Search Chilton County Arrest Records
Chilton County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Clanton. The office runs all booking and jail services for the county. They also give the public access to inmate info.
Chilton County Quick Facts
Chilton County Sheriff's Office
The Chilton County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for areas outside city limits. The office runs patrol, criminal investigations, and civil process service. They also run the county jail. All arrest records for people booked at the jail are kept here. The Sheriff is an elected official. They serve a four-year term and run all parts of the department.
Deputies respond to calls in areas outside city limits. City police in Clanton, Jemison, and Thorsby handle law work in their own towns. But when someone gets arrested by any agency in the county, they usually go to the Chilton County Jail. This means the Sheriff's Office has booking records for most arrests in Chilton County.
| Main Office Address | 500 Second Avenue North Clanton, AL 35045 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff's Office Phone | (205) 755-4698 |
| Jail Phone | (205) 755-4698 |
| Office Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
County Detention Facility
The Chilton County Jail sits at the same address as the Sheriff's Office in Clanton. The jail holds people who have been arrested and are waiting for trial. It also holds those serving short terms for misdemeanors. Some are waiting to go to state or federal lockups. The jail runs around the clock. Staff are there at all times. When someone is booked in, their name, date of birth, charges, and bond amount get logged.
When someone is booked into the jail, their info becomes part of the public record. This includes basic ID info, the charges, and bond status. Mugshots taken during booking are also public in Alabama. If you are looking for someone who may have been arrested, you can call the jail. They can tell you if that person is in custody.
| Jail Address | 500 Second Avenue North Clanton, AL 35045 |
|---|---|
| Facility Type | County Detention Center |
| Inmates Housed | Pretrial, Misdemeanor, State, and Federal |
How to Request Arrest Records
The Sheriff's Office handles requests for arrest records and booking info. There are a few ways to get these records. It depends on what you need and how fast you need it.
In-Person Requests
You can go to the Sheriff's Office at 500 Second Avenue North in Clanton during work hours. Bring a valid photo ID. For simple asks like checking if someone is in jail or getting basic booking info, staff can often help you right away. More detailed requests or copies of arrest reports may take longer. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Phone Inquiries
For quick questions about whether someone is in jail, you can call (205) 755-4698. Staff can tell you if a person is being held. They can also give basic info about their charges and bond. If you need copies of documents or more details, you will likely need to send a written request or go in person.
Written Requests
For copies of arrest reports, incident reports, or other law enforcement documents, you may need to send a written request. Include the full name of the person, their date of birth if you know it, and the rough date of the arrest. Add your own contact info too. Mail your request to the Sheriff's Office. Include payment for any fees. How long it takes depends on how complex the request is.
What Records Are Available
The Sheriff's Office can give you copies of booking records, arrest reports, and incident reports for cases handled by county deputies. Under Alabama's public records law, most of this info is open to anyone who asks. But some info is restricted. Juvenile records are kept private. Records tied to ongoing cases may not come out until the case is done. Personal details like Social Security numbers are not in public copies.
Online Search Options
A few online tools let you search for arrest records and court case info for Chilton County. You do not have to visit the Sheriff's Office in person.
Alacourt Public Access
The Alacourt system gives online access to court records across Alabama, including Chilton County. Once charges have been filed, the case info shows up in Alacourt. You can search by name or case number. You will find charges, hearing dates, case status, and how the case ended. Go to pa.alacourt.com and pick Chilton County. It is free.
Keep in mind that Alacourt shows court records, not arrest records. There is a time gap between when someone is arrested and when charges get filed. A recent arrest might show up in the jail roster but not yet in Alacourt. If charges are never filed or get dropped, there may never be a court record even though an arrest took place.
Alabama VINE
Alabama VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) lets you search for offenders and sign up for alerts about their status. If someone is in the Chilton County Jail, you can find them through VINE. You can get alerts when their status changes. This covers release, transfer, or escape. Visit victims.alabama.gov or call 1-877-846-3425. It is free.
ALEA Criminal History
For a full criminal history report that covers arrests from all Alabama counties, you can ask for a background check from ALEA. You will need fingerprints and pay a $25 fee. Call ALEA at (334) 517-2500 for more info about their records services.
Alabama Department of Corrections
If someone has been sent to state prison, they will not be in the Chilton County Jail. The Alabama Department of Corrections has an online inmate search at doc.alabama.gov. You can look up state inmates by name. You will find their current location, sentence info, and projected release date. This database only covers state prison inmates, not county jail inmates.
Chilton County Circuit Court
Chilton County is part of Alabama's 19th Judicial Circuit. Autauga County is also in this circuit. After an arrest, criminal cases move from the Sheriff's Office to the courts. The Circuit Court handles felony cases. District Court deals with misdemeanors and first hearings. The Circuit Clerk's office keeps all court records. This includes case files, dockets, and judgments.
| Court | 19th Judicial Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 Second Avenue North Clanton, AL 35045 |
| Circuit Clerk Phone | (205) 755-1551 |
District Court
Misdemeanor cases, traffic tickets, and first hearings for felonies go through Chilton County District Court. If you want records for a DUI arrest, minor drug charge, or other misdemeanor, this is where those cases go. You can get District Court records through Alacourt or by calling the District Clerk's office.
Getting Court Records
You can get copies of court records by going to the Circuit Clerk's office or sending a written request. Certified copies cost money. Fees are usually $1 to $5 per page, based on the type of document. Alacourt is free to view case info online. But if you need official certified copies for legal use, you must get them from the Clerk's office.
Fees for Records
Chilton County charges fees for copies of arrest records and court documents. These fees help cover the cost of finding and copying records.
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Jail Inmate Information (phone) | Free |
| Alacourt Online Search | Free |
| Alabama VINE Search | Free |
| Arrest Report Copy | $5.00 - $25.00 (varies) |
| Incident Report | $5.00 per report |
| Certified Court Document | $1.00 - $5.00 per page |
| ALEA Background Check | $25.00 |
Payment methods vary. Cash and money orders are usually fine for in-person requests. Call the Sheriff's Office or Circuit Clerk's office to check current fees and payment options before you send your request.
Legal Framework for Arrest Records
Alabama state law sets the rules for access to arrest records in Chilton County. Knowing these laws helps you see what info you can get and what limits there are.
Public Records Law
Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, every citizen has the right to inspect and copy public records. Arrest records are usually seen as public records in Alabama. This includes booking info, charges, mugshots, and case outcomes. But some info is exempt from release.
What Is Public
The following arrest info is usually open to anyone who asks: booking records with the person's name, date of arrest, and charges; mugshots taken during booking; arrest reports after any warrant has been served; bond and bail info; court records with charges, hearing dates, and how the case ended; and conviction history. Some personal details like Social Security numbers and home addresses are not given out.
What Is Not Public
Some records are not open to the public. Juvenile records are private under Alabama law. They can only be released in certain cases. Sealed court records are not public. Records tied to active cases may be held back until the case is done. Expunged records have been removed from public view.
Expungement
Alabama law lets you expunge certain arrest records under Alabama Code Title 15, Chapter 27. You may qualify if charges were dropped or never filed. You may also qualify if you were found not guilty. Completing a diversion program can help you qualify. Some non-violent crimes can be expunged after a waiting period. To ask for expungement, file a petition in the circuit court where your case was heard. There is a $500 fee to file. Waivers are open to those who can show money problems. If granted, expunged records are sealed from public view.
Additional Resources
Federal Records
Federal crimes in Chilton County go to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. You can search federal court records through PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov. Federal inmates are held in Bureau of Prisons facilities. You can find their info through the BOP inmate locator at bop.gov.
Sex Offender Registry
ALEA keeps a sex offender registry that includes offenders in Chilton County. You can search by name or address at alea.gov. This database has photos, offense info, and current addresses for registered sex offenders.
Legal Assistance
If you need help with arrest records or the legal system, there are some resources out there. Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal help to low-income folks. The Alabama State Bar has a lawyer referral service. For criminal cases, you may be able to get a public defender if you cannot afford a lawyer.
Cities in Chilton County
Chilton County has several towns, but none are big enough to have their own pages on this site. The largest city is Clanton. It is also the county seat. Other towns include Jemison, Thorsby, and Maplesville. Arrests made by police in these cities usually go through the Chilton County Jail. You can get records from the Sheriff's Office.
Clanton is the main hub of Chilton County. It has its own police force that handles law work in city limits. When Clanton Police make an arrest, the person usually goes to the Chilton County Jail. So you can get booking info from the Sheriff's Office even for city police arrests. For incident reports or arrest reports from Clanton Police, you may need to call their office directly.
Jemison and Thorsby also have their own police. Smaller towns like Maplesville are mostly served by the Sheriff's Office. No matter which agency makes an arrest, booking records are usually at the county jail.
Nearby Counties
If you cannot find the arrest records you need in Chilton County, the arrest may have been in a nearby county. Each Alabama county keeps its own arrest records through its Sheriff's Office. Chilton County borders six other counties.