Records Request

Requests are submitted in person under Alabama’s Open Records Act — download the form, review the fee schedule, then bring both to 1900 Frederick Road.

Download the Request Form (PDF)

Costs

$1.00 first page, 50¢ each additional · $25.00 research fee over one hour · digital copies $5.00 up to 5 MB · cash or check only, in person. Full fee schedule below.

No email requests

PLEASE NOTE, DUE TO CYBER SECURITY AND SAFETY CONCERNS THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WILL NOT RESPOND BY WAY OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT OR OTHERWISE TO ANY REQUESTS OR INQUIRIES REGARDING PUBLIC RECORDS THAT ARE SUBMITTED VIA UNSOLICITED EMAILS OR OTHER ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS.

Full procedures (Open Records Act)

Policy statement

It is the policy of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to comply with Alabama’s Open Records Act, as amended by Ala. Act No. 2024-278, effective October 1, 2024, (“Open Records Act”) to allow Alabama residents, as defined below, to inspect and take a copy of public records within the custody and control of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, subject to the payment of reasonable fees and to appropriate protections for private, confidential, privileged, and other nonpublic information. An Alabama resident requesting to inspect and take a copy of a public record (a “Requester”) is required to comply with the procedures set forth below.

Alabama resident

Submission of request / proof of residency

All requests to inspect and take a copy of public records (“public records requests”) must be submitted using the Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s “Public Records Request Form,” a copy of which is attached to these procedures. The request must be accompanied by proof of the Requester’s status as an Alabama resident.

All requests and required documentation must be submitted by the Requester in person at the following location:

Submit in person

Lee County Sheriff’s Office · Administration Division – Public Records Request · 1900 Frederick Road, Opelika, AL 36801

Americans with Disabilities Act compliance

Date of receipt

Description of records requested

Requests must identify the requested public record with reasonable specificity. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s Administration Division is not obligated to respond to a request that is vague, ambiguous, overly broad, or unreasonable in scope, nor is the Lee County Administration Division obligated to respond to a request that seeks records that do not exist or materials that are not public records.

Exceptions to the Open Records Act

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
Criminal History Information
Identifying Information (ex. Social Security Numbers 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 Not Requested for a “Legitimate Purpose”

Remittance of administrative fees

A Requester will be required to pay estimated reasonable administrative fees before he or she may receive any public records and, in the case of a time-intensive request, i.e., a request that is estimated to require more than eight hours of staff time to process, prior to the initiation of a search for records responsive to the request. If the total fee associated with processing a request is more than the original estimated fee, any additional amount must be remitted before the requested records will be provided.

See the Lee County Sheriff’s Office “Public Records Request Fee Schedule” for costs associated with public records requests.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office will normally respond within 15 business days upon receiving a request. If additional time is needed, you will be notified in writing via mail or email if an extension is needed to fulfill your request.

Fees must be submitted in cash or check and in person to the following address: Lee County Sheriff’s Office, 1900 Frederick Road, Opelika, AL 36801

Questions regarding the procedures described herein should be directed to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Administration Division by calling 334-737-7107 or by forwarding your inquiry to the mailing address noted above.

Public Records Requests Fee Schedule

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is permitted by law to recoup reasonable costs incurred in providing public records which can include retrieval, research, and duplication and preparation time. The requester will be provided in advance with estimated cost for materials, labor and shipping or delivery. If you don’t know the name of the record, describe the information you believe is contained in it.

Not held by the Sheriff’s Office

*** Records related to Lee County Commission, Revenue Commission, or the Probate Court cannot be obtained from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Please contact these offices directly. ***

Standard Requests/Copies (8.5 x 11 in size) $1.00 for the first page and 50¢ each additional page.
A Research Fee in the amount of $25.00 will be charged on all requests estimated for over one hour to research and/or complete.
Digital Copies will be charged at a rate of $5.00 up to 5 MB and an additional $1/1MB thereafter up to a maximum of $50.00.
If the applicant requests the records be mailed or faxed, additional charges will apply. An itemized bill will be given to the applicant with payment due prior to release of the records.
Fees are due whether the records are provided by paper or electronically.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office may charge any actual costs incurred while processing or responding to a public-records request-for example, for a large capacity flash drive or other hardware necessary for electronically producing records, for special paper sizes, color copies and for costs associated with searching electronic databases-if the requester is informed of the cost in advance of being charged.

Inspection of public records

Labor for time-intensive requests

No labor charge is imposed when a nominal amount of staff time is needed to respond to a request. Requests requiring more than 15 minutes of staff time shall be charged at the hourly rate of the least-paid staff member of the applicable department who can respond to the request and is computed on the basis of quarter hours, rounded up. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office will not charge for legal review or redaction necessary to withhold legally protected information.

Labor charges are in addition to the per page cost specified above and are due and payable even if no records responsive to the request are located, or in the event the requested records are subsequently determined to be exempt from disclosure.

Deposit

Form of payment