Search Franklin County Arrest Records

Franklin County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office. They run the county jail in Russellville. The Sheriff's Office takes in all bookings from local cops across the county. Inmates go through the 34th Judicial Circuit Court system.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for areas outside city limits. The department does patrol work, criminal investigations, civil process, and runs the county jail. Deputies also guard the courts for the 34th Judicial Circuit. They serve warrants all over Franklin County. The office works with local police in Russellville, Phil Campbell, Red Bay, and other towns to keep law enforcement on the same page across the region.

Sheriff Shannon Oliver leads the department. The Sheriff's Office runs the county jail where all arrests in Franklin County get processed. It does not matter who makes the arrest. A deputy sheriff, a Russellville cop, or a state trooper - they all bring people to the same jail. Everyone goes through the same booking and intake steps.

How to Find Someone in Jail

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office does not post an inmate list online. So if you need to find out if someone is in custody at the Franklin County Jail, you have a few options. The fastest way is to call the jail at (256) 332-8820 during business hours. Staff can tell you if a person is being held. They can also give you basic booking info.

You can also use the Alabama VINE system. It tracks inmates across all county jails in the state. VINE lets you search by name. It will show if someone is in custody in Franklin County right now. Another option is the Alacourt public access system. It shows court cases and may tell you custody status for pending criminal matters.

Franklin County Jail

The Franklin County Jail is in Russellville, right next to the Sheriff's Office. It holds people waiting for court and those serving sentences of two years or less. If someone gets a longer sentence, they get moved to a state prison. The jail takes bookings 24/7 from all law enforcement agencies in Franklin County.

Booking Process

When cops bring someone to the Franklin County Jail, they go through a standard booking process. First, staff collect personal info like name, date of birth, and address. The person gets fingerprinted. They take a mugshot photo too. Personal items get logged and stored until release. The booking officer writes down the charges and puts everything into the jail system.

After booking, jail staff figure out if the person can post bond. Some offenses have a set bond amount. Pay it, and you get out right away. For more serious charges, you have to wait to see a judge. The judge sets the bond amount or denies bond completely. First court appearances in Franklin County usually happen within 48 to 72 hours of arrest. Weekends and holidays do not count.

Visitation and Inmate Services

The Franklin County Jail has set times for visits from family and friends. Call the jail to get current visiting hours since schedules can change. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Be ready to follow all the rules. Inmates can get money put on their commissary accounts. They use this to buy things from the jail store. Phone calls go through the jail's phone system. Inmates can send and get mail at the jail address.

Alabama VINE Inmate Tracking

The Alabama VINE system is a free way to search for inmates in Franklin County and across the state. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. They built it to help crime victims track offenders. But anyone can use it to look up custody info.

To search for someone in Franklin County custody, go to the Alabama VINE website. You can also call their toll-free line at 1-877-846-3425. Type in the person's name or offender ID. You will see if they are in jail right now. The system shows which jail has them and gives basic custody status info.

One of the best things about VINE is the alert service. You can sign up to get notified when an inmate's status changes. This includes release from jail, transfer to another place, or any other change. Alerts come by phone, email, or text. The service runs 24 hours a day. It is free. This helps crime victims a lot. They want to know when someone is getting out of jail.

Court Records in Franklin County

Franklin County is part of the 34th Judicial Circuit. Colbert and Lauderdale counties are in this circuit too. Criminal cases move from the Sheriff's Office to court after charges get filed. Circuit Court handles felonies. District Court covers misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and first hearings in felony cases. Both courts are in the Franklin County Courthouse in Russellville.

Alacourt Public Access

The Alacourt Public Access system gives you free online access to court records in Franklin County. Search for criminal cases by the defendant's name or case number. Results show charges, court dates, case status, and how the case ended. This is often the best way to track what happens after an arrest. Court records show the full path of a case from start to finish.

Alacourt has records for both Circuit Court and District Court cases. You can see hearing dates, lawyer info, and any judgments. For full case documents, you may need to call the clerk's office. Not all filings show up online.

Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk's office keeps all official court records for Franklin County. This includes criminal cases, civil cases, probate records, and family law matters. The clerk's office can give you certified copies of court documents. There are fees for this service.

District Court

The Franklin County District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic tickets, and small claims. First hearings for felonies start here too. Then they get sent up to Circuit Court. District Court records are in the same Alacourt system as Circuit Court cases.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Local News Sources

Local newspapers and news sites often post arrest reports for Franklin County. The Franklin County Times covers Russellville and nearby towns. They may include booking info from the Sheriff's Office. These reports usually list names, charges, and booking dates. Checking local news can be a fast way to see recent arrests. You do not have to call the jail.

State Prison Inmates

If someone got convicted of a felony and got more than two years in prison, they get moved from the Franklin County Jail to a state prison. The Alabama Department of Corrections runs prisons across the state. Use the ADOC Inmate Search tool to find people serving state sentences. The database shows where they are, sentence info, and expected release dates.

Federal Court Records

Federal crimes in Franklin County go to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Federal arrests are handled separately from state cases. They do not go through the Franklin County Jail. To search federal case records, use PACER. To find people in federal prison, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. It shows current custody info.

ALEA Background Checks

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency keeps the state's main criminal history database. For a full background check that covers arrests in all Alabama counties, you can send a request to ALEA. A name-based search costs $25. Fingerprint checks are there for employers and licensing needs. These searches show arrest records from the whole state, not just Franklin County.

Fees for Arrest Records

Processing Times

Legal Framework for Arrest Records

Public Records Law

Alabama has an open records law. It gives citizens the right to access government documents, including arrest records. Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, every citizen can look at and copy public writings of the state. Some things are off limits by law. But arrest records and jail booking logs are public documents. The jailer's logbook with booking info is open for anyone to see.

What Information Is Public

The public can usually get the following arrest info in Franklin County: the person's name, date of birth, booking date and time, charges at arrest, bond amount if set, court dates, and how the case ended. Mugshots are public records under Alabama law too. But some personal details get held back. This includes Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and home addresses in some cases.

Records Not Available to the Public

Some records are kept from public view under Alabama law. Juvenile arrest records are private. They cannot be given to the public. Sealed or expunged records are not available. Only law enforcement and approved agencies can see them. Active investigation details and info on warrants not yet served stay hidden. Mental health records and some domestic violence protective order details may also have limits on who can see them.

Expungement in Franklin County

Alabama law lets you erase certain arrest records under specific conditions. You may qualify if charges against you got dismissed. Or if you were found not guilty. Or if you finished a pretrial diversion program. Some non-violent offenses can be cleared after a waiting period too. To start the expungement process, file a petition with the Franklin County Circuit Court. The filing fee is $500. Fee waivers exist for those who can show financial hardship. A judge will look at the petition and hold a hearing. If approved, the arrest record gets sealed from public view. But law enforcement can still see it for official work.

Legal Resources

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal help to low-income people across the state, including Franklin County. They mostly handle civil stuff like housing, family law, and public benefits. But they can point you to criminal defense lawyers. They may also help with expungement petitions in some cases.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

If you need to hire a criminal defense lawyer or want help clearing your record, the Alabama State Bar has a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with attorneys in Franklin County who do criminal defense, expungement, and related work. Call (800) 392-5660 to get a referral.

Public Defender Services

If you got arrested in Franklin County and cannot afford a lawyer, you may get a public defender. The judge decides if you qualify at your first court appearance. They look at your income and assets. Public defenders represent defendants in criminal cases across the 34th Judicial Circuit. They can explain your charges, possible penalties, and ways to resolve your case.

Search Franklin County Records

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

Cities in Franklin County

Franklin County has several towns. Russellville is the county seat and largest city, with about 10,000 people. Other towns include Phil Campbell, Red Bay, Vina, Hodges, and Spruce Pine. None of these have over 100,000 people. So they do not have pages on this site. All arrests in these towns go through the Franklin County Jail in Russellville. Looking for someone picked up by Russellville Police or Red Bay Police? The booking info will be at the county jail.

Nearby Counties

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