Access Bullock County Arrest Records

Bullock County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office. They run the county jail in Union Springs. This rural county sits in southeast Alabama. It's part of the 5th Judicial Circuit and handles arrest processing for the whole county.

Bullock County Sheriff's Office

The Bullock County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. They also run the county jail. All arrests here go through this office. It doesn't matter if sheriff's deputies or other agencies made the arrest. The jail is a smaller facility that serves the rural population. Booking records are kept at the sheriff's office. Bullock County is one of the smaller counties in Alabama. They don't have an online inmate roster. You'll need to call or visit in person to get current jail info.

Bullock County Jail

The Bullock County Jail is in Union Springs. It holds people arrested in the county. The jail keeps inmates waiting for court dates. It also holds people who can't make bail. Some inmates serve short sentences for misdemeanors here. Booking takes a few hours. During that time, the person may not show up in any records system. The jail runs around the clock for intake and release. But you should make admin requests during normal business hours.

Want to know if someone is in custody at the Bullock County Jail? Call the sheriff's office at (334) 738-2690. Staff can tell you if someone is being held there. They can also give you basic booking info like charges and bond amount. If you need detailed records or copies of booking documents, you may have to send a written request. Or you can go there in person.

How to Search Bullock County Arrest Records

Phone Inquiry

Bullock County doesn't have an online inmate roster. So the best way to check on someone's arrest status is to call the sheriff's office. Have the full name and date of birth ready when you call. Staff can tell you if that person is in custody. They can also tell you what charges they face. This works best for current inmates. For old arrest info, you may need to make a formal records request.

Alacourt Case Search

The Alacourt Public Access system lets you search court records statewide. That includes Bullock County. Once an arrest leads to charges being filed, the case shows up in this database. Go to pa.alacourt.com. Select Bullock County from the list. Pick the case type like Criminal or Traffic. Then enter the name or case number. You can see charges filed, court dates, and case status. It also shows how the case ended. This is free to use. You don't need an account.

Keep in mind there's usually a delay. An arrest won't show up in Alacourt right away. The prosecutor has to review the case first. Then they file charges. Only then does it appear. An arrest from last week might not be in the court system yet. Want to know if someone is in jail right now? Call the sheriff's office directly.

VINELink Notifications

Bullock County uses the VINELink victim notification system. This free service sends you alerts when an inmate's status changes. You can get notified by phone, email, or text. The system tells you when someone is released, moved, or escapes custody. This helps a lot if you need to know when a specific person gets out. Signing up takes just a few minutes. The service runs around the clock.

In-Person Records Requests

Can't get records by phone or online? Go to the sheriff's office in person. Bring a valid ID. Be ready to fill out a records request form. The office can give you copies of arrest reports and booking documents. They can also provide other public records. Older records might take time to find. Call ahead and let them know what you need. There may be fees for copies.

Written Public Records Request

Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, you can request public records in writing. Send a letter to the sheriff's office or the Circuit Clerk. Say what records you need. Include as much detail as you can. That means full name and date of arrest if you know it. Add the case number if you have it. Put your contact info in there too. The agency has a fair amount of time to respond. They may charge for copies. This works well when you need official documents or records from a certain time.

Bullock County Court Records

Criminal cases in Bullock County go to the 5th Judicial Circuit Court. This court also covers Macon, Chambers, Randolph, and Tallapoosa counties. The Circuit Court handles all felony cases. The District Court deals with misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings. Court records include charging documents and motions filed by both sides. You'll also find hearing transcripts and the final outcome. These become public once the case is filed. Some documents may be sealed by court order though.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Bullock County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court records. They also handle requests for copies and certified documents. This office deals with criminal case filings. They keep the court docket too. They can give case info to the public. Need official copies of court documents for legal purposes? This is where to go.

District Court

Bullock County District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felonies. This court sees lots of traffic cases and minor offenses. Preliminary hearings decide if there's enough evidence to send a felony case to Circuit Court for trial. The District Court is in the same courthouse building.

5th Judicial Circuit

Bullock County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit. It's one of the larger circuits in Alabama. It covers five counties. Circuit court judges rotate among the counties on a set schedule. That means court sessions in Bullock County happen on certain days. They don't run every day. Check with the Circuit Clerk's office for the current court calendar. Do this if you need to attend a hearing or want to know when a case will be heard.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

Need a full criminal history report? You can request a background check through ALEA. This gives you more than online searches show. It pulls records from across the state. The ALEA check needs fingerprints and costs $25. You can mail your request to ALEA Criminal Records Unit, P.O. Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102-1511. Or go in person to their Montgomery office at 301 S. Ripley Street.

Federal Court Records

Federal crimes in Bullock County fall under the Middle District of Alabama. The headquarters is in Montgomery. Federal cases include drug trafficking across state lines and bank robbery. They also cover federal firearms charges and crimes on federal property. These cases are totally separate from state court. Search federal court records through the PACER system. You can find federal inmates using the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Alabama Department of Corrections

Has someone been convicted of a felony and sent to state prison? They'll be in the Alabama Department of Corrections system. The ADOC Inmate Search lets you look up state prisoners by name or AIS number. This database shows where they are now. It also shows sentence length and projected release date. It doesn't include county jail inmates. Only those doing time in state prison facilities.

Sex Offender Registry

The Alabama Sex Offender Registry is run by ALEA. It tracks sex offenders statewide. You can search by name or address to find offenders in Bullock County. The registry shows offense info, photos, and current address. You can sign up for alerts when an offender moves into your area.

Fees for Bullock County Arrest Records

Most basic searches are free. You can call the sheriff's office at no cost. You can search Alacourt for free. Viewing records in person costs nothing. Fees kick in when you need copies. Certified copies for legal use cost more. The Circuit Clerk charges per page for certified copies. County offices usually take cash, checks, and money orders. Some may take credit cards. Call ahead to make sure.

Legal Framework for Public Records Access

Alabama law gives the public broad rights to access government records. That includes arrest records. Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, every citizen can inspect and copy any public writing. The only exception is when another law limits access. This is the legal basis for getting arrest records in Bullock County and all of Alabama.

What Information Is Available

Public arrest records in Bullock County usually include the name of the arrested person. You'll find the date and time of arrest, charges at booking, and bond amount. The mugshot photo is there if one was taken. The arresting agency is listed too. Once a case goes to court, more info becomes public. That includes charges filed, hearing dates, and the plea entered. Trial info, verdict, and sentence are also available. Booking logs (also called jailer's logbooks) are public under Alabama law.

Records That May Be Restricted

Not everything is public though. Juvenile records are private under Alabama law. See Alabama Code § 12-15-102 for details. Records of people under 18 who did delinquent acts aren't open to the public. Sealed or expunged records are removed from public view. Active investigation files may be held back until an arrest is made. Some personal info may be blacked out from documents you get. That includes things like Social Security numbers and home addresses.

Expungement in Alabama

Alabama allows expungement of some arrest records. You may qualify if charges were dropped. You may also qualify if you were found not guilty. Finishing a diversion program like drug court can make you eligible too. Some misdemeanor and non-violent felony convictions may qualify after a wait. The process means filing a petition in the circuit court where the case was heard. There's a $500 filing fee. You can ask for a waiver if you can't afford it.

If expungement is granted, the record gets sealed from public view. You usually don't have to tell employers about expunged records on job forms. But law enforcement can still see them. People applying for peace officer jobs must disclose them. Violent felonies, sex offenses, and certain serious crimes can't be expunged.

Search Bullock County Records

Use the search tool below to find arrest records and other public records in Bullock County and across Alabama.

Cities and Towns in Bullock County

Bullock County is a rural county. It has a small population spread across several towns. Union Springs is the county seat. That's where the courthouse and sheriff's office are. All arrests in the county go through the Bullock County Sheriff's Office. It doesn't matter where in the county the arrest happens.

Union Springs is the largest town in the county. About 3,000 people live there. Other communities include Midway, Fitzpatrick, and Inverness. These places are small. None of them have their own arrest record pages. If you live anywhere in Bullock County, use the county-level resources above to find arrest records.

Nearby Counties

Looking for arrest records in southeast Alabama? You may want to check these nearby counties too. Someone arrested near the county line could end up in a neighboring county's jail.