Find Arrest Records in Cherokee County

Cherokee County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Centre, Alabama. The jail holds inmates for the county, local towns, the state, and the U.S. Marshal Service. Sheriff Jeff Shaver runs all law enforcement in the county. This includes the jail. An online inmate roster is on the Sheriff's Office website. It gets updated often as bookings and releases happen. The 9th Judicial Circuit Court handles criminal cases after charges are filed. Those records are searchable through Alacourt.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. It runs the jail in Centre. Sheriff Jeff Shaver leads the department. Chief Deputy Josh Summerford serves as Assistant Sheriff and handles daily operations. The office takes care of patrol, investigations, court security, lake patrol, K9 work, and jail duties. Staff can help with general questions Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Dispatch is open around the clock for emergencies.

Online Inmate Roster

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office has a free online inmate roster at cherokeecountyalsheriff.com/roster.php. The roster shows everyone held at the jail right now. You can view the full list or sort by booking date. Each inmate profile has their name, booking photo, booking number, age, gender, race, address, booking date and time, charges, and bond amount. A separate section shows inmates let out in the past 48 hours.

To use the roster, go to the Sheriff's Office website. Click on "Inmate Search" or "View All Inmates" in the menu. You can sort results by last name or by most recent booking date. Click on an inmate's name to see the full details of their charges and bond info. The system is updated many times a day as new bookings come in and inmates get released.

Cherokee County Detention Center

The Cherokee County Detention Center opened in October 1996. It got a renovation in 2004. The jail is the main holding spot for the county and houses both male and female adults. It holds people for Cherokee County, local city police, Alabama state agencies, and the U.S. Marshal Service on federal holds. Sierra Wilks is the Chief of Corrections. She runs the day-to-day work at the jail.

Visitation

Cherokee County Detention Center uses video visits only. In-person visits are not allowed. Video visits are open seven days a week. To set up a visit, you must first make an account at inmatesales.com or call 1-877-998-5678. Visits must be set up ahead of time through the online system. There are fees for video visits. Check the inmate sales website for current prices and open time slots.

Bond Information

The Cherokee County Detention Center takes several bond types for inmate release. Property bonds work with the right paperwork. Cash bonds can be paid online at cashbondonline.com or by phone at 1-888-726-6301. Bail bond companies can also post bonds for inmates. Three bonding companies work in Cherokee County: Regional Bail Bonds, Rush Bail Bonds, and Connies Bail Bonding. Call the jail at (256) 927-6435 for bond amounts or to check an inmate's bond status.

Inmate Services

Inmates at the Cherokee County Detention Center can use several services. Add commissary funds with the Legacy Cashier machine at the jail or online at jailatm.com. Add phone account funds through the CPC kiosk in the lobby or at cpcjail.com. Southern Health Partners handles medical care. Their staff is there from 7 AM to 5 PM daily. A work release program is open to non-violent offenders who qualify. Ask jail staff about mail policies.

Court Records and Case Information

Criminal charges filed in Cherokee County go through the 9th Judicial Circuit Court. The Circuit Court covers felony cases. The District Court handles misdemeanors and traffic violations. Circuit Clerk Dwayne Amos keeps all court records at the Cherokee County Courthouse. Both courts share the same building in Centre.

Cherokee County Circuit Court

Alacourt Case Search

The Alacourt Public Access portal gives free online access to court case records for Cherokee County and all other Alabama counties. To search for criminal cases, go to pa.alacourt.com. Select Cherokee County from the dropdown. Choose Criminal as the case type and enter the person's name. Results show case numbers, charges filed, hearing dates, and case status. You can view case details, scheduled hearings, and final outcomes at no charge.

For official certified copies of court documents, you must contact the Circuit Clerk's office. A Request for Records form is on the Cherokee County Alacourt website. The clerk's office can give you copies of judgments, sentencing orders, and other court documents. Fees apply for certified copies. The law says the Circuit Clerk cannot give legal advice. Questions about specific cases should go to an attorney.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Alabama VINE

The Alabama VINE system lets you track inmates in Cherokee County custody. You get alerts when their status changes. This free service sends updates by phone, email, or text when an inmate is released, moved, or escapes. Sign up at the website or call 1-877-846-3425 to set up alerts.

Fingerprinting Services

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office does fingerprinting for background checks and other needs. Fingerprinting is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM at the Sheriff's Office. The cost is $50 per person. Call (256) 927-6435 to check if someone is free before you come in.

State Prison Inmates

People sent to state prison get moved from the Cherokee County Detention Center to an Alabama Department of Corrections facility. Use the ADOC Inmate Search to find those serving state prison time. The database shows where they are now, how long the sentence is, and when they might get out.

Federal Court Records

Federal criminal cases in this area go through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Federal arrests and cases are kept separate from state court records. Search federal case records through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator shows people serving federal sentences.

Sex Offender Registry

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office keeps info on registered sex offenders in the county. This info is also on the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency statewide sex offender registry. Both let you search by name or location.

Fees for Arrest Records

Processing Times

Legal Framework for Arrest Records

Public Records Law

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, every citizen has the right to look at and copy any public writing of the state. This applies unless the law says otherwise. Arrest records, booking info, and court records are generally public in Alabama. The jailer's logbook has booking data. State law says it is a public record.

What Information Is Public

This arrest info is public in Cherokee County: inmate name, date of birth, booking date and time, charges at booking, bond amount, court dates, case outcomes, and booking photos. Some personal info may be held back. This includes Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and home addresses of arrestees in some cases.

Records Not Available to the Public

Juvenile arrest records are private under Alabama law. They cannot be shared with the public. Sealed and expunged records are not available. Active case details and info about warrants not yet served are also off limits. Mental health commitment records and some domestic violence protective order info may have limits on who can see them.

Expungement in Cherokee County

Alabama law lets you expunge some arrest records. You may qualify if charges were dropped, you were found not guilty, or you finished a pretrial diversion program. Some non-violent convictions can be expunged after a waiting period. File a petition with the Cherokee County Circuit Court. The filing fee is $500 unless waived for hardship. The court may set a hearing to decide if the petition is granted. The Circuit Clerk cannot give legal advice on whether you qualify.

Legal Resources

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help to low-income residents of Cherokee County. They can help with expungement petitions, understanding charges, and other civil legal matters. Call them to see if you qualify for free help.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

If you need to hire an attorney, the Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service. Call (800) 392-5660 to get connected with attorneys who handle criminal defense and expungement cases in the Cherokee County area. The service can match you with a lawyer based on your legal needs.

Alabama Legal Help

The Alabama Legal Help website has free legal info and resources for people who cannot afford an attorney. The site has guides on criminal records, expungement steps, and how to find legal help in your area.

Search Cherokee County Records

Use the search tool below to look up arrest records and criminal history information for Cherokee County and across Alabama.

Cities in Cherokee County

Cherokee County has several towns and cities. Centre is the county seat and the biggest city. Arrests made by local police anywhere in Cherokee County go to the Cherokee County Detention Center in Centre.

Cities and towns in Cherokee County include Centre, Cedar Bluff, Gaylesville, Leesburg, and Sand Rock. None of these cities have more than 100,000 people. So arrests in all Cherokee County towns go through the county Sheriff's Office. For arrest records from any city in Cherokee County, use the Sheriff's Office inmate roster. You can also call the jail.

Nearby Counties

Need to search arrest records in a nearby county? Pick a county below to find their sheriff's office and jail info.