Criminal Records in Mobile County
Mobile County criminal records are generated by several offices. Arrests are made by the Mobile County Sheriff's Office, the Mobile Police Department, other municipal police agencies, and state and federal agencies operating in the county. Arrestees are booked at the Mobile County Metro Jail at 450 St. Emanuel Street. Once charges are filed, the case enters the circuit or district court system at the courthouse on Government Street, and a court record begins.
An arrest record is not the same as a criminal court record, and neither is automatically a conviction record. An arrest is a custody event. A criminal court record is the case filed against the person. A conviction is the disposition: a guilty plea or verdict. Some Mobile County arrests never result in charges; others end in dismissal or acquittal.
How to Search Mobile County Criminal Records
Use three portals together. The MCSO current inmates report at all.mobileso.com shows who is currently in custody with charges and bonds. The MCSO 24-hour booking page at mobileso.com/24-hour-booking shows recent bookings. Alacourt at pa.alacourt.com shows criminal court settings under county code 58. For a statewide criminal history, ALEA is the official source.
- Check MCSO current inmates if the person may still be in jail. The report shows NAME, DATE, CHARGES, and BONDS.
- Check the MCSO 24-hour booking page if you are looking for a very recent arrest.
- Cross-reference any case prefix you find (CC, DC, M, GJ, P) with an Alacourt docket lookup using LOC=58.
- For statewide criminal history, request a certified ALEA criminal history record at alea.gov.
The Mobile County Sheriff's Office homepage links each of these official tools and is a reliable starting point.
The Sheriff site also lists the booking, warrants, jail portal, and bonding portal in one navigation menu.
Arrest Records vs. Criminal Court Records
An arrest record begins at booking and lives with the agency that made the arrest. In Mobile County, that is usually the Sheriff or the local police agency. A criminal court record begins when charges are filed and lives with the court that has jurisdiction. A jail roster reflects custody status; it does not show whether a case has been dismissed, plea-bargained, or set for trial.
| Arrest Record | Criminal Court Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Sheriff / Police | Circuit or District Clerk |
| Created When | Booking at Metro Jail | Charges filed in court |
| Contents | Booking info, charges, bond, custody status | Pleadings, motions, orders, disposition, sentence |
| Where to Look | MCSO current inmates and 24-hour booking pages | Alacourt LOC=58 for Mobile County circuit and district |
The 24-hour booking report shown below is the MCSO source for very recent arrests.
Always cross-reference a booking entry with the court docket because a jail listing alone does not show how the case is resolved.
Charges vs. Convictions
A charge is an accusation. A conviction is a finding or plea that establishes guilt. The two are very different legally, and they get confused in casual conversation all the time. A Mobile County roster entry showing a charge does not mean the person was convicted of that offense.
| Charge | Conviction | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage | Accusation at booking or by indictment | Verdict, plea, or court finding |
| Burden of Proof | Probable cause | Beyond a reasonable doubt |
| Public Record | Often yes (jail and court) | Yes, in the court record |
| Removal | Dismissal or no-bill ends the charge | Expungement under Title 15, Ch. 27, if eligible |
Sealed vs. Expunged Records
Alabama treats sealed and expunged criminal records differently. Sealed records are hidden from ordinary public view; expunged records are treated as if they never existed for many purposes. The ALEA expungement page explains that Alabama courts grant expungements, not ALEA. Eligibility rules under Alabama Code Title 15, Chapter 27 cover certain dismissed, no-billed, or qualifying convictions, with specific time and disposition requirements.
| Sealed | Expunged | |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Hidden from public, may show on background checks done by law enforcement | Removed from public records and most background checks |
| Law Enforcement | Limited access | Very limited; some agency access remains by statute |
| Eligibility in Alabama | By court order or statute | Under Alabama Code Title 15, Chapter 27 |
| Process | Court motion in the case file | Petition with certified ALEA history; court grants or denies |
An attorney is recommended for any expungement petition because denials often turn on missing certified records, unpaid obligations, or pending charges.
Mugshots and Booking Photos
The inspected MCSO current inmates report at all.mobileso.com is a flat table that does not include mugshots, demographic information, or housing units. The fields shown are NAME, DATE, CHARGES, and BONDS. A clickable booking profile with a photo was not part of the public view at the time of inspection. If you need a booking photo for legitimate purposes, the MCSO records line is the proper request channel; do not assume photos are publicly posted.
Statewide Criminal Records Search
For a statewide criminal history, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is the official source. ALEA issues certified criminal history records, and that certified copy is required before filing an expungement petition. The official page is alea.gov/criminal-record-expungement. ALEA does not give legal advice on expungement eligibility, so plan to work with an attorney if the record matters for employment, housing, or licensing.
The Mobile court site links to ALEA from its local and state links page, along with the District Attorney, Alabama Attorney General, eForms, traffic, DHR, legal aid, and the Alabama State Bar referral service.
Background Check Considerations
An informal Mobile County criminal lookup is not the same as a Fair Credit Reporting Act background check. Employers, landlords, and lenders that use a consumer report for FCRA-regulated decisions must use a consumer reporting agency that complies with federal law. Casual lookups on public sites cannot be used for those purposes.
Important: This site is not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Do not use these records for employment, credit, housing, tenant, or insurance decisions.
Restricted Criminal Records in Mobile County
Some Mobile County criminal records are not open to the public. Juvenile legal and social files are confidential under Alabama Code ยง 12-15-133. Youthful offender records are typically confidential. Records from ongoing investigations may be withheld while the investigation is open. Sealed warrants and grand jury materials are not public while sealed. Records that have been expunged should not appear in ordinary public-facing systems after the court grants the petition.
If you suspect a Mobile County record should not be appearing publicly, document the listing and contact the agency that holds the record. The Sheriff handles jail data; the circuit clerk handles court data; ALEA handles statewide criminal history.