Located in central Alabama, Tuscaloosa County is home to over 241,200 residents. The county was the 31st-fastest-growing county in the state. The economy of Tuscaloosa County is primarily driven by education, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics. Major cities and towns in the county include Tuscaloosa (county seat), Brookwood, Coker, Cottondale, Coaling, Holt, Lake View, and Northport.
The average violent and property crime rates in Tuscaloosa County are 107.8 and 468.1 per 100,000 residents, respectively. The average violent crime rate is approximately 70% lower than the national average, while the property crime average is 73.4% below the national average.
The primary law enforcement agency in the county is the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office(TCSO). The TCSOoversees the county jail, serves as the county's main law enforcement agency, and ensures public safety.
The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office maintains records of arrests, including jail bookings, inmate release data, and most county-level warrant information. Other secondary law enforcement agencies, such as city police, state troopers, and federal agents, also arrest suspects. They support the sheriff, make arrests, and generate their incident reports. When they book an individual, these records are often shared with the Sheriff's Office.
Tuscaloosa County is home to several law enforcement agencies, including the county sheriff, city police departments, and federal law enforcement.
The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office is the most comprehensive source for county-level arrest logs and jail rosters. The county sheriff's office manages:
Local police departments operate within Tuscaloosa County, such as those in Vance, Coaling, Tuscaloosa, Brookwood, Lake View, and Northport. Although the city police conduct the arrest, individuals are typically booked into the Tuscaloosa County jail, and their jail records are handled by the Sheriff's Office.
Local police departments handle arrests within their municipal limits and maintain their own arrest or incident reports.
State police or the Alabama Highway Patrol may conduct highway stops or investigate statewide or interjurisdictional crimes. If an arrest occurs in Tuscaloosa County, the person is often booked into the county jail, and the records may appear in county logs.
Federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Border Patrol, and Homeland Security may investigate and arrest for violations of federal laws and regulations. These offenses include terrorism, drug trafficking, immigration, and cybercrime. Note that federal arrests typically do not show up in county records unless the individual is temporarily housed in the Tuscaloosa County jail.
Universities/Colleges have campus police that operate within Tuscaloosa County, such as those in Shelton State College and the University of Alabama. They handle on-campus incidents and make arrests within university property, with bookings generally processed through the county jail.
A typical arrest record in Tuscaloosa County may include the following details:
Note that the exact details available in arrest records vary depending on the agency, jurisdiction, and case type. Some information may be withheld due to privacy laws, juvenile protections, or ongoing investigations.
Annually, in Tuscaloosa County, law enforcement agencies report about 260 violent crimes and 1,130 property crimes. The average violent crime rate is 107.8 per 100,000 residents, which is approximately 70% lower than the national average. Similarly, the county's average property crime rate of 468.1 per 100,000 is 73.4% below the national average.
A breakdown of arrest statistics in Tuscaloosa County is presented below:
Arrest Total | Yearly Average |
|---|---|
Arrest Rate per 100,000 | 2,833 |
Adult Arrests | N/A |
Juvenile Arrests | N/A |
Crime Type | |
Murder | 30 |
Rape | 10 |
Robbery | 30 |
Aggravated Assault | 200 |
Burglary | 110 |
Larceny | 940 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 80 |
Arson | 10 |
Source: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Several types of warrants may appear in public arrest records in Tuscaloosa County. Warrants are issued by the courts for different legal reasons and may result in the arrest of an individual and their booking into the county jail. Although the terminology and procedures can vary slightly depending on state law, the following are the most common types of warrants:
An arrest warrant is issued when law enforcement or a prosecutor shows probable cause that a person committed a crime. These warrants often appear in arrest logs and can be executed by authorized officers.
A bench warrant is issued by a judge when someone fails to appear in court or comply with a court order. It is one of the most common warrant types found in county arrest records.
A civil capias warrant is issued in civil court cases when someone disobeys a court order, such as failing to appear or comply. It can lead to arrest and booking despite originating in a civil matter.
A fugitive warrant is issued when a person is wanted in another county or state. Such cases often involve extradition and will show up in county arrest logs if the person is arrested locally.
A governor's warrant is a formal warrant issued by a state governor to initiate extradition between states. While less common, it can appear in arrest or court records for interstate cases.
A search warrant authorizes law enforcement to search property or seize evidence. Warrant-backed searches may lead to arrests and be reflected in related cases or arrest reports.
Tuscaloosa County arrest and jail records can be accessed via several methods. To begin, use the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office "Who's in Jail" database to find current jail bookings and inmate statuses. In addition, you can perform a warrant lookup through the sheriff's department or use the Alabama State Trial Court Records to find court cases associated with arrests. Some services let you sign up for alerts about inmate releases or court updates.
Alternatively, you may obtain Tuscaloosa County arrest records from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency through their Public Records Portal. You may request records in person, by phone, or by email from the sheriff's office, jail, or clerk of court. If needed, you can also file a formal public records request under Alabama law, although this may involve fees and require a valid ID.
The following are jail and detention facilities in Tuscaloosa County:
Agency Name: Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office
City: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Type: County law enforcement agency
Address: 714 1/2 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Phone Number: (205) 752-0616 (Non-emergency)
Website: https://www.tcsoal.org/
Staffing: The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office employs about 215 personnel
Police Department | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Tuscaloosa Police Department | 3801 Trevor S Phillips Ave. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 | (205) 349-2121 |
Northport Police Department | 3721 26th Ave, Northport, AL 35473 | (205) 339-6600 |
University of Alabama Police Department | 1110 Jackson Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 | (205) 348-5454 |
Brookwood Police Department | 15689 Highway 216, Brookwood, AL 35444 | (205) 556-0103 |
Lake View Police Department | 22765 Central Park Dr, Lake View, AL 35111 | (205) 477-1289 |
Shelton State College Police Department | 9500 Old Greensboro Rd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 | (205) 391-2352 |
Vance Police Department | 10902 Public Safety Dr, Vance, AL 35490 | (205) 553-9917 |
Moundville Police Department | 112 Mound Ave, Moundville, AL 35474 | (205) 371-2641 |
Woodstock Police Department | 28513 Hwy 5, Woodstock, AL 35188 | (205) 938-9790 |
Agency Name: Tuscaloosa County Jail
State: Alabama
City: Tuscaloosa
Type: County detention facility
Address: 1600 26th Avenue
Phone Number: (205) 349-4511
Facility Name | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Tuscaloosa County Jail | 1600 26th Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 | (205) 349-4511 |
Tuscaloosa City Jail | 3801 Trevor S Phillips Ave. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 | (205) 349-2121 |
Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Detention Center | 5941 12th Avenue East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 | (704) 244-8700 |