Lee County Court
Lee County Arrest Records

Lee County, Alabama Arrest Records

Lee County arrest records are the official files that document the details of a person's arrest by law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies normally create these records at the point of arrest. These files serve public interest by promoting transparency and accountability in the criminal justice system. Arrest records in Lee County are created and maintained by county or city police departments. The Lee County Sheriff's Office and the Auburn Police Department are the two largest law enforcement agencies in the county. Under the Alabama Open Records Act, arrest records are public records. A separate statute, the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC) Act, controls the release of criminal offender record information within the county.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Lee, Alabama?

Yes. Unless exempt from public disclosure, Lee County arrest records are publicly accessible under the Alabama Open Records Act. Only Alabama residents may request access. Listed below are the usual conditions that apply:

Proof of residency (Alabama driver's license or voter registration).
Submission of a Public Records Request Form to the correct agency.
Payment of applicable fees may apply.

What Do Public Lee County Arrest Records Contain?

A typical Lee County arrest record contains the following information:

Full name and physical description of the arrested person
Arrest date, time, and location
Charges filed against the arrested person
Name of the arresting police department.
Booking number
Mugshot
Court dates
Present case status

However, due to legal limitations or privacy laws, the following set of information may be inaccessible to a requestor without a court order:

Juvenile records
Private information
Court-sealed or expunged records
Unserved or unexecuted arrest warrants
Police reports, investigative materials, and officer dash camera and body camera recordings.
Files tied to ongoing investigation(s)

Lee County, Alabama Arrest Search

Lee County arrest information can be publicly accessed through any of the following state and federal systems:

State systems

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Criminal History Review: To request personal arrest information, parties may submit fingerprints and a completed SBI Form 46 to the CJIS Division in Montgomery. There is a $25.00 fee.
Alacourt: This judicial database allows requestors to search Lee County trial court arrest records for both felony and misdemeanor cases. A $9.99 search fee applies.
Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) Inmate Search: Identifies persons convicted of felonies in Lee County who are currently serving state prison sentences.
The Alabama Sex Offender Registry is a database that enables searches for registered offenders by name or location, including those living in Lee County.

Federal systems

The PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system enables searches for records of people arrested in Lee County for federal offenses.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator helps find arrest information on detainees in federal custody. A search can be done by name or ID number.
National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW): A federal-state partnership database that allows a nationwide sex offender search, including all Lee County-registered offenders.

Lee County Inmate Locator

The Lee County Sheriff's Office provides an easy-to-use inmate locator tool. Interested persons may use it by following these steps:

Visit the inmate locator section of the sheriff’s office website.
Enter the person’s first or last name into the search field.
Review the search results.

Interested persons may also call or visit the Sheriff's Office directly during work hours (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m, Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday):

Lee County Sheriff’s Office

1900 Frederick Road,

Opelika, AL 36801

Phone: (334) 749-5651

Active Warrant Search in Lee County

An arrest warrant is a court order from a judge that lets police arrest a specific person. To obtain a warrant, police may provide a sworn statement showing probable cause that the person committed a crime. After the judge signs the warrant, it becomes active, and police can make the arrest. A valid warrant usually lists the person's name, the crime they are accused of, and the judge's signature, as required by Alabama Code § 15-7-4.

In Lee County, warrant records are made public only after a warrant has been executed. Warrants that have not been served remain private to protect investigations and keep the public safe, as stated in Alabama Code § 36-12-40. The Lee County Sheriff's Office handles most warrants. There is no online search tool, but you can call the office at (334) 749-5651 or visit in person to ask about warrants. Be ready to provide the following information:

Full legal name
Date of birth
Case number
Social Security Number
Physical characteristics

Agency / Resource	Purpose	Search Methods	Notes
Lee County Sheriff’s Office	Maintains and serves all active warrants issued by district and circuit courts	Phone, and in- person	No online warrant search system
Lee County Circuit Clerk	Holds of all criminal court records, dockets, and case filings, including bench warrants	Online (Alacourt), phone, in person	Fees apply to Alacourt (online) searches
Lee County Magistrate's Office	Issues warrants for misdemeanors, felonies, traffic offenses, and bounced checks outside the limits of major cities	Phone and in person	Primary office for warrants outside Auburn and Opelika city limits
Auburn Police Department	Handles active warrants and arrests within Auburn city limits	Phone, in person	Handles Auburn city cases
Opelika Police Department	Oversees active warrants and arrests within Opelika city limits	Phone, in person	Handles Opelika city cases

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Lee County

The following Lee County tools for finding details of arrest-related incidents within the county are available at no cost:

The Lee County Sheriff's Office posts a "Recent Arrests" list that shows individuals taken into custody within the last 24 to 48 hours. The office also has an online "Inmate Search" tool that shows anyone currently held in the Lee County Jail.
The Auburn Police Department publishes newsworthy arrests on its free "Open Line" news feed.
The Opelika Police Department posts major arrest updates on its "News & Updates" page at no cost.

However, persons using these free tools should note the following restrictions:

Most free portals do not update the outcomes of charges or case results.
Redacted materials and investigative details usually are not available.
Records for youthful offenders are not available.
Official report copies require proof of Alabama residency and may carry fees.
Searches on the “inmate search” tool generally require a full name, date of birth, or booking date.

Lee County Arrest Report

An arrest report and arrest record are different documents. An arrest record is a police-generated file that logs a person’s arrest history, booking details, charges, fingerprints, and custody information. Arrest records are normally accessible in jail databases, background checks, and even court files.

An arrest report is a different document. It is created by the arresting officer after an arrest. It is a report that documents what happened during the arrest, what the officer saw, and everything that led up to it. While an arrest record covers a person’s full arrest history, an arrest report focuses on the arrest from the officer’s perspective.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Lee County

A Lee County arrest record can be expunged under Alabama law (Title 15, Chapter 27). This indicates that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has removed the record from public view and stored it safely. It is still accessible to judges and law enforcement. For juveniles and youthful offenders, sealing the record under the Youthful Offender Act also limits public access. Standard background checks won't show these records.

An arrest record qualifies for expungement or sealing if:

The charge was dismissed with prejudice, and 90 days have passed.
Charge not-billed by a grand jury, and 90 days have passed.
Found not guilty at trial, and 90 days have passed.
Charge dismissed without prejudice and not filed again: one year wait for misdemeanors, five years for felonies
Misdemeanor conviction: three-year waiting period, all fines and fees paid in full
Felony conviction: must have a full pardon from the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, plus a 180-day waiting period
Successful completion of a court-approved diversion program

Before filing for expungement, petitioners should obtain a certified form of their criminal history record from ALEA by following the instructions on the CJIS Form 46.

The following records cannot be expunged:

Violent offense convictions
Sex offense convictions requiring registration
Highly immoral crimes such as theft or fraud
DUI and serious traffic convictions
Cases with outstanding fines, fees, or restitution
Cases with pending criminal charges in any location

Petitions should be submitted to the Circuit Court. The filing fee is $500 for each arrest incident. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for a waiver using Form C-10.

How Do You Remove Lee County Arrest Records From the Internet?

A court-granted expungement order removes Lee County arrest records from the internet. Once the Circuit Court grants an expungement order, all relevant agencies, including the arresting department and the court clerk, will forward records to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). ALEA then archives the records in a secure, non-public database. This process totally shields the records from public view or access.

Third-party companies are not bound by court directives the way government agencies are. These companies are not official sources and may take longer to update or delete records.