Search Cleburne County Arrest Records

Cleburne County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Heflin. The county is part of the 40th Judicial Circuit. It shares court resources with Randolph County. All criminal case records can be found through the Alacourt system.

Cleburne County Sheriff's Office

The Cleburne County Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement in the unincorporated parts of the county. They also run the county jail. An elected sheriff leads the office and serves four-year terms. Deputies take care of patrol duties, warrant service, court security, and civil process. This is a small rural county. The Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement presence here and works closely with the few local police departments in the area.

Requesting Arrest Records

To get arrest records from the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office, you can call or visit in person. Larger counties often have online inmate rosters. Cleburne County does not have a public jail database on the web. So you will need to call the office to find out if someone is in custody. You can also ask for booking info this way. When you call, have the full name and date of birth ready. The staff can tell you if that person is held at the jail. They can also share what charges they face and what their bond is.

For written records, you can send a public records request. Alabama law makes arrest records public. You have the right to get this info. Put your request in writing. Mail it to the Sheriff's Office or drop it off in person. Be clear about what you need. If you want booking records for a date range, say so. There may be a small fee for copies. This is usually around $0.25 to $1.00 per page.

Cleburne County Jail

The Cleburne County Jail is a small jail next to the Sheriff's Office in Heflin. It holds people who have been arrested in Cleburne County. They wait here for bail, trial, or transfer. The jail has limited space due to the county's small population. Some inmates may be moved to other jails if space runs out. Those with serious charges may also go to a higher security setting.

Booking Process

When someone is arrested in Cleburne County, they go to the jail for booking. This means taking fingerprints and a mugshot. Staff also record personal info and write down the charges. The person is then held until a bond is set. They may also wait to see a judge. For minor offenses, bond may follow a preset schedule. The person can leave the same day if they post it. For more serious charges, they may need to wait for a bond hearing with a judge.

Posting Bond

If a bond has been set, you can post it at the jail to get someone out. Cash bonds must be paid in full. If the full amount is too much, you can use a bail bondsman. They usually charge 10% to 15% of the bond amount as their fee. This fee is not given back. Several bonding companies serve Cleburne County. You can find their numbers at the jail or by looking online. Once bond is posted and paperwork is done, the inmate is let go. This can take a few hours based on how busy the jail is.

Court Records and Criminal Cases

Cleburne County is part of the 40th Judicial Circuit. It shares this circuit with Randolph County. The two counties share some court resources, including a District Attorney. Criminal cases from Cleburne County arrests are handled through this circuit. Felony cases go to Circuit Court. Misdemeanors are dealt with in District Court.

Alacourt Public Access

The best way to search for court records tied to Cleburne County arrests is through Alacourt Public Access. This free online system lets you search case records for all Alabama courts. That includes Cleburne County Circuit and District Courts. To use it, go to the website. Pick Cleburne County as your location. Choose Criminal or Traffic as the case type. Then enter the person's name. You will see a list of cases that match your search. Click on a case number to see details. These include charges filed, hearing dates, plea entered, and the final outcome.

Alacourt is updated often as cases move through the court system. You can track a case from initial charges to sentencing. The system shows upcoming court dates. Need to know when someone has a hearing? This is where to look. There is no cost to search. If you want to print documents or get certified copies, you will need to call the clerk's office.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Cleburne County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court records for the county. This includes criminal case files, civil cases, and probate matters. If you need certified copies of court documents, you will need to call or visit this office. Certified copies are often needed for background checks. They may also be needed for expungement petitions or legal cases.

District Court

Cleburne County District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic tickets, and first hearings for felony charges. If someone is arrested for a misdemeanor like simple assault, minor theft, or DUI, the case will likely stay in District Court from start to finish. Felony arrests go through a first hearing in District Court. After that, they move to Circuit Court for trial. Search District Court records through Alacourt. Just pick District Court as the case type.

40th Judicial Circuit District Attorney

The District Attorney for the 40th Judicial Circuit handles all criminal cases in Cleburne County and Randolph County. Have questions about pending charges? Want to know the status of a case? Need to talk to someone as a victim or witness? The DA's office can help. They deal with everything from traffic offenses to serious felonies. The office is in the courthouse.

Additional Ways to Search Arrest Records

Alabama VINE

The Alabama VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system lets you track inmates in Alabama jails. This includes Cleburne County. VINE is a free service. It will alert you by phone, email, or text when an inmate's status changes. This is useful if you want to know when someone is let out, moved, or has escaped. To sign up, call 1-877-846-3425 or go to the website. You will need the inmate's name or booking number.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency

For a full criminal history check, you can ask for records through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). ALEA runs the statewide criminal history database. It has arrest records, conviction records, and sex offender info from all Alabama counties. A background check through ALEA costs $25. You can ask for one online or by mail. This is the most thorough way to get someone's Alabama criminal history. It pulls records from all 67 counties, not just Cleburne County.

State Prison Inmates

If someone was convicted in Cleburne County and sent to state prison, they will have been moved to an Alabama Department of Corrections facility. To find someone serving a state prison term, use the ADOC Inmate Search. This free database shows current ADOC inmates. It lists their location, sentence length, and expected release date. Inmates serving time in state prison will not show up in county jail records.

Federal Inmates

Federal criminal cases for Cleburne County residents go through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Federal charges are fully separate from state charges. They do not show up in Alacourt or state databases. Search federal case records through PACER. If someone is serving time in a federal prison, find them using the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Fees and Processing Times

Below are typical fees you may run into when looking for arrest records in Cleburne County. These can change. Check with the right office if you need exact current amounts.

How Long Does It Take?

Alabama Law on Arrest Records

Public Records Access

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, every citizen has the right to look at and copy public writings of the state. This applies unless a specific law says otherwise. Arrest records fall under this public records law. The jailer's logbook with booking info is named as a public record. You have the legal right to ask for arrest and booking info from the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office.

What Information Can You Get?

Public arrest record info includes the arrestee's name, date of birth, date and time of arrest, charges at booking, bond amount, and court info. Mugshots are usually seen as public too. Some info is kept private by law. This includes Social Security numbers and home addresses of victims. Juvenile arrest records are private. They will not be given to the public no matter the charge.

Records That Are Not Public

Some records tied to arrests are limited under Alabama law. Juvenile records are private. Sealed or expunged records are not open to the public. Active case files and info about warrants not yet served may be held back. Records about victims of crimes like domestic violence or sexual assault may have victim info blacked out. Mental health records are not public. If your request is denied, the agency should tell you why and cite the legal basis.

Expungement of Arrest Records

Alabama law lets some arrest records be expunged. This means they are sealed and will not show on most background checks. You may qualify if charges were dropped. You may also qualify if you were found not guilty. Completing a pretrial diversion program can help too. For some non-violent offenses, you can apply after a waiting period. To pursue expungement in Cleburne County, you file a petition with the Circuit Court. The filing fee is $500. This can be waived if you cannot afford it. The court will look at your petition and may set a hearing. If granted, your record is sealed. You can legally say the arrest did not happen in most cases.

Legal Help and Resources

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal help to low-income Alabamians. They do not handle criminal defense. But they can help with things like expungement petitions. They can also help you know your rights about records. And they can link you to other resources. To find out if you qualify, call their intake line.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

If you need to hire a lawyer for a criminal matter or to help with expungement, the Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service. They can link you with attorneys who work in Cleburne County. Call (800) 392-5660 for a referral. There is usually a small fee. The first talk is limited. But it is a good way to find a licensed attorney near you.

Public Defender

If you have been arrested and cannot afford a lawyer, you have the right to a public defender. At your first court date, tell the judge you cannot pay for a lawyer. Ask for a court-appointed attorney. The court will look at your finances. If you qualify, a public defender will be given to your case at no cost. The public defender handles your defense through trial and sentencing.

Search Cleburne County Records Now

Use the search tool below to look up arrest records and criminal history for people in Cleburne County and all of Alabama.

Cities and Towns in Cleburne County

Cleburne County is a small, rural county in northeast Alabama. The county seat is Heflin. It is also the largest town. Other communities include Fruithurst, Ranburne, and Edwardsville. None of these places have populations over 100,000. So they do not have their own pages on this site. No matter which town in Cleburne County an arrest happens, the booking will go through the Cleburne County Jail in Heflin.

Heflin has its own police department. It handles law enforcement within city limits. The Heflin Police Department makes arrests that are then booked at the county jail. For incident reports tied to arrests by Heflin PD, contact the police department directly. The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in other areas. This includes places without their own police forces.

If you are looking for someone arrested in Heflin or any other Cleburne County town, start by calling the Sheriff's Office at (256) 463-2296. Check if they are in custody. Then search Alacourt for court case info once charges have been filed.

Nearby Counties

Cleburne County borders several other Alabama counties. Need to search arrest records in a nearby area? Click a county below to see its sheriff's office info and record search resources.