Escambia County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Escambia County are documents created and maintained by law enforcement agencies to document an individual being taken into custody for breaking the law. They give information on the arrestee and the criminal charges and may include their court information as they pass through the criminal justice system.

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office is the custodian of arrest records. Arrest records are generated when a person is arrested and booked into the holding facility’s (jail) database. If the case proceeds to arraignment, additional information about the arrest will be available in Escambia County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Escambia County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Escambia County and other counties in Alabama. Per the Alabama Public Records Law (Alabama Code § 36-12-40), all citizens can inspect and copy all public records of the state including arrest records as long as the record is not legally redacted or restricted.

To protect the privacy of citizens, ensure public safety, and ensure the integrity of legal processes, some records may however be restricted from public access. Examples of these records include the following:

• Information that could compromise the security of state facilities and infrastructure
• Information that could be an invasion of a person’s privacy (addresses, social security number, bank account, password, telephone number)
• Confidential law enforcement records (witness information, informant records).

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Escambia typically contain the following information:

• Personal information of the arrestee (full name, date of birth, gender, race)
• Physical features of the arrestee (height, weight, eye color, hair color, tattoos, etc)
• Mugshot
• Arrest information (date, time, location of arrest, arresting agency)
• Reason for arrest
• Specific charge or offense
• Booking information (booking number)
• Bail or bond information
• Court information (case disposition and court dates).

Escambia County Arrest Statistics

According to the 2023 Alabama Crime Data, Escambia County law enforcement made 1145 arrests. Most arrests were for Part II adult offenses (1057). The most frequent crimes included larceny (407), assault (92), burglary (68), and motor vehicle theft (36).

Find Escambia County Arrest Records

To find inmate information in Escambia County, individuals can utilize a variety of local, state, and federal resources available including the following:

• Escambia County Sheriff's Office: As the custodian of arrest records in the county, individuals can visit the sheriff’s office or contact them directly to obtain inmate information. The sheriff’s office also provides an online inmate roster through their website through which information on current inmates and those released within the last 48 hours can be found. To search for records using this tool, requesters are required to have the inmate’s full name or identification number. Contact the Sheriff's Office at:

Escambia County Sheriff's Office
316 Court Street
Breton, AL 36426.

• Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC): The ADOC provides an online inmate search tool on its website. Using this state resource, requesters can find the arrest information of inmates in state prisons and county jails. To facilitate a search, a person needs the subject's full name or Alabama Institutional Serial (AIS) number.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) The BOP provides an online inmate locator on its website for retrieving federal inmate information by their BOP number or name.

Free Arrest Record Search in Escambia County

Interested individuals can conduct a free arrest record search in Escambia County using available government online and offline resources. The Escambia County Sheriff’s office can be visitors in person or their online inmate roster can be used to find arrest records for free. They can also use the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) online inmate search tool or the online inmate locator provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to obtain free arrest records.

Third-party websites also allow users to conduct a comprehensive search for arrest records for free. They mostly consolidate several public records from various counties and states into a single resource thereby reducing user’s search time. As long as the requester has information like the inmate’s name, number, and date of birth, they are usually able to facilitate a search on these websites. Arrest records from third-party resources may however not be as accurate as those from the official records custodians.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. In Escambia County and other counties in Alabama, an arrest will remain on a person’s criminal history until it is expunged. Expunctions were not automatic and a person had to apply for it before they could get their record expunged. Alabama Code § 41-13-21 governs record retention in the state and specifies the disposition of various public records including arrest records.

Expunge Escambia County Arrest Records

To expunge an Escambia County arrest record is to legally remove the record from public view. Expungement in Alabama is governed by the Code of Alabama 1975, section 15-27 for crimes eligible for expungement as not all crimes can be expunged. Crimes eligible for expungement include the following:

• Non-conviction records (dismissed or not-guilty)
• Misdemeanor offenses (after satisfying all court-ordered requirements and waiting 3 years)
• Non-violent felony conviction (after being pardoned and waiting 180 days)

Crimes like violent crimes, sex offenses, crimes of moral turpitude, and serious traffic offenses cannot be expunged. The newly signed REDEEMER Act (Record Expungement Designed to Enhance and Eliminate Recidivism), however, may allow for the expungement of some criminal offenses including misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, municipal ordinances, and felonies under certain circumstances.

The process for getting a record expunged in Escambia County is as follows:

• The individual obtains a certified copy of their criminal history from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)
• The individual fills out and submits a petition for the expungement of records (Form CR-65) to the Escambia County Court
• Present a copy of the petition to the district attorney, the arresting law enforcement agency, and the clerk of court
• The court reviews the petition, asks for a hearing if need be, and if satisfied, the expunction is granted.

Escambia County Arrest Warrants

Escambia County arrest warrants are legal documents issued by a court to a law enforcement agency to facilitate the detention of an individual. Warrants give law enforcement officers the legal right to detain a person suspected of committing a crime without violating their rights. They are essential for maintaining public safety, upholding the law, and ensuring that arrests are conducted lawfully.

To obtain an arrest warrant, a law enforcement officer presents evidence to a judge to establish probable cause that the named individual did break the law. If the judge is convinced that probable cause is established, the warrant is signed. Arrest warrants are issued when there is probable cause of a crime committed, for failure to appear in court, for failure to pay child support, and for violation of probation.

An Escambia arrest warrant usually contains the following information:

• Name of the person to be arrested
• Details of the alleged crime
• Explanation of evidence establishing probable cause for the arrest
• Issuing judge’s signature
• Date the warrant was issued
• Arrest instructions.

Do Escambia County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. In Escambia County, arrest warrants do not expire. They remain active until quashed, recalled, or executed. A warrant can, however, not be immediately executed due to several reasons. These reasons include the statute of limitations for the crime, jurisdiction of the warrant, and the priority or severity of the case.