Dale County Public Records /Dale County Criminal Records

Dale County Criminal Records

What Is Dale County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Dale 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 operating within the county and the State of Alabama.

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 of law. An arrest does not constitute a conviction, and individuals may have arrest records without corresponding convictions.
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 county jail sentences of up to one year.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile records are routinely sealed under Alabama law to protect the privacy of minors, and access is strictly limited.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for an individual's arrest. Historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions that have been resolved.

The principal agencies maintaining Dale County criminal records include the Dale County Sheriff's Office (arrests, bookings, and jail records), the Dale County Circuit and District Courts (case filings, hearings, pleas, and dispositions), the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's State Bureau of Investigation (statewide criminal history), and local municipal police departments. Records encompass charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial proceedings, sentencing orders, and probation or parole conditions. Pursuant to Alabama Code § 41-9-591, criminal history record information is defined as data collected by criminal justice agencies on individuals consisting of identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, and the outcomes of such proceedings.

Dale County Sheriff's Office 202 West Washington Street, Ozark, AL 36360 (334) 774-2335 Dale County Sheriff's Office

Dale County Circuit and District Court 100 Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360 (334) 774-5003 Dale County – Thirty-Third Circuit Court of Alabama

Are Criminal Records Public In Dale County

Criminal records in Dale County are presumptively public under Alabama law. The Alabama Open Records Act, § 36-12-40, establishes that all public records are open for personal inspection by any citizen of Alabama, and custodians of such records are required to provide copies upon request. Court records, arrest logs, booking information, and final case dispositions maintained by county agencies are subject to this mandate.

The following categories of records are generally accessible to the public:

Adult conviction records and court case dispositions
Arrest and booking records
Court dockets, hearing schedules, and filed pleadings
Sentencing orders and probation terms

The following categories are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:

Juvenile records, which are sealed pursuant to Alabama law to protect minors
Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure could compromise law enforcement operations
Expunged records, which are legally removed from public access following a court order
Certain victim information, including addresses and identifying details protected under victim privacy statutes
Mental health and medical records incorporated into criminal proceedings

Under current law, agencies may withhold records where disclosure would endanger public safety or interfere with active prosecutions. The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts provides statewide guidance on court record access policies applicable to all Alabama counties, including Dale County.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Dale County in 2026

Members of the public seeking criminal records in Dale County may access them through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for obtaining records from the principal custodial agencies:

Step 1 – Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the records sought are arrest/booking records (held by the Sheriff's Office or municipal police), court case records (held by the Circuit or District Court Clerk), or statewide criminal history records (held by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency).

Step 2 – Submit a request to the Dale County Circuit Court Clerk. Members of the public may appear in person at the courthouse during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to inspect or request copies of court records. Written requests may also be submitted by mail.

Step 3 – Request statewide criminal history from ALEA. The Criminal Records Identification Unit of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency processes requests for official criminal history record information. Requestors must submit a completed application form, provide valid government-issued identification, and pay the applicable fee. Fingerprint-based background checks are available for employment, licensing, and other authorized purposes.

Step 4 – Contact the Dale County Sheriff's Office for arrest logs, booking records, and jail roster information. Requests may be submitted in person or in writing to the records division.

Step 5 – Provide required identifying information. All requests should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and any known aliases to ensure accurate record retrieval.

Dale County Circuit Court Clerk 100 Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360 (334) 774-5003 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Dale County – Thirty-Third Circuit Court of Alabama

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency – Criminal Records Unit 301 South Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 353-4340 Criminal Records Identification Unit

How To Find Criminal Records in Dale County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Dale County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

Alabama Alacourt.gov – Statewide 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 case filings, hearing dates, charges, dispositions, and sentencing information for cases processed through the Dale County Circuit and District Courts. A registered account is required to access full case details; registration is available through the Alacourt website.

Dale County Circuit Court – Local Case Access The Dale County – Thirty-Third Circuit Court of Alabama portal provides county-specific court information and links to case search tools for the 33rd Judicial Circuit.

Dale County Probate Office – Online Records Search The Dale County Probate Office online records search allows members of the public to search probate and related county records. While primarily focused on probate matters, this portal may contain relevant civil and administrative records.

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. Users may search by first name, last name, or both. This portal reflects current incarceration status and does not contain full criminal history records.

Alabama Sex Offender Registry The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Sex Offender Registry provides publicly accessible information on registered sex offenders, including those residing in Dale County. The registry includes name, address, photograph, and offense information.

Records available exclusively in person include sealed case files, expunged records (accessible only to authorized parties), and certain law enforcement investigative reports not yet entered into public databases.

Can You Search Dale County Criminal Records for Free?

Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, citizens have the right to inspect public records at no charge. The right of inspection is distinct from the right to obtain copies, for which agencies may assess reasonable fees.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection at the Dale County Circuit Court Clerk's office — members of the public may review court records during regular business hours without charge
Alacourt public case search — basic case information is accessible through the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts portal; full record access requires a paid subscription
Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search — the inmate search tool is free and publicly accessible
Sex Offender Registry — the Alabama sex offender registry is free to search online
Dale County Probate online records — the online records search provided by the Dale County Probate Office is accessible at no charge

Fees apply when requesting certified copies of court documents, official criminal history reports from ALEA, or fingerprint-based background checks. The Dale County Circuit Court Clerk currently charges a per-page fee for paper copies of court records.

What's Included in a Dale County Criminal Record?

A comprehensive Dale County criminal record may contain the following categories of information, depending on the custodial agency and the nature of the record:

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Mugshot photograph
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) and FBI number

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, municipal police, or state agency)
Booking number and jail facility
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount and conditions

Court Case Information

Case number and court jurisdiction (Circuit or District Court)
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
Attorney of record and prosecuting agency

Disposition Information

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, or nolle prosequi)
Conviction date and sentencing details (incarceration length, fines, restitution, community service, and special conditions)
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole terms and supervising agency

Additional Record Elements

Active or recalled warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status, searchable through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Sex Offender Registry
DUI/DWI notations and traffic-related criminal offenses
Pending charges not yet adjudicated

How Long Does Dale County Keep Criminal Records?

Dale County agencies retain criminal records in accordance with the Alabama Department of Archives and History records retention schedules and applicable state law. Retention periods vary by record type and custodial agency.

Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the court and by ALEA's criminal history repository
Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained permanently in most instances
Arrest records without conviction: Retained for a minimum period; subject to expungement under Alabama Code § 15-27-1 et seq., which governs the expungement of criminal records for charges that did not result in conviction
Juvenile records: Sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood and may be expunged upon petition; retention governed by juvenile court rules
Court case files (general): Circuit and District Court case files are retained according to the Alabama Judicial Records Retention Schedule, with most criminal case files retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition; capital cases are retained permanently
Jail booking records: Retained by the Dale County Sheriff's Office in accordance with county and state retention schedules, typically for a minimum of five years
Probation and parole records: Retained by the supervising agency for the duration of supervision plus a defined post-supervision period

State retention mandates are established by the Alabama Department of Archives and History in coordination with the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. Agencies are prohibited from destroying records prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period.