Butler County Arrest Records

Butler County arrest records are held by the Butler County Sheriff's Office. This agency runs the county jail and handles all bookings in the area. Greenville is the county seat. The main courthouse and sheriff's office are both there.

Butler County Sheriff's Office

The Butler County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. The sheriff handles arrests in areas outside city limits. He also runs the county jail. All local bookings go through there. Arrests made by Greenville Police get booked at the county jail too. Same goes for other city police in Butler County. The sheriff's office sits in Greenville, right near the courthouse.

Butler County Jail

The Butler County Jail is a smaller facility. It holds inmates awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. Like most rural Alabama county jails, it has limited space. Metro area jails are much bigger. The jail runs around the clock for booking and release. This is true even when the admin offices are closed. Need to check on someone who just got arrested? Calling the jail is often the fastest way to get info.

Butler County is one of many rural Alabama counties that does not have a public online inmate roster. So you will likely need to call the sheriff's office. Or visit in person. That is how you get booking info. Some smaller counties in Alabama have started posting inmate data online. It is worth checking if Butler County has added this. But for now, phone calls and in-person visits are the most reliable way to get current jail data.

How to Search Butler County Arrest Records

Call the Sheriff's Office

The most direct way to find out if someone is in Butler County Jail is to call. The number is (334) 382-6521. Ask for the jail division. Give them the name of the person you want to find. Staff can tell you if that person is in custody. They can share the charges and bond amount too. They may also know when someone was booked or let go. Keep in mind that very recent arrests may not be in the system yet. Processing takes time.

Alacourt Case Search

The Alacourt Public Access system is your best bet for court records. Use it once charges have been filed. Go to pa.alacourt.com. Pick Butler County from the list. Choose the case type you want (Criminal, Traffic, etc.). Then type in the name. Alacourt shows case numbers, charges, court dates, and outcomes. It is free. It covers all 67 Alabama counties. One thing to note: an arrest may not show up right away. It can take days or weeks for charges to be filed after an arrest.

VINELink Victim Notification

Butler County is part of the VINELink system. It lets you track an inmate and get alerts when things change. You can sign up for phone calls, emails, or texts. Get notified when someone is released, moved, or escapes. This is useful for crime victims. They often want to know when an offender gets out. The service is free. It runs around the clock. You can search by name to find people in Butler County custody.

In-Person Records Requests

For records you cannot get online or by phone, go in person. Visit the sheriff's office or the Circuit Clerk's office. Bring a valid ID. Be ready to say what records you need. Older records or detailed case files may take time to pull. They might be stored off-site or on microfilm. The clerk's office can make certified copies for a fee. Plan to arrive well before closing. Record searches can take a while.

Butler County Court Records

Butler County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Alabama. Crenshaw and Lowndes Counties are also in this circuit. Criminal cases from Butler County go to the circuit court in Greenville. Felony cases go to Circuit Court. Misdemeanors and preliminary hearings are handled in District Court. Court records include arrest warrants, charging papers, motions, and hearing transcripts. You can also find plea deals, trial records, and sentencing documents.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Butler County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all criminal case records. They handle public requests for copies. This office processes new case filings. They update dockets and track case outcomes. Need a certified copy of a court document? This is where you get it. The clerk can also tell you when the next hearing is set for a case.

District Court

Butler County District Court handles misdemeanor crimes and traffic violations. It also does preliminary hearings for felony cases. This court deals with small claims and some civil matters too. Cases that start in District Court may move up to Circuit Court. This happens when the charges are serious enough. District Court records are also on Alacourt.

About the 2nd Judicial Circuit

The 2nd Judicial Circuit covers Butler, Crenshaw, and Lowndes Counties in south-central Alabama. Circuit judges hear cases from all three counties. They rotate between courthouses. So the judge handling a Butler County case may also have cases in Hayneville or Luverne. Court schedules can be affected by this rotation. Check with the clerk if you need to know when a certain judge will be in Greenville.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Greenville Police Department

The Greenville Police Department handles law enforcement in the city limits. Arrests by Greenville PD get booked at the Butler County Jail. For records about Greenville Police cases or incident reports, contact their office.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

For a full criminal history report, you can ask ALEA for a background check. This covers arrests and convictions from across Alabama. It is more thorough than free online searches. ALEA needs fingerprints and charges $25. Results include statewide data that local searches might miss. You can submit requests by mail. Or go in person to ALEA offices in Montgomery.

Alabama Department of Corrections

If someone gets sentenced to state prison, they leave the county jail. They go to the Alabama Department of Corrections. The ADOC Inmate Search lets you look up state prison inmates by name. It is free. It shows where an inmate is housed, their sentence, and release date. County jail inmates are not in this system.

Federal Court Records

Butler County falls within the Middle District of Alabama for federal cases. Federal crimes are handled separately from state cases. They go through the federal courthouse in Montgomery. You can search federal court records through PACER. Federal inmates can be found using the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

Fees for Butler County Arrest Records

Most basic searches are free. You can call the sheriff's office at no cost. Alacourt and VINELink are free too. Fees come into play when you need certified copies or official background checks. The Circuit Clerk's office takes cash, checks, and money orders. Call ahead to confirm current fees. Payment methods can change.

Legal Framework for Public Records Access

Alabama law gives citizens the right to access public records. This includes arrest records. Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, every resident can inspect and copy any public writing of the state. There are some exceptions when a specific law says otherwise. This is what lets you request arrest records in Butler County and across Alabama. Agencies can charge fees for copies. But they cannot charge you just to look at records.

What Information Is Available

Public arrest records in Butler County usually include the name of the person arrested. They also show the date and time of arrest, charges at booking, and bond amount if set. The mugshot and arresting agency are often included too. After a case goes to court, more details come out. Court records show the formal charges, hearing dates, and plea entered. Trial info, verdicts, and sentences are there too. Not all of this may be available right away. Some records take time to become public.

Records That May Be Restricted

Some records are off limits. Juvenile records in Alabama are confidential under state law. If someone was under 18 at the time of arrest, those records are sealed. Expunged records are also not available. Court orders can seal certain records in specific cases. Active cases may have restricted info until an arrest occurs. Personal details like Social Security numbers and home addresses get removed from public documents. This is done for safety.

Expungement in Alabama

Alabama allows certain arrest records to be expunged. This means they are removed from public access. You may qualify if charges were dismissed. Or if you were found not guilty. Completing a diversion program like drug court can also make you eligible. Some misdemeanor and non-violent felony convictions can be expunged too. You have to wait a set period first. The process means filing a petition in circuit court. There is a $500 fee. If granted, the record is sealed. It will not show up in most background checks. Violent felonies and sex offenses cannot be expunged.

Tips for Searching Butler County Records

Finding arrest records in a rural county like Butler can take more effort. Big metro areas have more online tools. Here are some tips based on how things work in smaller Alabama counties.

Start with a phone call. Butler County does not have a public online inmate roster. So calling the sheriff's office is your quickest option. Have the full name ready. Also have the date of birth if you know it.

Check Alacourt even if the jail has no info. Someone may have been arrested and bonded out fast. Charges may already be filed in court. Alacourt updates often and covers the whole state.

Be patient with response times. Smaller sheriff's offices have fewer staff. They may not get back to you as fast as a large metro agency. If you leave a message, give them a day or two before calling again.

For older records, expect delays. Anything more than a few years old may need to be pulled from storage. Old records might be on paper or microfilm. The clerk's office can help. But they may need extra time.

Know the difference between jail and court records. The jail tracks who is in custody right now. Court records track the legal case. Someone can be out of jail but still have an open case in court.

Search Butler County Records

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

Cities in Butler County

Butler County has several smaller cities and towns. Greenville is the county seat and largest city. It has about 7,500 people. Other places include Georgiana, McKenzie, and Chapman. None of these cities are big enough for their own pages on this site. But all arrests in Butler County go through the Butler County Sheriff's Office and jail.

Residents of any Butler County city can get arrest records through the sheriff's office. Call (334) 382-6521. You can also search Alacourt for court case info. City police departments book people at the county jail. So the sheriff's office has booking info no matter which agency made the arrest.

Nearby Counties

Looking for arrest records in south-central Alabama? You may want to check these nearby counties too. Someone may have been arrested in a different area than you thought.