Alabama § 36-21-55.3 Background Checks Required for Employment or Appointment of Law Enforcement Officers

Alabama Statutes

§ 36-21-55.3 — Background Checks Required for Employment or Appointment of Law Enforcement Officers

Alabama § 36-21-55.3

JurisdictionAlabama

Title 36Public Officers and Employees

Ch. 21Law Enforcement Officers Generally

Art. 3Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission

Div. 2Law Enforcement Officer Employment Database

This text of Alabama § 36-21-55.3 (Background Checks Required for Employment or Appointment of Law Enforcement Officers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Ala. Code § 36-21-55.3 (2026).

Text

(a)Prior to the employment or appointment of a law enforcement officer, a law enforcement agency shall do all of the following:

(1)Conduct a fingerprint-based state and national criminal background check that shall be completed by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) for purposes of determining suitability for employment or appointment.

(2)Review the current and prior law enforcement officer employment history confirmed through access of the information in the database as required by subsection (e) of Section 36-21-55.1.

(3)Review current and previous residential addresses of the law enforcement officer.

(4)Review reportable offenses, if any, against the law enforcement officer while appointed or employed with any other law enforcement agency confirmed through access of the

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

(a) Prior to the employment or appointment of a law enforcement officer, a law enforcement agency shall do all of the following:
(1) Conduct a fingerprint-based state and national criminal background check that shall be completed by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) for purposes of determining suitability for employment or appointment.
(2) Review the current and prior law enforcement officer employment history confirmed through access of the information in the database as required by subsection (e) of Section 36-21-55.1.
(3) Review current and previous residential addresses of the law enforcement officer.
(4) Review reportable offenses, if any, against the law enforcement officer while appointed or employed with any other law enforcement agency confirmed through access of the information in the database as required by subdivision (a)(1) of Section 36-21-55.1.
(5) Review available social media accounts of the law enforcement officer.
(6) Review professional references provided by the law enforcement officer.
(7) Review disciplinary action as defined in Section 36-21-55 taken against the law enforcement officer while in secondary and postsecondary school confirmed by telephone or electronic or other means.
(8) Review a full report of the law enforcement officer’s credit history provided by the law enforcement officer.
(b) A law enforcement officer shall sign a written release authorizing a law enforcement agency to obtain the pre-employment check information listed in subsection (a).
(c) A law enforcement agency shall complete an investigation validating any additional information provided by the law enforcement officer.
(d)(1) Results of the criminal background check received by the hiring or appointing law enforcement agency shall be confidential and may not be deemed a public record, disclosed to any individual beyond those with authorized access, or disclosed under the Alabama Open Records Act.
(2) The employing or appointing law enforcement agencies shall comply with rules of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the use of criminal records. Any person who releases or discloses records in violation of these rules or subdivision (1), upon conviction, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.