Dallas County Arrest Records

A person accused of committing a crime in Dallas County, Alabama, may be taken into physical custody during an arrest. This typically occurs to prevent the individual from committing new offenses and to allow officers to question the suspect regarding the alleged crime. Police officers often hold suspects in custody because they believe there is sufficient reason to consider them guilty. Under the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure (Rule 4), a person's freedom of movement can be restricted with or without a warrant.

Dallas County arrest records are generated after a suspect is brought to a law enforcement office following an arrest. Once the individual is in custody, they go through a booking process at a police station or jail, which includes taking fingerprints and photographs. The arresting agency also creates an arrest report containing specifics of the incident. These arrest records serve multiple purposes across Dallas County's legal and law enforcement agencies. For example, the Alabama Criminal Records Identification Unit database, local law enforcement criminal history files, and Dallas County court records may all include arrest details.

Are Arrest Records Public in Dallas County?

Yes. Arrest records are categorized as public records per the Alabama Public Records Act. The state's PRA gives members of the public the right to make requests for arrest records from any institution that maintains them. However, certain kinds of arrest records are exempted from public disclosure. These exceptions generally limit the release of privileged or otherwise protected information, including that which could impair the security of state facilities or systems. Some examples of arrest records that are exempt from public disclosure include:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Arrest records that are included in an ongoing investigation
• Arrest reports that reveal the victim of sexual abuse
• Arrest records that, if made public, can jeopardize public safety
• Arrest records that contain personal identifying information of active law enforcement agents
• Arrest records of person in a witness protection program

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A Dallas County arrest record usually provides the following information:

• The name of the arrested person
• A detailed physical description of the detained person
• The time and date of the arrest
• The last known address of the arrested individual
• The name of any gang affiliation the suspect is associated with
• Charges that are pending against the arrestee.
• The suspect is subject to both parole/probation holds and outstanding warrants.
• The location where the suspect is currently being held, or the way and time of release.

Dallas County Arrest Statistics

Dallas County arrest statistics obtained from the FBI Crime Data Explorer show that the Dallas County sheriff's office in Alabama made 108 arrests in 2023. The highest number of arrests were for drug and narcotic offenses (26), which accounted for 24% of the arrests made in that year. The second and third most common arrests made by the sheriff's office in 2023 were for simple assault (18) and aggravated assault (9), accounting for 17% and 9% of all arrests, respectively.

The fewest arrests were for liquor law violations and sex offenses, each making up 1% of the department's arrests.

Find Dallas County Arrest Records

Anyone can find a Dallas County arrest record at any law enforcement office in Dallas County. Law enforcement agencies typically process written and in-person requests for Dallas County arrest records. The written request can be mailed to the agency that maintains the particular arrest record of interest. Written requests can also be submitted to the front desk of the agency that made the arrest. The request process usually involves completing a records request form. After the request form is completed and submitted, the public request officer will visit the records room at the police department and collect arrest records based on the information provided on the request form. To search for an arrest record, requestors will need to provide the following information:

• The first and last names of the person arrested.
• The birthdate of the arrestee.
• Arrest time and place.
• The contact details of the requester.

Free Arrest Record Search in Dallas County

A free arrest record search can be performed using third-party websites. Third-party websites are private platforms providing access to different public records online. Some third-party websites cooperate with government authorities to provide free access to arrest and other types of criminal records. To search for records on these sites, individuals only need to provide the name of the agency that made the arrest and the name of the person on the arrest record. The free versions of third-party websites are sometimes limited in the arrest information they provide. Interested persons must use the pay-per-search types of third-party websites for more detailed arrest records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. An arrest will remain on an individual's criminal record forever unless steps are taken to have them erased. Once they are created, arrest records will stay on a person's criminal record. Arrests may consistently appear in background checks because Alabama has no automatic expungement statutes. The only legal way to remove arrest information from the public domain is to have it expunged or sealed.

Expunge Dallas County Arrest Records

Expungement is the legal procedure of erasing arrest records from a person's criminal history. A record that has been expunged will only be made available to certain judiciary and law enforcement members.

In some situations, criminal records may be expunged under Section 15-27 of the Code of Alabama 1975. People who have had their charges dropped, those who were arrested but not charged with a crime, and those who have been found not guilty can generally file for expungement under state law. Persons convicted of minor misdemeanors such as shoplifting and public drinking can also apply to have their records expunged. Non-violent convictions are also eligible for expungement; however, violent convictions, such as sex crimes and use of a weapon, cannot be expunged under any circumstances.

• The first step to expunge your Dallas County arrest record is to obtain a certified copy of your criminal history record from ALEA. This record will help file the expungement petition.
• Petitioners must then download and complete the expungement petition form and file it at the Dallas County Circuit Court. The petition must include a certified arrest record, a case action summary, and the official ALEA criminal record.
• There is a $500 administrative filing charge. This fee is necessary to file an expungement petition in court.

The court will decide on the expungement through a review process. If the petition is successful, all documents about the arrest and the case will be expunged or taken out of the court's, any agency's or official's, law enforcement, the Board of Pardons and Paroles', and the district attorney's records, per the court's order. The Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center ACJIC will keep a copy of the records even if they have been erased, and they may be accessed and utilized under particular conditions.

Dallas County Arrest Warrants

Dallas County arrest warrants are legal directives issued by a court in Dallas County, Alabama, to apprehend a person accused of committing a criminal act. As per Rule 3 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure, Dallas County arrest warrants are issued when an indictment is filed against a person or upon a finding of probable cause that shows reasonable proof that a person has been involved in a criminal act. Arrest warrants can only be issued by a judge or magistrate.

Arrest warrants issued by Dallas County courts provide the following information:

• The name of the suspect.
• A physical description of the suspected individual.
• The charges against the person to be arrested.
• The signature of the judge.
• An order for law enforcement to make an arrest.
• Any bail information

Individuals who want to see a list of active arrest warrants need to contact the front desk of the Dallas County Sheriff's Office. Inquirers may call (334) 874-2530) at the office and request an active arrest warrant search by providing the name of a person suspected of having a warrant issued. They can also visit the Dallas County Sheriff's Office and request an arrest warrant search.

Do Dallas County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Dallas County arrest warrants do not have an expiration date, no matter how long they have been active. Arrest records are considered executed when the person on the warrant is apprehended and/or arraigned.