Search Covington County Arrest Records

Covington County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office. They run the county jail in Andalusia. The 22nd Judicial Circuit Court hears all criminal cases filed in this rural south Alabama county.

Covington County Sheriff's Office

The Covington County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for all unincorporated parts of the county. The Sheriff runs the county jail too. They handle warrant service, court security, and civil process. Deputies patrol a big rural area. It spans more than 1,000 square miles in the southern part of the state. The office works with local police in Andalusia, Opp, Red Level, Florala, and other towns when needed.

Want to know if someone is in the Covington County Jail? Call the Sheriff's Office. They can tell you if a person is booked, what charges they face, and if bond has been set. This is often the fastest way to get current info. The county does not have a public online inmate roster. You can also use Alabama VINE to search for inmates by name. It lets you sign up for release alerts too.

Searching for Current Inmates

Covington County does not have a public online jail roster. You can not search for inmates on your own through a website. This is common in smaller Alabama counties. They lack the funds to build and run such systems. If you need to know if someone is in the Covington County Jail, call the jail at (334) 222-3168. You can also use the statewide Alabama VINE system.

When you call the jail, have the full name and date of birth ready. Staff can usually say if the person is in custody. They can give you basic booking info too. Some details they may not share over the phone. It depends on what the charges are. For more detailed info, you may need to visit in person during normal hours.

Bond and Bail Information

After someone is booked into the Covington County Jail, bond is set based on a schedule for common offenses. For more serious charges, a judge has to set bond at a first hearing. Bond amounts vary a lot. Minor misdemeanors might be a few hundred dollars. Felonies can cost tens of thousands. Some charges do not allow bond at all. This includes capital murder. It also covers some domestic violence cases where a judge must hold a hearing first.

To post bond in Covington County, you have a few options. Pay the full cash amount at the jail. Use a bail bondsman who charges a fee you do not get back (usually 10-15% of the bond). Or post property bond if the court allows it. Local bail bond companies are listed in the Andalusia phone book and online. The jail can give you a list of licensed bondsmen in the area.

Covington County Jail

The Covington County Jail is in Andalusia. It holds pre-trial detainees and people serving two years or less. The jail handles all bookings from the Sheriff's Office, Andalusia Police, Opp Police, and other local law enforcement. State troopers working in Covington County bring their arrests here too.

The Booking Process

When a person is arrested in Covington County, they go to the jail for booking. Staff collect personal info like name, date of birth, address, and emergency contacts. The arrestee gets fingerprinted and photographed. Their property is logged and stored until release. Jail staff write down all charges. They enter the booking into the jail system.

After booking, the person is either held for a bond hearing or released on a preset bond. It depends on the charges. First appearances usually happen within 48-72 hours of arrest. A judge reviews the charges then. They set bail if it has not been set yet. For minor charges, people often get out the same day once bond is posted.

Visitation at the Jail

The Covington County Jail allows visits on certain days and times. Call the jail to get the current schedule. Policies can change based on how the facility runs and security needs. Visitors must show valid photo ID. You may need a background check. There are rules about what you can wear and bring in. Some jails now use video visits only. Call ahead to see what kind of visits they offer.

Sending Money to Inmates

Inmates at the Covington County Jail can get money on their commissary account. This lets them buy snacks, hygiene products, stamps, and writing supplies from the jail store. You can add money in person at the jail, send it by mail, or use a service like JailATM or Access Securepak. Call the jail to ask about current deposit methods and any fees.

Alabama VINE for Inmate Tracking

Covington County does not have its own online inmate search. So the Alabama VINE system is one of the best ways to look up inmates. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It is a free service. You can search for offenders across Alabama. You also get alerts when their custody status changes.

To use Alabama VINE, go to the website or call 1-877-846-3425. Search by the person's name or offender ID number. If they are in the Covington County Jail, their record should show up. The info usually tells you their current status and where they are held. It may also show court dates or release dates if known.

One of the best features of VINE is the alert system. Are you a crime victim? Or do you just want to know when someone gets out of jail? You can sign up for alerts. VINE will call, email, or text you when the inmate's status changes. This covers release from custody, transfer to another facility, or escape. The service is free. It runs around the clock.

Court Records in Covington County

Criminal cases in Covington County go through the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court. This circuit serves only Covington County. All felony and serious misdemeanor cases are heard in Andalusia. After an arrest, the case file moves from the Sheriff's Office to the court system. Prosecutors then decide if they will file formal charges.

Alacourt Case Search

The Alacourt Public Access system gives you free online access to court case records for Covington County. Go to the website and pick Covington County from the list. Choose the case type (Criminal, Traffic, etc.) and enter the person's name. Results show case numbers, charges filed, hearing dates, and case status. You can see attorney info, court dates, and final outcomes. This is usually the best way to track what happens after an arrest goes through the courts.

Alacourt records usually show up after formal charges are filed. There can be a delay of a few days between an arrest and when the case appears. If you search right after an arrest and find nothing, check back in a week or two. Not all arrests lead to formal charges. Some cases go through diversion programs. Those may not show up in the regular court docket.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Covington County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court records for the county. This includes criminal case files, civil matters, and family law cases. Need certified copies of court documents? You can ask for them at the clerk's office in person or by mail. There are fees for copies and certification.

District Court

Covington County District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic tickets, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Small claims and civil cases under a certain dollar amount go through district court too. You can search district court records on Alacourt just like circuit court records. The District Court is in the courthouse in Andalusia. Call them at (334) 428-2540.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Local News Sources

The Andalusia Star-News is the local paper that covers Covington County. They print arrest reports and court news often. Check their website or grab a print copy at local stores for booking info and crime reports. The Opp News is another local paper. It covers the eastern part of the county. Both papers get their info from the Sheriff's Office. They can be a good source for recent arrests if you do not want to call the jail.

State Prison Inmates

If someone gets more than two years in prison, they move from the Covington County Jail to an Alabama Department of Corrections facility. Use the ADOC Inmate Search to find people serving state prison time. This database shows where the inmate is housed, their sentence length, and expected release dates. People sentenced in Covington County could end up at any state prison in Alabama. It depends on classification and bed space.

Federal Court Records

Federal crimes in Covington County fall under the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. Federal arrests and cases are handled apart from state records. This includes drug trafficking across state lines, federal gun crimes, and crimes on federal land. To search federal court records, use PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator helps you find people serving federal time.

ALEA Criminal History Check

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) keeps the state's central criminal history records. For a full background check that covers all of Alabama (not just Covington County), you can send a request to ALEA. The fee is $25 for a name-based search. Fingerprint background checks are offered for employers and some licensing needs. These checks pull records from the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center database.

Fees for Arrest Records

Processing Times

Legal Framework for Arrest Records

Public Records Law

Alabama has a public records law. It gives residents the right to access government documents, including arrest records. Under Alabama Code 36-12-40, every citizen can inspect and copy any public writing of this state. There are some exceptions set by statute. Arrest records are generally public documents in Alabama. The jailer's logbook has booking info. It is treated as a public record open for inspection.

What Information Is Public

The following arrest info is public in Covington County: name, date of birth, booking date and time, charges at booking, bond amount if set, court dates, and case outcomes. Mugshots are public records in Alabama too. But some personal info may be held back. This includes Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and home addresses of those arrested.

Records That Are Not Public

Some records are protected under Alabama law. Juvenile arrest records are private. They are not open to the general public. Sealed or expunged records cannot be shared except with law enforcement and certain other allowed parties. Active investigation details stay hidden. Unexecuted warrants are kept from public view too. Some mental health records and domestic violence protective order details may have limits as well.

Expungement in Covington County

Alabama law allows some arrest records to be expunged. You may qualify if the charges were dropped. You may also qualify if you were found not guilty at trial. Finishing a pretrial diversion program can make you eligible too. Some non-violent offenses can be cleared after a waiting period. To start, file a petition with the Covington County Circuit Court. The filing fee is $500. It can be waived if you show financial hardship.

The court will set a hearing to decide on the expungement. The District Attorney's office gets notified. They may object in some cases. If approved, the arrest record is sealed from public view. Employers running background checks will not see it. You usually do not have to list it on job applications. But law enforcement still has access for official reasons. The record may still show up in some federal background checks.

Legal Resources

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal help to low-income residents across the state. This includes Covington County. They mostly handle civil matters. But they can refer you for criminal issues and may help with expungement petitions in some cases. Their Dothan office serves the Covington County area.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

Need to hire a criminal defense attorney? Want help with record expungement? The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with attorneys in the Covington County area who handle these cases. The first meeting fee is usually low. Some attorneys offer free first meetings for criminal matters. Call (800) 392-5660 for a referral.

Covington County Public Defender

Been arrested and cannot afford a lawyer? You may qualify for a public defender. The court will appoint one at your first hearing if you meet the income rules. Public defenders handle criminal cases in the 22nd Judicial Circuit. They can answer questions about your charges and the court process. You do not need to find or contact one yourself. Just tell the judge at your first appearance that you cannot afford a lawyer and need one appointed.

Search Covington County Records

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

Cities in Covington County

Covington County has several cities and towns. Andalusia is the county seat. It is the largest city in the county with about 8,700 people. Other places include Opp, Red Level, Florala, Lockhart, Libertyville, Babbie, Horn Hill, and River Falls. None of these cities have over 100,000 people. So they do not have pages on this site. All arrests in these towns go through the Covington County Jail in Andalusia. Local police handle law enforcement in city limits. But the Sheriff's Office keeps the jail and booking records for the whole county.

Nearby Counties

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