Birmingham Criminal Court Records

Court records for felons and folks with a minor charge sit at the county level. The big court here deals with the hard crimes. If you got hit with a simple crime charge, the lower court has your file. Now, if you just broke a city law or got a ticket, then the city court steps in. But that court can't touch real state crime cases at all. Every file you need, every sheet the judge signed, all that stuff lives at 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N in the heart of town with the Circuit Clerk. You can look up what you need on the web, or you can just walk in and ask for it in person when the clerk has the door open.

Jefferson County Criminal Court Jurisdiction

This town sits in Jefferson County. The county runs all the court work for folks who live here. Now, the county has two parts. One side is based right here in town, the other side out in Bessemer. If you live in Birmingham, your case goes to the Birmingham side, not the Bessemer one. That's just how they split it up. Each side does its own court stuff, so you go where you're told based on where you call home.

Alabama Code § 12-11-30 grants the Circuit Court exclusive original jurisdiction over all felony prosecutions. Alabama Code § 12-12-32 provides the District Court with jurisdiction over misdemeanor prosecutions. The Circuit Clerk's office maintains records for both courts.

Jefferson County Circuit Court (Felony Criminal Cases)

Jefferson County District Court (Misdemeanor Criminal Cases)

Jefferson County Court System website

Birmingham Municipal Court

The city court deals with tickets and local rule breaks, not much more than that. You won't find your DUI or drug case here. State crimes don't land in this room. What you will find are cases where folks broke a rule the city made up. Stuff the City Council put on the books, like a parking fine or some noise law you ran into. Keep in mind this is just for city stuff, not the big state law violations people think of when they hear "court."

Birmingham Municipal Court website

State criminal offenses including felonies and misdemeanors are prosecuted in Jefferson County courts, not Municipal Court. Municipal Court records are maintained separately from criminal court records at the Circuit Clerk's office.

How to Search Birmingham Criminal Court Records

You got a few ways to dig up court files in this county. Some folks like to search on the web. Other folks show up at the clerk desk and ask in person. Both work fine. Just pick what fits your day best. The county set up more than one path so you can get what you need without too much fuss or wait time.

ON-DEMAND Public Access Portal

Jefferson County court records are available through Alabama's ON-DEMAND Public Access Trial Court portal. This statewide system provides electronic access to court records from all Alabama trial courts. Users must register for an account and pay applicable fees to access records.

The Jefferson County court system website at jefferson.alacourt.gov provides information about accessing criminal court records online.

In-Person Record Requests

Criminal court records can be requested in person at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The Circuit Clerk's office is located at 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Room 420, Birmingham, AL 35203. Interested parties can request case files, court documents, and certified copies at the Clerk's counter.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The courthouse is located in downtown Birmingham near the federal courthouses.

Public Records Requests

Public records requests must be submitted through the City Clerk's office pursuant to procedures that became effective October 1, 2024. Requests can be submitted through the city website at birminghamal.gov/government/city-departments/city-clerks-office/public-records-request.

Information Needed for Searches

When requesting criminal court records, provide as much identifying information as possible, including the defendant's full name, date of birth, case number (if known), and approximate date of arrest or offense. More specific information leads to faster and more accurate search results.

Birmingham Police Department Records

The cops keep their own set of files. Arrest sheets, crime reports. All that stuff lives at the police station, not the court. If you want a cop report, you need to go to the Records Division at the PD. They run that part of the show. Court clerks won't have those papers, so don't ask them for police files or you'll just waste your time and theirs.

What the cops write up stays with the cops. That means if you need an arrest form, a crime scene write-up, or a crash report, the court can't help you get it. All those sheets live at the PD. You have to call them or walk in there yourself. Don't mix up cop files with court files. They're two different piles kept in two different buildings by two different groups of people.

Legal Framework for Criminal Court Records Access

Alabama Code § 36-12-40 establishes the fundamental right of citizens to inspect and copy public records. This statute provides that every resident has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public record of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by applicable law. Criminal court records fall within the scope of this open records provision.

The Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy and Confidentiality became effective January 1, 2025. These Rules apply to all Alabama courts, including Jefferson County courts. The Rules establish procedures for balancing public access to court records with individual privacy interests and designate 91 categories of information as privileged or confidential.

Alabama Code § 12-17-94 outlines the duties of circuit court clerks, including requirements to maintain consolidated docket sheets of criminal cases, keep all court papers and records with care and security, and monitor compliance with court orders assessing costs and fines against criminal defendants.

Expungement of Criminal Records

Alabama Code § 15-27-1 governs expungement of misdemeanor records. Persons charged with misdemeanors may petition to expunge records when charges are dismissed with prejudice, no billed by a grand jury, the person is found not guilty, or charges are nolle prossed without conditions. Persons convicted of nonviolent misdemeanors may qualify for expungement if all probation requirements have been completed, all fines paid in full, and three years have elapsed from the date of conviction. Only two misdemeanor convictions can be expunged in Alabama.

Alabama Code § 15-27-2 addresses felony record expungement. Expungement is available when felony charges are dismissed, no billed, or the person is found not guilty. For convicted felons, expungement requires a certificate of pardon with restoration of civil and political rights from the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

The administrative filing fee for expungement petitions is $500, as provided in Alabama Code § 15-27-4. The court may waive fees if it made a clear judicial finding that the arrest had no foundation of probable cause.

Fees for Criminal Court Records

The county wants cash if you need an official copy of a court file. How much you pay depends on what you ask for and how thick the stack is. More pages means more dollars. Some folks just need one sheet. Other folks need a whole case file. Each type of paper has its own price tag, so ask the clerk up front what it will cost you before they start pulling files.

The clerk desk has a full list of what each service costs. They'll tell you the price to find a file, make a copy, or stamp it official. You can pay with cash. You can write a check. Money orders work too. Most clerks also take credit cards now, which is nice if you don't carry cash like you used to. Just bring one of those and you should be fine when it's time to settle up.

Indigent persons may request fee waivers by demonstrating financial hardship to the court. Procedures for fee waiver requests are available through the Circuit Clerk's office.

Federal Criminal Cases in Birmingham

Federal criminal cases involving Birmingham residents are handled by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Birmingham has two federal courthouse facilities.

Hugo L. Black United States Courthouse

Robert S. Vance Federal Building and Courthouse

Federal criminal cases include prosecutions under federal law such as drug trafficking, firearms offenses, fraud, and other federal crimes. Federal court records are available through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at pacer.uscourts.gov.

Legal Aid Resources in Birmingham

Several organizations provide free or low-cost legal assistance to Birmingham residents.

Legal Services Alabama - Birmingham Office

Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham

Legal Aid Society of Birmingham

Additional Resources

• Jefferson County Law Library (at courthouse)
• Alabama Free Legal Answers (online Q&A with lawyers)
• Alabama Legal Help website (self-help forms and information)
• Birmingham Bar Association
• ON-DEMAND Public Access Trial Court portal (statewide Alabama court records)

Most legal aid organizations focus on civil legal matters. Criminal defendants who cannot afford an attorney are entitled to court-appointed counsel under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The court will appoint an attorney for defendants who qualify financially.

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