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?

check my own criminal history?

Under Alabama law and U.S. Government regulations, you have the right to review your criminal record maintained by the Alabama Department of Public Safety and the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. A fee of $25 will be charged for each review. A certified check or money order made payable to the State of Alabama must be included in each request for review. You may complete the ACJIC Requests to Review, Appeal, or Challenge form, and/or contact the Alabama Department of Public Safety at (334) 242-4371.

obtain a fingerprint-based criminal background check?

Please contact the Alabama Department of Public Safety (ADPS), the Alabama state agency with the legal authority to conduct fingerprint-based criminal history searches for citizens. ADPS may be reached by calling (334) 242-4371.

correct my criminal history?

If there is an error on the criminal record, the person may complete an ACJIC form entitled Requests to Review, Appeal, or Challenge and return it to ACJIC. For each item challenged, the applicant must state what he or she believes to be the correct information. If possible, the applicant should cite official documents to support the challenge and attach copies. All individuals should note that the absolute accuracy of a criminal record can only be verified through fingerprint comparison. Anyone desiring or requiring a fingerprint-based criminal history search should contact the Alabama Department of Public Safety at (334) 242-4371.

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

ACJIC can work with the Alabama Secretary of State’s office (the official certification authority) to help facilitate such requests.

To request that your criminal history review report receive official authentication*, you must complete and return the ACJIC Requests to Review, Appeal, or Challenge Criminal History Form and also include a completed Alabama Secretary of State's Authentication Submittal Form.

• The ACJIC Requests to Review, Appeal, or Challenge Criminal History Form and directions/requirements are available online at http://www.acjic.alabama.gov/documents/form_criminalrecords.pdf. This form must be accompanied by a certified check or money order for $25, made payable to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center.
• The Alabama Secretary of State’s Authentication Submittal Form and directions/requirements can be obtained online at http://www.sos.alabama.gov/AdminServices/Authentications.aspx. This form must be accompanied by a certified check or money order for $5, made payable to the Alabama Secretary of State. Please note you must indicate on the form whether you require authentication in the form of a certification or an apostille.*

Both forms must be completed as required, and both require separate certified checks or money orders made payable to the different agencies (see forms for more details). After the ACJIC Requests to Review, Appeal, or Challenge Criminal History is completed, ACJIC can provide the required official signature** to the Secretary of State's Authentication Form (if the form has been completed and includes the required $5 payable to the Alabama Secretary of State) and take it, along with the results of the requested criminal history, to the Alabama Secretary of State's office for authentication.

Please allow a minimum of 5-10 business days for processing of these requests. Please also note that submitting overnight delivery does not guarantee overnight processing.

* 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.

**The Official Signature must be of a currently commissioned Alabama notary public, probate judge or circuit clerk; or, the current Alabama State Registrar.

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; (2) to individuals requesting their own criminal history; or to (3) approved employers who subscribe to the Alabama Background Check (ABC) System, with the written permission of the employee or prospective employee on whom the check is to be performed.

find out about--or report--sex offenders in my area?

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.

find out about my legal rights?

Legal advice is best received from a licensed attorney at law. You may obtain a referral of an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Alabama through Alabama State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service at www.alabar.org/lrs/index.cfm

get a law changed?

The responsibility for making and approving Alabama laws falls to the elected members of the Alabama Legislature. If you have a particular law that you wish to see changed or that you believe should be enacted, you should contact your local elected member of the Alabama House of Representatives and the Alabama Senate. For more information on the Alabama legislative process and/or how to find your local elected officials, please visit www.legislature.state.al.us.

find out what i can help to do about terrorism?

The national Department of Homeland Security has an entire section dedicated to citizens with information and tools on how to help in the fight against terrorism. Please visit them at www.dhs.gov/xcitizens/.

find out about jobs at ACJIC?

The Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC) is a State of Alabama merit-system agency. Alabama state jobs in the classified service fall under the merit system, which means they are based on competition and positions are filled on an equal opportunity basis. To be considered for a Alabama merit system job, you must be on the Alabama Personnel Department's employment register.

For more information about current ACJIC job opportunities, please visit the Job Opportunities section on the "About Us" page of this website. Applications for jobs with ACJIC must be submitted through thge State of Alabama employment application process. Find out more about this process by visiting the Alabama State Personnel Department website at www.personnel.alabama.gov

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

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 that 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 page on the Alabama Attorney General's website, http://www.ago.state.al.us/ag_items.cfm?Issue=64.