Lauderdale County Criminal Records
What Is Lauderdale County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Lauderdale County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each capturing a distinct phase of the criminal process.
Members of the public should understand the key distinctions among record types:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court, either through a guilty plea or a trial verdict. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by more than one year of incarceration in a state facility. Misdemeanors are lesser offenses typically resulting in fines or confinement in a county jail for up to one year.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Records involving individuals who were under 18 at the time of the offense are generally sealed under Alabama law and are not accessible to the general public.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants represent current judicial orders authorizing arrest. Historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions that have been resolved.
The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in Lauderdale County include:
- Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail rosters
- Lauderdale County Circuit and District Courts — maintain case filings, arraignment records, pleas, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and probation or parole documentation
- Alabama State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) — maintains statewide criminal history repositories
- Florence Police Department and other municipal agencies — maintain local arrest and incident reports
Pursuant to Alabama Code § 41-9-591, criminal history record information includes records of arrests, indictments, informations, and other formal criminal charges, as well as any dispositions arising therefrom. The Lauderdale County Circuit Court serves as the primary repository for felony and civil case records within the county.
Lauderdale County Circuit Court Clerk 200 S. Court St., Florence, AL 35630 (256) 760-5800 Lauderdale County – Eleventh Circuit Court of Alabama
Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office 655 S. Court St., Florence, AL 35630 (256) 760-5757 Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office
Are Criminal Records Public In Lauderdale County
Criminal records in Lauderdale County are generally available to the public under Alabama's open records framework. Pursuant to Alabama Code § 36-12-40, every citizen has a right to inspect and copy any public writing of the state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute. This provision establishes the foundational right of public access to government-maintained documents, including criminal justice records.
Under current law, the following categories of records are accessible to the public:
- Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing orders
- Court proceedings and case dockets filed in Circuit and District Courts
- Booking records and jail rosters maintained by the Sheriff's Office
- Sex offender registration information as required by the Alabama Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act
The following categories are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure could compromise law enforcement operations
- Juvenile records, which are sealed by operation of law under Alabama Code § 12-15-133
- Expunged records, which are treated as if the underlying event never occurred following a court order
- Certain victim information, including addresses and identifying details protected under victim privacy statutes
Members of the public seeking court case information may access records through the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts, which provides a statewide portal for trial court records.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Lauderdale County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Lauderdale County criminal records through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for each primary method:
In-Person at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office
- Visit the Lauderdale County Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 200 S. Court St., Florence, AL 35630, during public counter hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Provide the full legal name and, if known, the date of birth or case number of the subject.
- Complete any required request form provided by the clerk's office.
- Pay applicable copy fees, currently set at $1.00 per page for standard documents.
- Receive certified or uncertified copies as requested.
Through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)
- Submit a formal background check request through the Alabama Background Check portal maintained by the State Bureau of Investigation.
- Provide required identifying information, including full name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
- Pay the applicable processing fee.
- Receive a statewide criminal history report compiled from all contributing agencies.
Through the Sheriff's Office
- Contact the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office at (256) 760-5757 or visit in person at 655 S. Court St., Florence, AL 35630.
- Submit a written public records request identifying the subject and the specific records sought.
- Allow the statutory response period for processing.
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency – State Bureau of Investigation 301 S. Ripley St., Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 353-4340 Alabama Law Enforcement Agency – Department of Public Safety
How To Find Criminal Records in Lauderdale County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Lauderdale County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Alabama Alacourt.gov – Court Case Search
The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts operates the Alacourt system, which provides on-demand access to Alabama state trial court records. Users may search by name, case number, or date range. The portal contains:
- Circuit and District Court case dockets
- Charge information and case dispositions
- Filing dates and hearing schedules
- Sentencing and probation orders
A paid subscription or per-search fee may apply for full record access through the Alacourt system. Basic case information is available without registration.
Lauderdale County Circuit Court Clerk's Website
The Lauderdale County – Eleventh Circuit Court of Alabama website provides county-specific court information, including guidance on accessing case records and clerk services. Members of the public may use this portal to identify case numbers before conducting a more detailed search.
Alabama Department of Corrections – Inmate Search
The Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search tool allows members of the public to locate individuals currently incarcerated in state correctional facilities. The database contains:
- Current incarceration status
- Facility location
- Sentence information
This database reflects only currently incarcerated individuals; historical incarceration data is not available through this portal.
Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office – Jail Roster
The Sheriff's Office maintains a current jail roster reflecting individuals held in the county detention facility. This roster is accessible through the Sheriff's Office website or by contacting the facility directly.
Can You Search Lauderdale County Criminal Records for Free?
Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, citizens have the right to inspect public writings at no charge; fees may be assessed only for copying or reproduction of documents. This means that members of the public may inspect criminal records in person at the maintaining agency without incurring a fee, though charges apply for printed copies.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- In-person inspection at the Lauderdale County Circuit Court Clerk's Office — no fee to view records at the public counter
- Lauderdale County Circuit Court Clerk's website — basic case information accessible without charge
- Alabama Administrative Office of Courts portal — limited case lookup functionality available without a paid subscription
- Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search — free online search for currently incarcerated individuals
- Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office jail roster — current booking information available at no charge
Fees are assessed for the following services:
- Certified copies of court documents: fees set by the Alabama Supreme Court
- Statewide criminal history reports through ALEA: processing fee required
- Copies of records: typically $1.00 per page at the clerk's office
What's Included in a Lauderdale County Criminal Record?
A comprehensive criminal record compiled from Lauderdale County sources may contain the following categories of information:
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description, including height, weight, eye color, and hair color
- Mugshot photograph
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) and FBI number where applicable
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, Florence PD, or other municipal department)
- Booking number and date of booking
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
- Jail facility where the individual was held
Court Case Information
- Case number and court of jurisdiction (Circuit or District Court)
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges as formally filed, including applicable Alabama Code sections and felony or misdemeanor classification
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
- Attorney of record for the defense and prosecution
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, or dismissed)
- Conviction date where applicable
- Sentencing details, including type of sentence (incarceration, probation, suspended sentence), length, fines, restitution amounts, and special conditions
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole status and supervising agency
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status under the Alabama Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act
- DUI or DWI adjudications
- Traffic violations adjudicated in District Court
- Pending charges not yet resolved
How Long Does Lauderdale County Keep Criminal Records?
Lauderdale County and the State of Alabama maintain criminal records according to retention schedules established under state law and administrative rule. Under current Alabama law, court records and criminal history files are subject to the following general retention periods:
- Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Circuit Court and the Alabama SBI
- Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of 10 years following final disposition
- Arrest records without conviction: Retained for a minimum of 5 years, subject to expungement eligibility under Alabama Code § 15-27-1 et seq.
- Juvenile records: Sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood and retained in restricted status; eligible for destruction under specific statutory conditions
- Probation and parole records: Retained for the duration of supervision plus a minimum of 5 years
- Booking and jail records: Retained by the Sheriff's Office for a minimum of 5 years per Alabama Local Government Records Commission schedules
The Alabama Department of Archives and History, in coordination with the Local Government Records Commission, establishes official retention schedules applicable to county agencies. Agencies are prohibited from destroying records prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period. Individuals who believe their records qualify for expungement may petition the Circuit Court pursuant to the procedures outlined in Alabama's expungement statutes.
Alabama Department of Archives and History 624 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36130 (334) 242-4435 Alabama Department of Archives and History