Morgan County Arrest Records

In Morgan County, arrest records are official files containing data on arrest events. Law enforcement agencies typically create such records after apprehending persons suspected of committing an offense. In some cases, an officer may conduct arrests to prevent a potential criminal incident. Officers may also detain or hold arrested persons at the county jail.

Arrest records in Morgan County largely fall under the purview of the county’s law enforcement agencies. Thus, interested parties can request and find the records through local agencies, like the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.

Note: Arrest information may also be accessible in other public documents. For instance, Morgan County court records on criminal cases may include arrest information. Inquirers can also find these records in inmate records and rap sheets.

Are Arrest Records Public in Morgan County?

Arrest records in Morgan County are mostly accessible to public members. Under state laws (Al. Code §36-12-40), the general public may request and obtain most arrest records from designated record custodians. Custodians are government agencies that maintain these records at local, state, or federal levels. For instance, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) maintains records of arrested offenders in the state.

Note: State law generally prevents the disclosure of certain arrest information, such as in cases where the details may violate a concerned party’s privacy and safety. The state laws also redact records whose disclosure is judged not to be in the public’s best interest.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Morgan County, public arrest records will typically contain information on the following:

• Arrested person’s full name, age, gender, height, and race
• Booking number
• Booking date
• Arrest charges
• Arresting agency
• Bond amount and condition
• Arrest warrants
• Arrestee’s mugshot

Morgan County Crime Rate

Under the ALEA’s Crime Statistics Report, Morgan County recorded a total of 3,060 crimes in 2018. The report covers both property and violent-related crime incidents. According to the report, burglaries and homicides were the most reported crimes at 517 and 2,020, respectively.

Morgan County Arrest Statistics

The Morgan County sheriff’s office made 5,122 arrests in 2019, including 5,064 adult arrests and 58 juvenile arrests. Additionally, the Department of Corrections maintains a state-level report on the inmate population. Per the report, Alabama correctional facilities housed 20,430 inmates as of May 2024.

Find Morgan County Arrest Records

Interested persons or entities can find Morgan County arrest information under inmate records. Inmate records are sources of arrest data like the arrestee's name, charges, and bond details. Furthermore, inmate records are public documents under the purview of designated local, state, or federal agencies.

At the local level, the county sheriff’s office keeps an online roster of all detainees currently at the county jail. In addition to this, the sheriff maintains a list of persons released from the county jail within the last 48 hours.

The Alabama Department of Corrections is a state-level custodian of inmate records. It maintains an online database for all incarcerated inmates in the state’s correctional facilities. To access records on the database, users must input the offender’s full name and AIS number. The search result will include the offender’s name, physical attribute, mugshot, and arrest charges.

Alternatively, Morgan County arrest records are accessible through the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate search portal. To use the portal, users must provide either the offender’s name or prison identifying number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Morgan County

Government agencies, through online portals, provide free access to arrest records in Morgan County. Record seekers can find free arrest records using these government-owned sites:

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

Nonetheless, record seekers can also find free arrest records on third-party sites. Such sites offer access to arrest information in criminal records, inmate records, and court documents. Unlike government-owned sites, third-party search sites are mostly unregulated and may not contain accurate data.

Get Morgan County Criminal Records

Morgan County criminal records are documents that contain histories of criminal convictions. Also referred to as rap sheets, criminal records are distinct from court records or arrest records.

ALEA’s Criminal Records Identification Unit is the designated record custodian for all criminal records created in Morgan County. The agency also issues copies of criminal records to persons named in the document. To get the record, record subjects must follow this process:

1. Get fingerprinted by visiting the Morgan County sheriff’s office or other local law enforcement agency. The agency must take the prints on the FBI’s FD-258 card.
2. Fill out other sections on the fingerprint card.
3. Fill out, download, and print the application to review criminal history records.
4. Attach a valid government-issued ID.
5. Include a $25 administrative fee in the form of a money order or cashier’s check made payable to the “Criminal Records & Identification Unit". The agency does not accept business or personal checks.
6. Send all the required documents and fees to:

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Criminal Records and Identification Unit
ATTN: Background Checks
P.O. Box 1511
Montgomery, Alabama 36102-1511

Morgan County Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records are not the same as criminal records. Although both records provide information on crime data, they differ in terms of content, record custodian, and their creation process.

In Morgan County, arrest records contain arrest-related data like the arrestee’s name, charges, bail, and bond conditions. However, criminal records contain more than arrest information; record seekers will also find court conviction data and incarceration details on the document.

Generally, local law enforcement agencies are primarily responsible for creating arrest records, while state-level agencies maintain criminal records. The records’ creation process also differs; arrest records are created after an arrest event, while criminal records are created after an arrest charge leads to a conviction in the courts.

Note: Arrest records do not indicate whether the arrestee committed the crime.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Morgan County, arrest records will indefinitely remain on record unless the offender expunges or seals the record. You must follow the set guidelines to remove or seal arrest records.

Expunge Morgan County Arrest Records

Under Section 15-27 of the Alabama Code, you can expunge arrest records by filing a petition with Morgan County’s circuit court. Note that you must fulfill the minimum requirement before filing for expungement.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Morgan County?

Offenders may be eligible to expunge arrest records under these conditions:

• More than three months have passed since the charges were dismissed with prejudice.
• The charges were dismissed after completing a court-approved treatment program.
• Charges were dismissed without prejudice after one year had elapsed.
• More than 90 days have passed since the charges were dismissed.

For arrest charges that lead to convictions, offenders may be eligible to expunge under these conditions:

• The offender has completed the parole or probation requirements and fulfilled court-mandated payments.
• It is more than three years after the conviction date.
• The conviction is not a violent or sex-related offense.
• The conviction was not classified as a felony.
• The conviction is not for an offense classified as moral turpitude, as provided in Section 17-3-30.1.
• The conviction is not for a serious traffic offense.

Note that there are different requirements for expunging felony convictions. Per Section 15-27-1, you may be able to expunge felony convictions if:

• You were granted a pardon certification from the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
• Civil and political rights were restored after the conviction.
• More than six months have passed since you received the certificate of pardon.
• The conviction is not a violent or sex-related crime.
• The conviction was not for a serious traffic offense.

How to expunge Morgan County arrest records?

Offenders may be able to expunge arrest records in Morgan County by following these steps:

1. Request and obtain a certified criminal record copy from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. You can obtain the records through these steps:
   1. Visit the local law enforcement agency to get fingerprinted on a FD-258 fingerprint card.
   2. Complete the rest of the fingerprint card.
   3. Download and fill out the application to review criminal records.
   4. Attach a valid state or federal government-issued ID card.
   5. Include a $25 fee as a money order or check made payable to the “Criminal Records & Identification Unit”.
   6. Mail the required documents and fees to:
      The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
      Criminal Records and Identification Unit
      ATTN: Background Checks
      P.O. Box 1511
      Montgomery, Alabama 36102-1511
2. Download and fill out the required sections on the Petition for Expungement of Records form.
3. Attach the following documents:
   1. A certified copy of arrest records from the appropriate agency is generally required. You can get Morgan County arrest records from the county sheriff’s office.
   2. A certified court summary record or disposition record from the court that oversaw the case.
4. Attach a $500 filing fee.
5. Send the required documents to the circuit court at:

Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
P.O. Box 668
Decatur, Alabama, 35602-0668

Morgan County Arrest Warrants

In Morgan County, arrest warrants are court documents that authorize law enforcement agencies to arrest persons named on the document. Under Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure, the court judge will issue arrest warrants upon receiving a complaint or affidavit from law enforcement agencies.

Morgan County arrest warrants will typically contain the record subject’s name, age, date, bond, and charges. In addition, the record will also include the following details:

• The court issuing the warrant
• Case number
• Arrest charges
• The warrant issuance date
• The court judge or magistrate’s name
• Warrant number.

Morgan County Arrest Warrant Search

You can find Morgan County arrest warrants through the county sheriff’s office. As the warrant custodian, the sheriff maintains a searchable portal for all active warrants issued in the county. Record seekers can also find warrants by making an in-person request at the sheriff’s office.

119 Lee Street Northeast
Decatur, AL 35601
Phone: (256) 351-4800

Do Morgan County Arrest Warrants Expire?

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.