Birmingham Bench Warrants

Birmingham bench warrants are issued when someone fails to appear in court or does not comply with a court order. Birmingham Municipal Court handles city ordinance cases. Jefferson County has two court divisions: Birmingham and Bessemer. Most Birmingham residents use the Birmingham Division for county-level felonies and misdemeanors. Contact the court clerk to check for active warrants.

What Is a Bench Warrant?

A bench warrant is a court order. The judge issues it from the bench. It tells police to arrest you and bring you to court. This is not for a new crime. A bench warrant is for failing to follow court rules. Miss a court date in Birmingham? You may have one now.

Under Code of Alabama Section 15-10-60, a bench warrant directs officers to arrest and bring a person before the court. Once signed, it becomes active. Birmingham Police can act on it any time. They can find you at home, at work, or during a traffic stop.

Birmingham bench warrants are issued for:

• Failure to appear for court
• Failure to pay fines
• Failure to pay court costs
• Failure to complete probation
• Contempt of court
• Violation of bond conditions

Felony bench warrants never expire. They stay active for life. Misdemeanor warrants last 180 days to one year but can be renewed. A bench warrant in Birmingham will not go away. You must deal with it yourself.

Birmingham Municipal Court Bench Warrants

Birmingham Municipal Court issues bench warrants for city violations only. The court handles traffic tickets from Birmingham Police, code violations, and local ordinance cases. If you missed a court date for a city ticket, the judge likely issued a bench warrant.

Municipal court does not handle felonies. It does not handle most state crimes. The court covers city traffic tickets, parking violations, noise complaints, and code enforcement. These stay at the city level. Birmingham has nine specialized courts, including Traffic Court and Veterans Treatment Court. Each can issue bench warrants for failures to appear.

Birmingham also has a Magistrate Office for after-hours matters. It is at 808 18th Street North. The phone is (205) 297-8263. Hours are 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on weekdays. If you need to deal with a warrant outside normal court hours, this may be an option.

Jefferson County Two Division System

Jefferson County is unique in Alabama. It has two separate court divisions. The Birmingham Division serves the eastern part of the county. The Bessemer Division serves the western part. Each has its own Circuit Clerk and courthouse. You must go to the right division for your case.

Most Birmingham residents use the Birmingham Division. If you were arrested in Birmingham proper, your case is likely there. The Birmingham Division courthouse is at 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N. The Circuit Clerk is Jackie Anderson-Smith. Her office is in Room 420.

Some Birmingham neighborhoods are in the Bessemer Division area. If you are unsure which division handles your case, call before you go. The Birmingham Division number is (205) 325-5355. The Bessemer Division number is (205) 497-8510. The clerk can tell you where your case is filed.

Birmingham Division:

• 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Room 420
• Phone: (205) 325-5355
• Serves eastern Jefferson County

Bessemer Division:

• 1851 2nd Ave N, Bessemer, AL 35020
• Phone: (205) 497-8510
• Serves western Jefferson County

Municipal vs County Bench Warrants

Birmingham has two court systems that issue bench warrants. You need to know which one issued yours. The steps to clear it depend on the court. Here is the difference.

Birmingham Municipal Court handles:

• City traffic violations
• City ordinance violations
• Code enforcement cases
• Parking tickets

Jefferson County Circuit and District Courts handle:

• Felony charges
• Misdemeanor crimes
• Drug offenses
• DUI cases
• Theft and assault

A city bench warrant stays with municipal court. A county bench warrant is in the state court system. Both lead to arrest. Both show up when police run your name. The sheriff serves county warrants. Birmingham Police can arrest on any warrant. Check both courts if you are not sure.

Jefferson County issues over 20,000 warrants each year. The sheriff serves over 250,000 civil processes annually. This is a busy court system. If you have an old case you never finished, there may be a warrant out for you.

How to Search Birmingham Bench Warrants

There is no free online search for Birmingham bench warrants. Alabama does not have a public warrant database. You must contact the court or sheriff to check. Here are the ways to search in Birmingham.

Call Municipal Court: Phone (205) 254-2161 and ask the clerk to check. Give your full name and date of birth. The clerk can tell you if you have a municipal warrant. This is free and covers city violations only.

Call Circuit Clerk: Phone (205) 325-5355 for the Birmingham Division or (205) 497-8510 for Bessemer Division. Staff can check for county-level warrants. This covers felonies and misdemeanors.

Call Sheriff Warrants Division: Phone (205) 325-5725 for the Jefferson County Sheriff warrant office. Officers can check the system for your name. The main address is 801 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd.

Use AlacourtAccess: Go to pa.alacourt.com to search state court records. A name search costs $9.99. You can see case status and pending matters. This may not show all active warrants but gives you case info.

Hire an Attorney: A lawyer can check all systems for you. They can also appear in court on your behalf in some cases. This is the safest option if you expect to find a warrant.

Note: Cell phones are not allowed in the Criminal Justice Center. Leave yours in the car if you visit in person.

How to Clear a Birmingham Bench Warrant

A bench warrant stays active until you deal with it. You cannot wait it out. You have options. The right choice depends on your case. Here is how to clear a bench warrant in Birmingham.

Turn yourself in: Go to the court that issued the warrant. Bring your ID. The judge will either set a new date or handle your case. You may need to post bond. You may stay in jail until a hearing. This is the direct approach.

Contact an attorney: A lawyer can file a motion to recall the warrant. They may get a new court date without you being arrested first. This costs money but gives you control. The lawyer can also negotiate on your behalf.

Post bond: If bond is set on your warrant, you can pay it. Call the court for the amount. Once paid, the warrant is lifted. You get a new court date. You can pay at the jail or use a bondsman.

Call the clerk: For municipal warrants, call (205) 254-2161. Explain your situation. Ask about options. The clerk may set a new court date. They know what the judge needs to clear the warrant.

Do not ignore the warrant. Do not drive around hoping you do not get stopped. Any police contact can end with arrest. A simple traffic stop becomes a trip to jail. Deal with the warrant before that happens.

Birmingham Bench Warrant Fees

A bench warrant adds fees to your case. You already owed something. Now you owe more. Here are the fees you may face with a bench warrant in Birmingham.

Bond amounts vary by charge and history. Minor cases may have bonds under $500. Serious charges can be $10,000 or more. Call the court for your specific bond amount.

If you cannot pay, ask about a payment plan. Birmingham courts can set up monthly payments in some cases. You may also ask for community service. You must request these options. The court will not offer them without you asking.

Birmingham Police Department

Birmingham Police enforce all warrants in the city. Officers run checks during traffic stops and other contacts. If you have a bench warrant, it shows up when they run your name. Any contact can lead to arrest.

Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama by metro area. The police department is busy. They work with the sheriff and other agencies. Warrant info is shared through the state LETS system. If you have a Birmingham warrant and travel elsewhere, police can still see it.

Under Code of Alabama Section 15-10-2, officers can serve warrants any day at any time. There is no safe period. They do not wait for business hours. They can come to your home at night if they want to.

Jefferson County Circuit Court

Jefferson County Circuit Court handles felonies, misdemeanors, and civil cases. The county is the largest in Alabama by population. The court system has two divisions. Birmingham Division handles most cases for Birmingham residents. The courthouse is downtown.

Jefferson County is part of the 10th Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Clerk for Birmingham Division is Jackie Anderson-Smith. For Bessemer Division, it is Karen Dunn Burks. Each office keeps its own records. Make sure you contact the right one for your case.

View Jefferson County Bench Warrants

About Birmingham

Birmingham is the largest metro area in Alabama. About 196,000 people live in the city proper. It is the historic epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing happened here in 1963. Dr. King wrote his famous letter from Birmingham Jail here.

Today Birmingham is a major medical and banking center. UAB is the largest employer in Alabama. The city has a busy court system. With this many people and cases, warrants are common. If you had a case years ago and never finished it, there may be one waiting for you.

The two-division court system can be confusing. If you lived in different parts of Jefferson County, you may have cases in both divisions. Check each one. A warrant in Bessemer is just as valid as one in Birmingham proper.

Nearby Cities

These Alabama cities are in or near Jefferson County. Each has its own municipal court. If you had a case in one of these places, check there for warrants too.

• Hoover - Also in Jefferson County (and Shelby County)
• Tuscaloosa - Tuscaloosa County, 55 miles southwest
• Montgomery - State capital, 90 miles south