Search Chambers County Arrest Records

Chambers County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Lafayette. That's the county seat. This east Alabama county sits along the Georgia state line. All arrest bookings go through the county detention facility.

Chambers County Sheriff's Office

The Chambers County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the rural parts of the county. They also run the county jail. All arrest records, booking data, and inmate info are kept at the Sheriff's Office in Lafayette. The office does patrol work, criminal cases, court security, and civil papers across the county. Staff can help with records requests during normal hours.

Chambers County Jail

The Chambers County Jail holds people waiting for trial. It also holds those serving time under one year. People being moved to state prison after a conviction stay here too. The jail is near the courthouse in Lafayette. When someone gets arrested in Chambers County, they go to this jail for booking. That means fingerprints, photos, and writing down personal info along with the charges.

The jail staff handles new arrests around the clock. But things like records requests only happen during regular work hours. Need to check on someone who was just arrested? You can call the jail or go in person. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody right now. They can also give basic booking info over the phone for recent arrests.

Requesting Arrest Records

The Chambers County Sheriff's Office handles public records requests for arrest info. You have a few ways to get records. It depends on what you need and how fast you need it. The office takes care of most requests during work hours on weekdays.

In-Person Requests

Go to the Sheriff's Office at 102 Courthouse Square in Lafayette during work hours. Bring a photo ID with you. Give the staff as much info as you can about the person and arrest. This means full name, date of birth, and arrest date if you know it. Simple requests can often be done while you wait. Bigger searches may take a day or two.

Phone Requests

Call the Sheriff's Office at (334) 864-4333 during work hours. Phone calls work well for basic questions. Is someone in custody? Was there a recent booking? For more detailed records or official copies, you'll likely need to send a written request or come in person. Staff can tell you what's available and what fees apply.

Written Requests

Mail a written request to the Sheriff's Office at the address above. Include the person's full name and date of birth if you know it. Add the arrest date and what records you need. Put your return address and payment for any fees. Written requests take about 5 to 10 work days. This can change based on how busy they are and how hard the search is.

What Information You Can Get

The Sheriff's Office can give you copies of arrest reports, booking records, incident reports, and related papers for public cases. Some info may not be available due to state law. This includes juvenile records, sealed records, and some personal details. Files from active cases may be off limits until the case closes. Staff can tell you what's available when you ask.

VINELink Victim Notification System

Chambers County is part of the Alabama VINE program. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. This free service lets crime victims track an offender's custody status. Other people who are concerned can use it too. Sign up to get alerts when an inmate is let out, moved, or escapes.

VINELink runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can sign up on the VINELink website or call their toll-free line. When you sign up, you pick how you want to hear from them. You can get phone calls, emails, or texts. This gives victims peace of mind when they need to know about custody changes.

How to Sign Up for VINE Alerts

Go to VINELink.com and search for the person by name. Once you find them, sign up to get alerts. You'll need to give your contact info and make an account. It only takes a few minutes. There's no cost. You can change how you get alerts or cancel any time through your account.

Chambers County Circuit Court

Chambers County is part of Alabama's 5th Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases that go past the arrest phase are handled by Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk keeps records of all criminal cases. This includes felonies, appeals, and other serious matters. The courthouse is in downtown Lafayette.

Alacourt Access Online System

Alabama has a statewide court records system called Alacourt Access. It gives online access to circuit and district court records for Chambers County. You can search by name, case number, or other details. The system shows case dockets, filing dates, hearing times, and final results. Full access costs a fee. But some basic info may be free at public terminals in the courthouse.

District Court

Misdemeanor cases in Chambers County go through District Court. These are less serious crimes. Think DUI, minor drug charges, simple assault, petty theft, and traffic violations. District Court records are on Alacourt Access too. You can also contact the District Clerk at the courthouse. Most criminal cases are misdemeanors, so District Court handles a lot of them.

Other Places to Find Arrest Records

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

Need a statewide criminal background check? ALEA can do that. It covers Chambers County and all of Alabama. This agency is the main spot where criminal history data gets stored in the state. Getting a check through ALEA means fingerprints and a fee. This works well when you need a full history, not just records from one county.

Valley Police Department

Valley has its own police department. They handle arrests in the city limits. Valley is the biggest city in Chambers County. People arrested by Valley police usually go to the Chambers County Jail. But the arrest report may stay with the Valley Police Department. For records of stuff that happened in Valley, call their police department.

Lanett Police Department

Lanett has its own police department too. It's separate from the Sheriff's Office. Arrests in Lanett are handled by Lanett police. Like Valley, people who get arrested go to the Chambers County Jail for booking. But Lanett Police keeps the arrest reports for things that happen in their area.

Lafayette Police Department

Lafayette is the county seat. It has its own police force too. The Lafayette Police Department handles law enforcement inside the city. You can get arrest reports for Lafayette from their police department. City police and the Sheriff's Office work together. But they keep separate records for their own areas.

Fees for Records Requests

Chambers County charges fees for copies of arrest records. The fees cover the cost of finding and copying records. Here's what you might pay:

They usually take cash, money orders, or cashier's checks. Some offices may take credit cards for some requests. Call ahead to check fees and how to pay. Fees can change, so it's good to confirm first.

Alabama Laws on Arrest Records

Getting arrest records in Chambers County follows Alabama state law. Knowing these rules helps you see what's available. It also shows what limits may apply to your request.

Public Records Law

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, every citizen can look at and copy public records. Arrest records are usually public in Alabama. That means most booking info, charges, and case results are open to the public. But some info may be blocked. This includes open cases, juvenile records, and sealed court files.

Criminal History Records

Alabama Code Sections 41-9-590 through 41-9-646 cover the Criminal Justice Information Center. These laws explain how criminal history data gets collected. ALEA is the main place where this info is stored. They get arrest data from local agencies like the Chambers County Sheriff's Office. This central system makes statewide background checks work.

Expungement Rules

Under Alabama Code Section 15-27-1 and Section 15-27-2, people can ask to have certain arrest records expunged. That means sealed from public view. Expungement works for charges that were dropped, ended in acquittal, or never went to court. Some misdemeanors and non-violent felonies may qualify too, after a waiting period. Once a record is expunged, the public can't see it. But law enforcement can still access it for official use.

Juvenile Records Protection

Alabama Code Section 12-15-136 keeps juvenile records private. Arrest records for people under 18 at the time are not open to the public. To get juvenile records, you need a court order. Close family members may have some access rights though.

Cities in Chambers County

Chambers County has several towns. None are big enough to hit 100,000 people. The main cities are Valley, Lanett, and Lafayette. Valley is the largest with about 9,500 people. Lanett has around 6,000. Lafayette, the county seat, has about 2,800.

Each of these cities has its own police department. They handle arrests in city limits. But booking usually happens at the Chambers County Jail, no matter who made the arrest. For records, you may need to call both places. Try the city police who made the arrest and the Sheriff's Office that has the booking records.

Smaller spots in Chambers County include Five Points and parts of West Point near the Georgia line. The Chambers County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in these areas.

Nearby Counties

Can't find the arrest records you need in Chambers County? The arrest may have happened in a nearby county. Each county keeps its own arrest records through its Sheriff's Office. Chambers County borders several other Alabama counties. It also sits on the Georgia state line to the east.