Our policy
It is the policy of the executive branch of the State of Alabama to promptly provide citizens with public records upon request, subject to their payment of reasonable fees, to applicable laws protecting sensitive information, and to the interest of the general public in having the business of government carried on efficiently and without undue interference.
What to expect
We strive to respond as promptly as possible to all requests we receive consistent with the demands of our agency’s functions as determined by state law.
The nature of your request will dictate how promptly we respond. If your request very clearly identifies a specific, discrete document you are looking for, we will respond more quickly than if your request requires substantial staff time to process. A request will require substantial staff time to process if it requires difficulty in identifying and retrieving documents or taking measures to redact or otherwise withhold legally protected information.
In addition, we are permitted by state law to charge reasonable fees in connection with processing public record requests. We will notify you in advance of the fees you likely will incur as a result of your request.
Have questions? Email us at
Under Alabama law there are several exceptions to the Open Records Act. Those exceptions include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Juvenile Records
- Information Concerning Children
- Youthful Offender Records
- Grand Jury Records
- Hospital Patient Records
- Parole and Probation Reports
- Criminal History Information
- Identifying Information (ex. SSN’s or Driver License Numbers)
- Unexecuted Arrest Warrants
- Expunged Records
- Work Notes
- Law Enforcement Investigative Reports and Related Investigative Material- Including Dash Camera and Body Camera Video
- Information in Open Cases
- Documents Requested by Out of State Citizens
- Documents Not Requested for a “Legitimate Purpose”
