The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is January 2025)
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Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors unfortunately got in trouble with the law. And records were kept from arrests through court cases to prison documents. Now, more and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and are being made available online.
Types of Records
- Criminal court proceedings
- Police reports
- Prison and jail admission registers
- Arrest records
- Mug books
- Pardon and discharge information
- Hospital record books
- Workhouse records
Types of Information
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Education
- Habits (alcohol use)
- Relations (parents living)
- Date incarcerated
- Court where charged
- Recommitments
- How and when discharged
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the state; the first list is for multi-state collections:
Alabama Criminal Records
United States
- Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
- Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages
Alabama
- Alabama Department of Corrections, Executions
- Alabama Executions
- Alabama State Prison Camp 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Alabama, Alabama State Penitentiary 1846 Index of Prisoners
- Alabama, Death Record of State Convicts, 1843–1951
- Alabama, U.S., Convict Records, 1886-1952 (free Index only)
- Alabama, U.S., Death Record of State Convicts, 1843-1951 (free Index only)
- Alabama, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, Prisoners, Insane, In Hospitals, 1917-1918
- Alabama, Deaths of State Convicts, 1884-1951; Deaths of County Convicts, 1885-1922, 1884-1951
- Baldwin County, Inmates Convicted of Crimes, 1886 – 1952
- Baldwin County, JD Hand’s Convict Camp, 1900 Index of Prisoners
- Bibb County, Lucile Prison Cemetery
- Butler County, Bolling Prison Cemetery
- Clay County, Alabama State Prison Camp, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Dallas County, Stringer Convict Camp 1910 Index of Prisoners
- Elmore County, Wetumpka State Penitentiary Cemetery
- Elmore County, Wetumpka State Prison 1930 Prisoner Index, A-L
- Elmore County, Wetumpka State Prison 1930 Prisoner Index, M-Z
- Escambia County, Atmore State Prison Cemetery
- Escambia County, Convict Docket, Book A, 1880-1904
- Executions in Alabama
- JD Hand’s Convict Camp, 1900 Index of Prisoners
- Jefferson County Convict Camp # 7, 1930 Prisoner Index
- Jefferson County Convict Camp List 1930
- Jefferson County Jail, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Jefferson County, Convict Camp # 7, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Jefferson County, Convict Camp, 1930 Prisoner Index
- Kilby Prison, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Lauderdale County, 1927 Jail Register
- Lauderdale County, 1931 Jail Register
- Lauderdale County, 1932 Jail Register
- Lauderdale County, 1935 Jail Register
- Lauderdale County, 1936 – 1938 Jail Register
- Limestone County, Chancery Court Records, ca. 1820-1917, 1820-1917
- Limestone County, Circuit Court Records, 1818-1911; Indexes 1818-1849, 1818-1911
- Limestone County, County Court Records, ca. 1819-1820, 1825-1849, 1866-1877, 1883-1908, 1942-1952, 1819-1952
- Mobile County, Civil and Criminal Minute Books, 1840-1907
- Mobile County, Original Spanish, French and English Documents, 1788-1798; Index, 1788-1798, 1788-1798
- Montgomery County, Kilby Prison, 1930 Prisoner Index
- Montgomery County, Kilby State Prison Cemetery AKA Alabama State Prison Cemetery
- Montgomery County, Number Four Prison Cemetery
- Pickens County, Deaths of State Convicts of Pickens County
- Randolph County, List of Convicted 1886 – 1930
- Shelby County, Convict Records, 1883-1913
- Shelby County, Court Records, 1830-1880
- Shelby County, Jail Records, 1889-1915
- Shelby County, Loose Court Files, Drawer 34, 1822-1910
- Shelby County, Sheriff’s Records, 1850-1975
- Stringer Convict Camp, 1910 Index of Prisoners
- Washington County, Register of Prisoners, 1911-1914
- Wetumpka State Penitentiary, Convicts, 1846
- Wetumpka State Prison 1930 Index of Prisoners (A – L)
- Wetumpka State Prison 1930 Index of Prisoners (M – Z)
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!