Limestone County Arrest Records

Limestone County arrest records are official records about someone's arrest and incarceration. An arrest occurs when law enforcement takes someone into custody on suspicion of committing a crime. After being apprehended, arrested people are always booked. During this process, the police note the name, date of birth, description, charge list, arrest site, case number, and other details of the arrestee. This forms the individual’s arrest record. Although other agencies may create additional material relevant to the case, the law enforcement agency that initiated the arrest usually maintains the individual's arrest records.

The Sheriff’s Office manages arrest records in Limestone County. The Office is responsible for arresting wrongdoers and housing them in the county jail. Interested parties can also find arrest records at the Sheriff’s Office. They can also find arrest records in Limestone County Court Records, which the County Clerk maintains.

Are Arrest Records Public in Limestone County?

According to Alabama law, arrest records are considered public records in Limestone County. The public has a legal right to examine and request copies of records created by public agencies while conducting official business, including arrest records.

The law mandates record custodians to make them accessible for review or copying upon request. Some arrest records are kept confidential for the general public, the government, and victims.

Among these exclusions are:

• Juvenile Arrest Records: Arrest records for those under 18 cannot be made public. Access to additional juvenile records, including court records, probationary data, and medical records, is likewise restricted.
• Expunged Records: An individual's arrest records are sealed when a court considers and approves their request to erase them.
• Investigative Reports: Unless access is expressly authorized by a court order under certain circumstances, Alabama prohibits sharing investigative materials and information obtained by law enforcement.
• Information Restricted by Statute: If a state or federal law considers a record confidential, it will be kept private and unavailable to the public. Sensitive financial details and information on mental health are a few examples.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

An arrest record can have different details on an individual’s arrest. The amount of information one may find on an arrest record depends on the jurisdiction and the law enforcement agency. This is a general overview of what you might find in an arrest record:

• Arrestee's name, date of birth, aliases
• Arresting agency and officer
• Date, time, and location of arrest
• Reason for arrest (charges filed)

Find Limestone County Arrest Records

Interested parties can find inmate records in Limestone County using the Inmate Search on the county sheriff's website. This search portal provides its users with a list of all current inmates in the facility. Additionally, it allows individuals to use different search parameters, such as name, race, sex, arrest date, release date, and arresting agency. Inmate information on the website includes names, race, mugshots, physical descriptions, bonds, and current charges.

Note: According to Alabama’s Statewide Crime Database, in 2019, 1,400 arrests were reported in Limestone County. This is a rate of 11,650 per 100,000 persons.

Free Arrest Record Search in Limestone County

Apart from the free search feature offered by the Limestone County Sheriff's and Clerk’s Offices, interested persons can access arrest records in Limestone County by visiting websites owned by third parties. Since the government does not own the websites, the material may not be correct or updated. These websites compile information from government websites for convenient and unrestricted access. Furthermore, users may need to subscribe to access these websites.

Limestone County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records denote different stages of the legal process. An arrest record is made by the detaining organization when someone is held by the police on suspicion of a crime. Basic information, including the individual's identity, the arrest date, the charges, and the arresting agency, is included. These openly available records do not prove or absolve anyone of a crime. Additionally, a record custodian may omit specific details to protect privacy or continue investigations.

Criminal records are made when someone is found guilty in court and include detailed information regarding the arrest, charges, and sentencing. A criminal record is often inaccessible to the general public and may be sealed or removed, particularly in cases involving minors. A criminal record can significantly impact a person's future. In particular, this relates to employment, housing, and professional licensing.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Limestone County, arrest records may be kept indefinitely on the arrestee's record if they do not request that the material be removed from their records. If the person is taken into custody and accused but not found guilty, there is a near 100% likelihood that the case will succeed. After fulfilling specific standards, people who have taken time for certain misdemeanors and non-violent felonies may also request their records expunged.

Expunge Limestone County Arrest Records

According to the Alabama Code § 15-27, an individual who the prosecutor has charged with a misdemeanor offense, a traffic violation, or a municipal ordinance violation may petition to have their records expunged. Their records will only be erased if they meet the following eligibility requirements:

• The arrestee has had their charges dropped or dismissed or found not guilty, and more than 90 days have passed.
• The prosecution failed to file the charges against the arrestee, which were not filed or processed without conditions. More than 90 days have passed, and they have yet to be refiled.
• The indictment against the arrestee was quashed, the statute of limitations for refiling passed, or the prosecuting agency failed to refile.
• The court dismissed the arrestee's charge after successfully completing a court-approved program (e.g., drug court). Afterward, a petition was filed one year after completion.
• The court dismissed the charges without prejudice more than a year before the expungement filing, and the charges were not refiled. Additionally, the individual has no other convictions or violations in the past two years.
• If the evidence supports that the offense was committed while the offender was a victim of human trafficking.
• If the offender has finished their sentence, including any probation, parole, fines, or restitution, and three years, have passed since the conviction, and the crime was not violent, sexual, morally wrong, or a serious traffic offense, their record might be considered clean.

If the interested party meets any of these requirements, they can take the following steps to expunge their record:

• Complete the Petition for Expungement of Records form.
• Compose a sworn statement stating that everything needed to erase the criminal record has been completed. Additionally, parties are to disclose any prior expungement applications or grants. In their expungement petition, they should also include a certified arrest record, disposition, or case action summary from the relevant agency and a certified official criminal record from the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. The applicant must also specify the records they want to be expunged, as well as the arresting agency and any relevant booking or detention agencies.
• Applicants must file their petition with the Limestone County criminal court. They are required to pay a $500 fee. Interested parties must pay a separate fee for each arrest record they want expunged.

The fee is distributed as follows:

1. State Judicial Administrative Fund - $75
2. Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences - $25
3. District attorney's office - $50
4. Circuit court clerk's office - $50
5. Public Safety Fund - $50
6. County where the incident - $50
7. State General Fund - $100
8. Education Trust Fund - $50
9. Fair Trial Tax Fund - $50

• Applicants are to submit copies of the petition and the affidavit to the district attorney, the Limestone County Sheriff’s and Court Clerk’s Offices.
• The court will decide after reviewing the petition and considering any objections and the submitted documentation.

Limestone County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court or judge-issued legal document that permits law enforcement to arrest a specific person. In Limestone County, arrest warrants are intended to guarantee arrests based on valid and legal grounds. The name and identifying information of the person for whom the warrant was issued, as well as other details about the warrant's issuance and execution, are contained in Limestone County Arrest Warrants.

• The particular charge(s) that led to the warrant's issue. The court or other authorities must approve the warrants.
• The date of issuance of the warrant.
• The name of the individual or law enforcement group in charge of carrying out the warrant's execution.

Do Limestone County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Yes, Limestone County arrest warrants expire. They expire once law enforcement has executed the warrant.