Coffee County Arrest Records

Coffee County arrest records are kept by the Coffee County Sheriff's Office. They run the county jail in Elba. Once charges are filed, the 12th Judicial Circuit Court takes over. You can search those court records through the Alacourt system.

Coffee County Sheriff's Office

The Coffee County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for areas outside city limits. They run the county jail. They also serve warrants, provide court security, and deliver civil papers. When local police in Elba, Enterprise, or New Brockton make an arrest, the person usually gets booked at the Coffee County Jail.

Inmate Information

To find out if someone is in the Coffee County Jail, call the Sheriff's Office at (334) 894-5535. Coffee County does not have an online inmate search. That's different from some larger counties in Alabama. Jail staff can tell you about current inmates. They'll share the booking date, charges, and bond amount. You can also ask about visitation times and how to put money on an inmate's commissary account.

When you call, have the person's full name ready. It helps to know their birth date too. Jail staff will tell you if the person is in custody. They can also share the bond amount. Just keep in mind that jail rosters change fast. Someone could get out right after you call. The info you get is only good for that moment.

Booking Process

When someone gets arrested in Coffee County, they go to the county jail in Elba for booking. Jail staff write down the person's name, birth date, and other info. They take fingerprints and a mugshot. Then they look at the arresting officer's report. Charges get put on record. A bond amount is set based on what the person is charged with and their past. Most people can post bond and get out in a few hours if they have the money. Those who can't post bond stay in jail until their court date.

Court Records and Case Information

Once charges are filed, case info moves from the Sheriff's Office to the courts. Coffee County is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit. Pike and Dale counties are in the same circuit. The Circuit Court handles felony cases. The District Court deals with misdemeanors and traffic tickets. Both courts keep records that the public can view.

Alacourt Case Search

The Alacourt Public Access system lets you search court records in Coffee County for free. Go to pa.alacourt.com and pick Coffee County from the drop-down. Choose the case type you want, like Criminal or Traffic. Type in the person's name and click search. Results show case numbers, charges, hearing dates, and how the case ended. This is the best way to see what happened after an arrest led to formal charges.

Alacourt has cases going back several years. But it only shows cases that were filed with the court. If someone got arrested but no charges were filed, you won't find a record in Alacourt. In that case, check with the Sheriff's Office or the District Attorney's Office.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Coffee County Circuit Court Clerk keeps official court records. This includes criminal case files, judgments, and sentencing docs. If you need certified copies, you have to ask the clerk's office. The clerk also handles expungement petitions and other filings tied to records.

District Court

The Coffee County District Court handles misdemeanor cases and traffic tickets. They also do preliminary hearings for felonies. If someone was arrested for a lesser offense like DUI, shoplifting, or simple assault, the case goes through District Court. You can find these records on Alacourt too. Just pick District Court as the case type when you search.

12th Judicial Circuit

Coffee County shares the 12th Judicial Circuit with Pike and Dale counties. Circuit judges rotate among the three counties. So a serious felony case in Coffee County might be heard by a judge who also works in Troy and Ozark. The circuit court handles all felony trials. They also run grand jury proceedings and hear appeals from district court.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Alabama VINE

The Alabama VINE system lets you track inmates in Coffee County custody. You can get alerts when something changes. If you need to know when someone gets released or moved, this free service will tell you by phone, email, or text. Call 1-877-846-3425 to sign up, or use the website. This is helpful for crime victims who need to track an offender's custody status.

State Prison Inmates

If someone was convicted and sent to state prison, they will leave the Coffee County Jail and go to an Alabama Department of Corrections facility. Use the ADOC Inmate Search tool to find them. It shows where the inmate is now, their sentence info, and when they might get out. Keep in mind this only covers state prison inmates. It does not show people held in county jails.

Federal Court Records

Federal crimes in Coffee County are handled by the Middle District of Alabama, based in Montgomery. If federal agents arrested someone or if they face federal charges, the case records are in the federal system. They won't be in the state court system. Search federal case records through PACER. For people in federal prison, use the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

ALEA Criminal History Check

For a full criminal history report, you can ask the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. ALEA runs the statewide criminal database. It has arrests from all 67 Alabama counties. To get a criminal history check, fill out ALEA Form 46. Send fingerprints on an FBI-approved card. Include a copy of your photo ID and pay the $25 fee. Mail it to ALEA Criminal Records Unit, P.O. Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102-1511. You can also make requests in person at their Montgomery office.

Fees for Arrest Records

Processing Times

Legal Framework for Arrest Records

Public Records Law

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, every citizen can look at and copy public records. This includes arrest records, booking info, and court documents. The jailer's logbook, which has basic booking data, is a public record in Alabama. Agencies can charge fair fees for copies. But they can't deny access to public info.

What Information Is Public

Most arrest info is public in Coffee County. This includes the inmate's name, birth date, booking date and time, charges, bond amount, court dates, case outcomes, and mugshot photos. But some personal details may be held back. These include Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, home addresses, and employer info.

Records Not Available to the Public

Some arrest records are not open to the public. Juvenile records are kept private under Alabama Code Section 12-15-102. This law protects minors in delinquency cases. Sealed court records and expunged records are also off limits. Active investigation files, unexecuted warrants, and some domestic violence records may be restricted too.

Expungement in Coffee County

Alabama allows expungement of some arrest records under Title 15, Chapter 27 of the Alabama Code. You may qualify if your charges were dropped or you were found not guilty at trial. You might also be eligible if you finished a pretrial diversion program. Some non-violent convictions can be expunged after a waiting period too. To pursue expungement, file a petition with the Coffee County Circuit Court. The filing fee is $500, but it can be waived if you can't afford it. You also need a certified copy of your criminal history from ALEA to submit with your petition.

If the court grants your expungement, the order goes to ALEA and other agencies with your records. Those records get sealed from public view. You usually don't have to tell employers about expunged records on job applications. But there are some exceptions. Law enforcement jobs and certain licensed fields may still ask. The whole process typically takes two to three months from start to finish.

Legal Resources

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help to low-income people across the state. This includes Coffee County. They can help with expungement petitions and explain your rights about arrest records. They can also connect you with other resources. They don't take active criminal cases. But they can help with things that come after an arrest, like clearing your record.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

If you need to hire a criminal defense attorney or a lawyer for expungement, the Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service. Call their toll-free number. They'll match you with lawyers in the Coffee County area who handle criminal cases and record clearing.

District Attorney's Office

The 12th Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office handles criminal cases in Coffee County. If you have questions about charges or need to talk to someone about a pending case, you can call their office. They can also tell you about victim services and restitution.

Search Coffee County Records

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

Cities in Coffee County

Coffee County has several cities and towns. None have more than 100,000 people. Elba is the county seat. That's where the main courthouse and jail are. Enterprise is the biggest city in the county by population. It has its own police department. New Brockton is another town in the county. When city police make arrests, those people are processed at the Coffee County Jail.

Enterprise has about 28,000 people. It's known for the Boll Weevil Monument and Fort Novosel (used to be Fort Rucker). The city has its own police force for law enforcement within city limits. Elba is much smaller, with about 3,600 residents. But it serves as the government center for the county. Criminal cases from both cities are heard in the Coffee County court system.

Nearby Counties

Need to search arrest records in nearby counties? Pick a county below. Each one has its own sheriff's office, jail, and court system.