Find Arrest Records in Blount County

The Blount County Sheriff's Office keeps all arrest records for the county. They are the main law enforcement agency here. The county seat is Oneonta, in north-central Alabama.

Blount County Sheriff's Office

The Blount County Sheriff's Office runs law enforcement for areas outside city limits. They also run the county jail. All arrests in the county go through the jail in Oneonta. It does not matter if a deputy or city cop made the arrest. The sheriff's office gives the public a few ways to get arrest and inmate info. Deputies patrol rural roads and take calls across the county. Town police handle their own areas.

Blount County Jail

The Blount County Jail is where all arrests get booked. People stay here until they post bond or get moved. Intake runs around the clock. New arrests show up in the system at all hours. When someone bonds out or gets released, that goes into the records too. The jail holds people waiting for trial. It also holds those doing short time for misdemeanors. You can visit inmates during set hours. The jail has phone and commissary services for those locked up.

How to Search Blount County Arrest Records

Contact the Sheriff's Office

The Blount County Sheriff's Office can give you info on current inmates and recent arrests. Call them or stop by in person. Bring the full name and date of birth if you have it. Staff can tell you if the person is locked up. They will share the charges and bond amount. For older records or more details, you may need to file a formal request.

Alacourt Case Search

For court records on criminal cases, use the Alacourt Public Access system. This statewide database covers all Alabama counties. You can search by name or case number. Go to the site and pick Blount County. Select Criminal as the case type. Type in the name you want. Results show charges, hearing dates, plea info, and how the case turned out. Alacourt is free. You do not need to sign up for an account.

Alacourt shows cases after they get filed with the court. So there is a gap. An arrest happens, but the case takes time to show up. For very recent arrests, check back in a few days. You can also call the court clerk to ask if charges were filed yet.

VINELink Custody Notifications

Want to know when an inmate gets out or moves? Sign up for VINELink alerts. This free service sends you a call, email, or text when something changes. Crime victims use this a lot. It keeps them informed without calling the jail every day. The system runs around the clock. It covers all Alabama counties, including Blount.

In-Person Records Requests

Some records are not online or over the phone. You have to go in person. Head to the sheriff's office or the courthouse. Bring a valid photo ID. Be ready to explain what you need. Staff can help you find the right place and forms. Some records are stored offsite or in archives. Those take more time to pull. Be patient. Check back if you have to.

Blount County Court Records

Criminal cases in Blount County go through the 27th Judicial Circuit Court. Blount shares this circuit with Marshall County. Some judges and prosecutors work cases in both places. The Circuit Court takes felony cases. District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and first hearings on bigger charges. Both courts keep records. Once a case gets filed, those records become public.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Blount County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court records for criminal cases. This is the place to go for copies of court papers. You can check case status or find out when hearings are set. Need a certified copy for legal use? The clerk's office can do that for a fee. Regular copies cost less. Not sure where to start? The clerk can point you in the right way.

District Court

Blount County District Court handles the smaller criminal stuff. Most people picked up on minor charges end up here. Think misdemeanors and traffic tickets. These do not go to Circuit Court. District Court also does first hearings on felony cases. Those then move up to Circuit Court. You can search District Court cases on Alacourt. Just pick the District Court option when you search.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Oneonta Police Department

Oneonta Police is the biggest city police force in Blount County. They make arrests in city limits. But those people still get booked at the Blount County Jail. Same as anyone else. Need records from an Oneonta Police case or incident report? Contact that department. For jail and booking records, go to the sheriff's office.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

Want a full criminal history from across Alabama? Request a background check through ALEA. This is more complete than what the county sheriff or court gives you. You have to submit fingerprints and pay $25. What you get back shows statewide criminal history. Not just Blount County stuff. People use this for job screening, licenses, and volunteer work.

Alabama Department of Corrections

If someone gets sent to state prison, they leave the county jail. They go to a state facility run by Alabama Department of Corrections. The county no longer tracks where they are. Use the ADOC Inmate Search to find people doing state time. It shows current location, sentence length, and when they might get out.

Federal Court Records

Blount County falls under the Northern District of Alabama for federal court. If someone got arrested on federal charges, those records will not show in the county system. Federal cases are kept separate from state cases. Search federal court records through PACER. There is a small fee per page to view docs. Some basic searches are free though.

Fees for Blount County Arrest Records

Processing Times

Alacourt is the fastest way to get court case info. You can search it any time from any computer. For records not online, plan ahead. Give yourself extra time. The clerk's office and sheriff's office are both closed weekends and state holidays.

Legal Framework for Arrest Records Access

Alabama law gives you the right to see government records. That includes arrest records and court docs. Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, any citizen can look at and copy public state records. Some things are blocked by other laws. But arrest records and court files are open to anyone who asks.

What Information Is Available

Public arrest records in Blount County usually show the name of the person arrested. They also list the date and time of arrest, charges at booking, bond amount, arresting agency, and mugshot photos. Once a case hits the court system, you can find more. Look for formal charges, hearing dates, trial dates, plea info, verdict, and sentence. Booking info comes from the jail. Case details come from the court system.

Records That May Be Restricted

Not all records are open to the public. Juvenile arrest and court records are sealed under Alabama law. If a record got expunged by court order, it will not show up in searches. Details on ongoing cases may be held back until an arrest is made. Personal info like Social Security numbers and license numbers get blacked out. This stops identity theft.

Expungement in Alabama

Alabama lets some arrest records get expunged. That means they get sealed from public view. You may qualify if charges were dropped. You may qualify if you were found not guilty. Finishing a pretrial diversion program counts too. Some non-violent crimes can be expunged after a waiting period. You file a petition with the Circuit Court. The filing fee is $500. The court looks at your petition. They may hold a hearing. If the judge says yes, your arrest record gets pulled from public databases. It should not show on most background checks.

Not every arrest can be expunged. Violent felonies usually cannot. Most sex crimes cannot either. Think you might qualify? Talk to a lawyer. Or contact Legal Services Alabama. They can tell you if your case works and how to file.

Legal Resources in Blount County

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help to people who cannot pay for a lawyer. They help with civil matters like expungement petitions. They can explain criminal records and link you to other resources. Need help with the legal system but no money for an attorney? This is a good place to start.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

Need to hire a private attorney? The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service. Call their hotline. They will connect you with attorneys in Blount County who do criminal defense, expungement, and related work. There is usually a small fee for the first meeting.

Search Blount County Records

Use the search tool below to look up arrest records and public records in Blount County and across Alabama.

Cities in Blount County

Blount County has a few incorporated towns. Oneonta is the county seat and the biggest. Other places include Cleveland, Hayden, Locust Fork, Snead, Altoona, Susan Moore, and Blountsville. None of these cities hit 100,000 people. So they do not have their own pages on this site. But residents of all these towns can get arrest records through the Blount County Sheriff's Office. All arrests by city police in Blount County go through the county jail.

Looking for someone arrested in one of these towns? The Blount County jail and court system has those records. City police may keep their own incident reports and case files. But booking and custody records go through the county.

Nearby Counties

Blount County sits in north-central Alabama. It borders several other counties. Need to search arrest records in nearby areas? Pick a county below.