While the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC) primarily provides Alabama's state, local, and federal criminal justice agencies with expertise, information sharing and training, we also assist citizens whenever appropriate. Please visit our menu on the left to access information regarding common questions received by our agency.

Alabama Law Enforcement Directory The Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC) maintains the Alabama Law Enforcement Directory, a current listing of official criminal justice entities operating within the state of Alabama. The agencies included in the Alabama Law Enforcement Directory are those assigned Originating Agency Identifier (ORI) by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

You may search the Alabama Law Enforcement Directory by typing in the agency name or city in the "Search it" area below:

The Law Enforcement Directory is also available for downloading in the following formats:

• Law Enforcement Directory in .pdf Format
• Law Enforcement Directory in .xls Format

	Alabama Background Check System ABC (Alabama Background Check System) is the official State of Alabama criminal history records check site. Administered by ACJIC, the system allows employers to subscribe to run online searches of Alabama criminal records of employees and prospective employees who provide them with the "right to know" waiver authorizing the search. This ACJIC system is provided in cooperation with the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts and the Alabama Department of Public Safety. Find out more at http://background.alabama.gov or through the Online Services page of Alabama's official government website, www.alabama.gov.
	AlaSafe.gov Through AlaSafe.gov, family members and caregivers of individuals with forms of dementia may now provide information to authorized Alabama law enforcement officials to assist in identifying their loved ones in the event they wander or become lost. AlaSafe.gov is a secure government website and is available as a free service under the authority of the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. Find out more at https://www.alasafe.gov.

If you have a question not answered in this section, please let us know by utilizing the "contact us" link at the top of this page.

NOTE: Unauthorized use of ACJIC systems are subject to criminal prosecution, including all related computer equipment, networks, and network devices (specifically including Internet access) accessed through or operated by the agency. Complaints alleging potential violations involving misuse of ACJIC systems should be submitted in writing to:

can i?

can i request to review or challenge items on my own Alabama criminal history?

Yes. Under Alabama law and U.S. Government regulations, you have the right to review, and/or challenge inaccuracies, on your own criminal record maintained by the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. These requests require the completion of the ACJIC Requests to Review, Appeal, or Challenge form, which includes the requirement for a set of your fingerprints and fee of $25 (in the form of a certified check or money order, made payable to the State of Alabama. Sorry – personal and/or business checks are not accepted).

Please note that ACJIC can no longer accommodate walk-in or by-appointment criminal history review requests. You must MAIL your completed request form(s), with your fingerprints and the payment as required, to:

ATTN: Director
Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center
P.O. Box 300660
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-0660

After receiving a copy of your official Alabama criminal history record information from ACJIC, you may challenge any inaccuracies or errors to your Alabama record.  You must state on the ACJIC CHRI challenge form what you believe to be the correct information, citing and providing official documents to support the items you are challenging.  It is important to note, however, that a fingerprint comparison may be required to confirm the accuracy of a criminal record.

It is important to note that submitting your request via overnight delivery does not guarantee overnight processing. Requests for CRIMINAL HISTORY REVIEWS normally are processed within 5-10 business days of the date they are RECEIVED by ACJIC. This time frame does not apply to Criminal History Review, Challenges and/or Appeals, which require additional research or receipt of official documentation from the arresting agencies and/or courts.

can i check my own federal (FBI) criminal history?

Yes. The U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-73 established rules and regulations for the subject of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Identification Record to obtain a copy of his or her own federal records for review.  The FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division processes these requests.  You may find out more about this process, and its requirements, at http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks

can i eliminate or expunge an accurate arrests or charges on my criminal record?

No. ACJIC may only address an appeal or challenge of an error on a person's Alabama criminal record. In order to make this request, the person must complete an ACJIC Requests to Review, Appeal, or Challenge form in the manner required by the ACJIC Commission, and return it to ACJIC. For each item challenged, the applicant MUST state what he or she believes to be the correct information, citing and attaching official documentation (i.e., official documentation from the arresting agency, Case Actions Summary or official Disposition from the court, etc.) to support the challenge.

can i obtain the criminal history of another person through ACJIC?

No. ACJIC may only provide criminal histories to: (1) law enforcement entities for approved criminal justice purposes or (2) individuals requesting their own criminal history.

The only exception is ACJIC's ability to provide an employee or potential employee's Alabama criminal history to approved employers who subscribe to the Alabama Background Check (ABC) System. This may only be provided with the written permission of the employee or prospective employee on whom the check is to be performed. For more details, please visit www.background.alabama.gov

can i have my criminal history search results authenticated through an official certification or apostille?

Yes, but NOT through the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC).

Once you receive your NOTARIZED Alabama Criminal History results from ACJIC, you must then:

1. Send or take the results to the Alabama Secretary of State's office with the required Secretary of State's Authentication Submittal Form, which may be obtained online at http://www.sos.alabama.gov/AdminServices/Authentications.aspx.
2. This form must state whether you wish to obtain an APOSTILLE or an Official CERTIFICATION*, and must be accompanied by AN ADDITIONAL certified check or money order for $5.00, made payable to the Alabama Secretary of State. According to the Alabama Secretary of State's office, the type of authentication document required depends upon the country in which it is to be used: countries which are part of the Hague Convention Number 12 receive apostilles. Documents for all other countries receive certifications.
3. * If the request is for an Official CERTIFICATION, each notarized document must also have an additional COUNTY AUTHENTICATION of the notary commission, which may require an additional fee.
4. Directions on how to obtain the name and contact information for the office which issues the county certification (which normally is the Probate Judge’s office in the notary’s county of residence, but is the Circuit Clerk in Jefferson County, AL) to ask about this procedure and fee may also be obtained on the Secretary of State's website, http://www.sos.alabama.gov/AdminServices/Authentications.aspx

can i find out about or report sex offenders in my area?

Yes. Alabama law requires sex offenders to register with the Sheriff's Department in the county before they establish residency. The Sheriff's departments then report this information to the Alabama Department of Public Safety (ADPS), which is responsible for maintaining the information on a registry available to the public. It is always a good idea to check with the local Sheriff's department regarding your inquiries about sex offenders living in a particular area. You may access the ADPS registry, which is a part of its Community Information Center, online at http://community.dps.alabama.gov/, and the National Sex Offender public website, which is maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice, online at http://www.nsopr.gov/.

Also, if you have knowledge of an unregistered sex offender living in a particular area, you should immediately contact the Sheriff's Department in that county. You may access a listing of Alabama Sheriff's Departments through our Alabama Law Enforcement Directory.

can i find out if a concealed weapon permit from another state is recognized by law enforcement in Alabama?

Yes, through the website of the Alabama Attorney General's office. Since August 1, 2001, the State of Alabama has had the legislative authority to recognize some state's reciprocal concealed weapons permits. Act 2001-494 (Senate Bill 122), which was signed by Alabama's governor on May 15, 2001, enables Alabama concealed weapon permit holders to take their weapons into states which recognize Alabama licenses. It also allows residents of other states to bring their weapons into Alabama as long as the state issuing the license recognizes Alabama's gun licensing law. Please note not all states have entered into this agreement.

You may find out more about the status of your state's standing through the Alabama Reciprocal Gun Law information on the Alabama Attorney General's website, http://www.ago.state.al.us/publications.cfm.