Choctaw County Arrest Records

Choctaw County arrest records are managed by the Choctaw County Sheriff's Office. They run the county jail in Butler. This rural county in southwest Alabama sends all arrests through the Sheriff's Office. Criminal cases go to the 1st Judicial Circuit Court.

Choctaw County Sheriff's Office

The Choctaw County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. They handle all arrests, warrants, and jail work. The office sits in Butler, the county seat. It serves the whole county, both towns and rural areas. Since the county has few people spread over a big area, the Sheriff's Office teams up with Alabama State Troopers for patrol help.

Inmate Information Requests

To find out if someone is in the Choctaw County Jail, call the Sheriff's Office at (205) 459-2026. Give them the full name and date of birth. Staff can tell you if the person is locked up, what charges they face, and how much bond is. Choctaw County has no online jail search. Phone calls are the main way to get jail info.

You can also mail a letter to the Sheriff's Office asking for inmate or arrest info. Put the person's full name in the letter. Add any aliases, date of birth if you have it, and a rough date of arrest. The office may charge a small fee for copies of booking records or arrest reports. Mail requests take about 5-10 business days.

Warrant Information

The Sheriff's Office keeps track of all outstanding warrants in Choctaw County. Want to know if there's a warrant for you? You can call and ask. Same goes if you think someone else might have one. They can say yes or no, but may not give all the details on the phone. If you have a warrant out, talk to a lawyer before you turn yourself in.

Choctaw County Jail

The Choctaw County Jail is a small lock-up in Butler. It holds people waiting for trial, those doing short time, and folks set to go to state prison. Space is tight. When the jail fills up, some inmates get moved to nearby county jails. All booking happens here no matter where in the county the arrest took place.

Visitation

Want to visit someone in the Choctaw County Jail? There are rules to follow. Bring a valid photo ID. You may be searched. Visit days and times are set by the jail and can change. Call first to check the current schedule. Only people on an inmate's approved list can visit. If you have warrants or felony convictions, you may not be let in.

Inmate Mail and Commissary

Inmates can get mail at the Choctaw County Jail. All mail is checked for contraband. Send letters to the jail address with the inmate's full name on them. The jail has a commissary where inmates can buy snacks, soap, and other items. Family can put money in an inmate's account by calling the jail. Phone calls are allowed but may be limited.

Court Records and Case Information

Criminal cases in Choctaw County go to the 1st Judicial Circuit Court. This circuit also covers Clarke and Washington counties. After an arrest, the defendant sees a judge for first hearings. The District Attorney handles felony cases. Misdemeanors often go through district court.

Alacourt Case Search

The Alacourt Public Access system gives you free access to Choctaw County court records online. Go to pa.alacourt.com. Pick Choctaw County from the list. Choose Criminal as the case type. Type in the name. The system shows case numbers, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. It's free to use. This is the best way to look up court records tied to arrests from anywhere.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Choctaw County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all official court records. They can give you certified copies of judgments, sentences, and other court papers. Need official docs for a job, housing, or legal stuff? Call the clerk's office.

District Court

Choctaw County District Court takes care of misdemeanor cases, traffic tickets, and first hearings for felonies. Small claims and low-dollar civil cases go here too. You can search district court records on Alacourt, same as circuit court.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Alabama VINE

The Alabama VINE system lets you track inmates and get alerts about them. Sign up to get calls, emails, or texts when someone is released, moved, or escapes. It's free and works for all Alabama jails, including Choctaw County. Call 1-877-846-3425 or use the website to sign up.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

Need an official background check that covers more than Choctaw County? Get records from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. ALEA keeps statewide criminal history records. A check costs $25. You can use it for personal reasons or job screening. These show arrests and convictions from all Alabama counties.

Federal Court Records

Federal crimes in Choctaw County go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. Federal arrests are kept apart from state court records. Use PACER to search federal case records. If someone was picked up by the FBI, DEA, or ATF, their case is in the federal system, not state court.

State Prison Inmates

Got more than a year? You go to state prison. People with long sentences move from Choctaw County Jail to an Alabama Department of Corrections facility. Use the ADOC Inmate Search to find them. This free tool shows where they are, how long their sentence is, and when they might get out. It does not show folks still in county jail waiting for trial.

Fees for Arrest Records

What you pay for records depends on what you need and where you ask. Most online searches are free. But certified copies cost money.

Processing Times

How fast you get records depends on how you ask and what kind of record it is.

Legal Framework for Arrest Records

Public Records Law

Alabama law makes most arrest records open to the public. Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, you have the right to look at and copy public records. Booking logs, arrest reports, and court papers are public info. Anyone can ask for copies, not just the person arrested or their lawyer.

What Information Is Public

This info about arrests is public record in Choctaw County: the person's name, date of birth, booking date and time, charges, bond amount, court dates, and case outcome. Mugshots are public too. But Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and home addresses stay private. They keep those out to protect your privacy.

Records Not Available to the Public

Some arrest records are sealed or kept private under Alabama law. Juvenile arrest records are protected. The public can't see them. Cases that were expunged get taken out of public view. Records tied to open cases may be held back until the case wraps up. Mental health records and some protective order info are also restricted.

Expungement in Choctaw County

Alabama law lets you expunge certain arrest records. That means they get removed from public view. You may qualify if your charges were dropped, you were found not guilty, you finished a pretrial program, or enough time passed since a non-violent conviction. To start, file a petition with Choctaw County Circuit Court. The fee is $500. If you can't pay, you might get a waiver. The court looks at your petition. They may hold a hearing before they decide.

Legal Resources

Need help with arrest records, expungement, or criminal charges? There are a few places Choctaw County folks can turn to.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help to people who meet income limits. They cover Choctaw County. They can help with expungement, reading court papers, and other legal stuff. Call their intake line to see if you qualify.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

The Alabama State Bar has a lawyer referral service. They can hook you up with attorneys who do criminal defense in Choctaw County. If you want to hire a private lawyer, call their line. They'll match you with someone who works in your area.

Public Defender Office

Charged with a crime but can't pay for a lawyer? You have the right to a public defender. The 1st Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office helps people who can't afford one in Choctaw County. The court looks at your income and assets to see if you qualify. Public defenders handle your case from start to finish.

Search Choctaw County Records

Use the tool below to look up arrest records and criminal history for Choctaw County and all of Alabama.

Cities and Towns in Choctaw County

Choctaw County is rural. There are no big cities here. Butler is the county seat and has the most people. All arrests in the county go through the Sheriff's Office, no matter where they happen. No city in Choctaw County tops 100,000 people. So all arrests get handled at the county level.

Towns in Choctaw County include Butler, Gilbertown, Lisman, Needham, Pennington, Silas, and Toxey. Butler is the hub of county government. That's where you find the courthouse, Sheriff's Office, and jail. Small town police handle first response. But they bring anyone they arrest to the county jail.

Nearby Counties

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