Colbert County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Colbert County are official documents that contain information about arrests that have occurred within the county. They are created by law enforcement agents following the arrest of individuals accused of committing certain crimes. An officer may make an arrest in order to stop a possible criminal act in certain situations. Arrested individuals are detained at the Colbert County jail.

The law enforcement authorities in Colbert County are primarily responsible for maintaining arrest records. As a result, interested parties can contact local agencies, such as the Colbert County Sheriff's Office, to seek and obtain the county’s arrest records. Arrest information may also be accessible in other public documents, including Colbert County court records, criminal records, and inmate records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Colbert County?

Arrest records in Colbert County are generally available to the public. According to Alabama Public Records Law, most arrest records may be requested and obtained by the general public from official record custodians. However, Alabama law prohibits the disclosure of certain arrest records whose disclosure is judged not to be in the public’s best interest or may violate a party’s privacy. These records typically include the following:

• Expunged or sealed records
• Information that can threaten the safety of persons involved in an investigation
• Information that can undermine an ongoing investigation
• Personally identifiable information, such as social security numbers and driver’s license number
• Juvenile arrest records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Typically, Colbert County arrest records include the following details:

• Personal details of the arrestee, such as first and last name, residential address, date of birth, weight, height, eye color, race, and gender
• Arrest charges
• Booking date
• Booking number
• Date and location of arrest
• Arresting agency and address
• Specific crime committed
• Court date and bond
• Arrest warrant number
• Arrestee’s fingerprint and mugshot

Colbert County Arrest Statistics

According to the arrest data submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office arrested 796 persons in 2022. By 2023. 505 arrests were recorded by the Sheriff’s Office, a reduction of 36.6%. There were 24 simple assaults, 31 drug-related offenses, seven aggravated assaults, 16 liquor law violations, and 411 other offenses in 2023. Similarly, the Colbert County Jail housed 13 inmates as of August 2024.

Find Colbert County Arrest Records

Colbert County inmate records are a source for some of the county’s arrest information, including an arrestee's name, booking number, sex, and arrest charges. The Colbert County Sheriff’s Office provides an Inmate Roster portal for the public to search for the county’s inmates. Similarly, the Alabama Department of Corrections maintains an online database for all inmates in the state’s correctional facilities. Record seekers can search for Colbert County arrest records on the page with offenders’ full names and Alabama Institutional Serial (AIS) numbers. Alternatively, they can use the Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator to search for inmates in federal prisons.

Free Arrest Record Search in Colbert County

Some government agencies provide free online access to arrest records in Colbert County, including the following:

• Colbert County Sheriff’s inmate roster
• Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search portal
• Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator

Record seekers can also use free third-party websites to search for Colbert County arrest records. These websites may provide more user-friendly and faster means of getting the county’s arrest records, but any information obtained from them may not be complete or accurate.

Colbert County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Colbert County, the first entry on a person's criminal history is often their arrest record. The personal details of the arrestee, the charges against them, the time and date of the arrest, the location where they were arrested, and their booking information are all included in an arrest record. An arrest record ends with the details of the arrest, as it does not reveal the results or actions that take place after the arrest, including court cases or punishment. Arrest records alone are insufficient for thorough background checks in housing or employment situations because they only offer a glimpse of the first phase of the criminal procedure.

Colbert County criminal records, on the other hand, provide a more thorough picture of a person's dealings and interactions with the criminal justice system. It contains information about convictions, pending charges (including arrest records), and imprisonment records. A criminal record is more suited for background checks where a thorough knowledge of a person's legal past is required.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Unless a Colbert County arrestee successfully got their arrest record expunged or sealed, it will remain on file indefinitely.

Expunge Colbert County Arrest Records

Alabama law allows eligible individuals to file petitions to expunge their arrest records in Colbert County. The eligibility criteria for arrest record expungement are:

• For arrest records that did not lead to convictions
  • Charges were dismissed after the completion of a court-mandated treatment program
  • One year has elapsed after the charges were dismissed without prejudice
  • Three months have elapsed after the charges were dismissed with prejudice
• For arrest records of non-felony convictions
  • The conviction date is more than 3 years
  • All court-mandated penalties have been met
  • The conviction is not for a sex-related or violent crime
  • The conviction is not a serious traffic offense
  • The conviction is not for a crime classified as moral turpitude
• Some arrest records of felony convictions may be expunged if
  • Political and civil rights were restored after the conviction
  • The offender was granted pardon certification by the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles
  • It has been more than 6 months since receiving the certificate of pardon
  • The conviction is not for a sex-related or violent crime

An arrest record subject in Colbert County seeking to expunge their record must file an expungement petition at the Colbert County Circuit Court by taking the following steps:

• Obtain a certified criminal records report from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)
• Download and fill out the required section on the Petition for Expungement of Records form
• Obtain a certified copy of their arrest records from the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office
• Obtain a certified court summary or disposition record from the court that handled the case
• Send the certified criminal records, the filled form, certified criminal history, certified court disposition record, and a $500 filing fee to the Colbert County Circuit Court Clerk
• The court will review the petition and schedule a hearing if needed. If the petition is successful, an order of expungement will be issued and sent to all relevant agencies

Colbert County Arrest Warrants

Colbert County arrest warrants are legal documents issued by a judge authorizing law enforcement agents to arrest and detain the person named on the warrant. The judge will only issue an arrest warrant if the law enforcement agent shows reasonable basis (probable cause) for believing that a person has committed a crime. A Colbert County arrest warrant contains the following information:

• The name and description of the person to be arrested.
• The court issuing the arrest warrant
• The date the warrant was issued
• The signature of the issuing judge
• A description of the alleged crime
• Warrant number

Do Colbert County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Colbert County, arrest warrants for felony charges generally do not expire until the record subject is arrested or the court nullifies it. However, warrants for misdemeanor charges expire after one year from the date they were issued.