complete history of criminal activity, including the final resolution of any legal proceedings.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Whether an Alabama arrest record stays permanently on one's record depends on the offense and whether or not the person is convicted or sentenced. Individuals whose cases were dismissed, never taken to court or cleared as not guilty stand a higher chance of having their arrest records expunged. Individuals imprisoned for certain misdemeanors and non-violent felonies may also submit a petition to have their records expunged after meeting specific requirements.

Expunge Coffee County Arrest Records

Eligibility Requirement

Persons who have had their misdemeanor or non-violent felony charges dismissed with prejudice, no-billed by a grand jury, or were found not guilty may be eligible for expungement after 90 days. If their charges were dismissed without prejudice, they must undergo a 1 year waiting period for misdemeanors and 5 years for felonies with no additional convictions.

As of July 2021, many misdemeanor convictions may be expunged in Alabama, provided the applicant meets certain criteria. These include the completion of all their sentences, involving probation/parole, fines, court charges, fees, and restitution. They must also have undergone a 3-year waiting period from their conviction before filing for expungement. Furthermore, prospective applicants must not have any other misdemeanor or felony convictions within the last 3 years before filing for expungement.

There are very few felony convictions that are eligible for expungement. To qualify under this category, the individual must wait 180 days and receive clemency from the Board of Pardons and Paroles, including the recovery of civil rights. Violent felonies, sex offenses, crimes of moral turpitude, and serious traffic offenses are not eligible for expungement.

Expungement Process in Alabama

The expungement process in Alabama involves the following steps:

1. The petitioner must gather all relevant documents, including court documents concerning their case, proof of completing their sentence, and potentially a fingerprint card.
2. Next, they must file a Petition for Expungement with the circuit court in the county where their charges were filed.
3. A judge will review their petition and hold a hearing to determine whether to grant them expungement.

Coffee County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an official order issued by a judge or magistrate granting peace officers the power to take a person alleged to have committed a crime into custody. The document ensures that peace officers follow due process during arrests.

A judge may issue an arrest warrant when there is evidence an individual has committed an illegal act, they failed to appear in court as expected, or they violated the conditions of their probation or parole.

A typical Coffee County arrest warrant contains information such as the name of the offender to be arrested, a description of the alleged crime, the date and time of warrant issuance, the judge's signature, and specific directives for law enforcement regarding the arrest.

Do Coffee County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Coffee County arrest warrants have no expiry date. They remain active from the day they are issued until the individual named in the warrant is apprehended or the court revokes them. This applies to both misdemeanor and felony warrants.