Search Geneva County Arrest Records

Geneva County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office. They run the county jail in the city of Geneva. The county sits in the 33rd Judicial Circuit. It covers the southeastern corner of Alabama along the Florida state line.

Geneva County Sheriff's Office

The Geneva County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the unincorporated parts of the county. They also run the county jail. The sheriff's office is the main source for arrest records here. All bookings go through their facility in Geneva. It does not matter which agency made the arrest. The sheriff's office deals with patrol, criminal probes, civil process, and inmate custody.

Geneva County is a smaller county in southeast Alabama. The sheriff's office handles fewer arrests than bigger urban counties. Still, the same public records laws apply. Anyone can ask for arrest info under Alabama Code § 36-12-40. This gives citizens the right to look at public records. The sheriff's office can give you booking records, mugshots, and info about current inmates.

Geneva County Jail

The Geneva County Jail is where all arrestees get processed and held. The facility handles bookings around the clock. It is open seven days a week. When someone gets arrested by any law enforcement agency in the county, they end up at this jail. The booking process creates a record. It includes the person's name, charges, arrest date and time, arresting agency, and bond amount if one is set.

Family members who want to know if someone is in custody can call the jail. The staff can tell you if a person is there. They can also share the charges and bond amount. Visitation schedules and rules vary. It is best to ask about those when you call. The jail also handles the release process once bond is posted or charges are dropped.

How to Search Geneva County Arrest Records

Call the Sheriff's Office

Geneva County is one of the smaller counties in Alabama. It does not have a public online inmate roster. The best way to find out if someone is in jail is to call the sheriff's office at (334) 684-2600. Give them the name of the person you are looking for. They can tell you if that person is in custody. They can also share bond info and the charges on file.

Phone calls work well for current inmates. The staff is used to these calls. They can usually give you the info fast. If you need more detailed records or copies, you might need to visit in person. You could also send a written request. Have the full name of the person ready. A date of birth helps them find the right record.

Alacourt Case Search

Once charges have been filed in court, you can search for case info through Alacourt Public Access. This is Alabama's statewide court records database. It covers Geneva County and all other counties in the state. Go to the website and pick Geneva County from the dropdown. Choose the case type, like Criminal or Traffic. Then enter the name you want to search.

Alacourt shows detailed case info once it is in the system. You can see the case number and what charges were filed. Hearing dates and motions are listed too. Once the case ends, you can see the outcome. This includes guilty verdicts, not guilty verdicts, or dismissed charges. Sentencing info shows up here too. The system is free. You do not need to register.

Keep in mind that Alacourt only shows cases after charges are filed. There is a gap between the arrest and when the case shows up in court records. If you are looking for very recent arrests, the case might not be in Alacourt yet. In that case, call the sheriff's office or jail. That is your best bet for current info.

VINELink Notifications

Geneva County uses the VINELink victim notification system. This service lets you track inmates. You get alerts when their status changes. You can sign up for phone, email, or text alerts. VINELink will tell you when an inmate is released, moved, or escapes.

To use VINELink, go to the website. Search for Geneva County, Alabama. Enter the name of the inmate you want to track. If they are in the system, you can sign up for alerts. This is a free service that runs around the clock. It is very useful for crime victims. They need to know when an offender might get out. Law enforcement encourages victims to use this system for safety.

In-Person Records Requests

For detailed records or certified copies, you may need to go in person. The sheriff's office can give you incident reports, booking records, and other arrest documents. The Circuit Court Clerk's office handles court records. This includes case files, judgments, and sentencing papers. Bring a valid ID when you go. Be ready to explain what records you need.

There may be fees for copies. Certified copies cost more. Regular copies run about $1 per page. Certified copies might be a few dollars more. The clerk can tell you the exact fees. Cash is usually fine. Some offices take checks or money orders. Call ahead to check what they accept.

Geneva County Court Records

Criminal cases in Geneva County go through the 33rd Judicial Circuit Court. This circuit also includes Dale County. The two counties share some judicial resources. Circuit Court handles felony cases. It also takes appeals from lower courts. District Court deals with misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and preliminary hearings. Both courts are in the Geneva County Courthouse.

When someone is arrested, the first court date is usually a bond hearing or arraignment. The prosecutor then decides what charges to file. Felony charges go to a grand jury. They decide if there is enough proof for an indictment. Once indicted, the case moves through Circuit Court. Misdemeanor cases stay in District Court from start to finish.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Geneva County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court records for the county. This includes criminal case files, civil cases, and family law cases. The clerk's office is the official keeper of court papers. They can give copies to the public upon request.

District Court

Geneva County District Court handles most criminal cases. Most arrests lead to misdemeanor charges or traffic tickets. These stay in District Court. They do not go to Circuit Court. The court also handles preliminary hearings for felonies. These happen before the grand jury review. Small claims and civil matters under a certain dollar amount fall under District Court too.

Municipal Courts

The city of Geneva and other towns may run municipal courts. These courts handle city ordinance violations. They also take on some minor criminal matters. If you need records for a city ordinance case, contact the municipal court. Do not go to the county courts. More serious charges and arrests go through the county system.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Geneva Police Department

The Geneva Police Department handles law enforcement in the city limits. Arrests by city police go to the Geneva County Jail for booking. If you need a police report or info about a case, contact their records division. The jail booking records are with the sheriff's office. But arrest reports and incident reports stay with the arresting agency.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

For a full criminal history report, you can ask for a background check through ALEA. This costs $25. You need to send fingerprints on an FBI-approved card. You can do this by mail or in person at the ALEA office in Montgomery. An ALEA check shows more than free online searches. It includes older records and records from other counties.

Federal Court Records

Geneva County is in the Middle District of Alabama for federal court. Federal crimes are handled apart from state crimes. Drug trafficking, bank robbery, and tax evasion are examples. Crimes on federal property also go through federal court. You can search federal court records through PACER. There are fees for document access.

Alabama Department of Corrections

If someone from Geneva County gets a felony conviction with more than a year in prison, they go to the Alabama Department of Corrections. The county jail only holds people awaiting trial. It also holds those serving short sentences. You can search for state prison inmates using the ADOC Inmate Search. It shows the inmate's facility, sentence length, and release date.

Sex Offender Registry

The ALEA Sex Offender Registry lists registered sex offenders in Alabama. This includes those in Geneva County. You can search by name or address. See if any offenders live in your area. The registry shows the offender's photo, address, and the offense. Community notification is part of Alabama law. This info is publicly available.

Fees for Geneva County Arrest Records

Most ways to check arrest records here cost nothing. Calling the jail is free. Searching Alacourt is free. Signing up for VINELink is free too. Fees kick in when you need paper copies. Certified copies for legal use cost more. The clerk's office sets the rates. Call ahead to ask about current fees before you go.

Legal Framework for Public Records Access

Alabama has a public records law. It gives citizens the right to access government documents. This includes arrest records. Alabama Code § 36-12-40 says every resident can look at and copy public writings. Arrest records fall under this law. You have the legal right to ask for them from the sheriff's office or courts.

What Information Is Available

Public arrest records here usually include the person's name. You also get the arrest date and time, charges at booking, bond amount, and mugshot. The arresting agency is listed too. Court records add more detail. You can see formal charges, hearing dates, and the plea. Trial info shows up if there was one. The verdict and sentence are included. Disposition info tells how the case ended.

Records That May Be Restricted

Some records are not public. Most arrest info is available, but not all. Juvenile records are confidential under Alabama Code § 12-15-102. You cannot get arrest records for people under 18 at the time. Sealed and expunged records are off limits too. Active case files may be held back until an arrest is made. Personal info like Social Security numbers gets removed from public papers.

Expungement in Alabama

Alabama allows expungement of some arrest records. You may qualify if charges were dropped or dismissed. The same goes for not guilty verdicts. Completing a program like drug court can help too. The process needs a petition filed with Circuit Court. There is a $500 filing fee. You may have to attend a hearing. Non-violent offenses are more likely to qualify. Violent crimes and sex offenses usually do not.

Expunged records get sealed from public view. They will not show up in most background checks. You usually do not have to tell employers about them. But law enforcement can still access expunged records. People applying for jobs like police work must still disclose them.

Search Geneva County Records

Use the search tool below to find arrest records and other public records in Geneva County and across Alabama.

Cities in Geneva County

Geneva County has several small cities and towns. Geneva is the county seat. It is also the largest city with about 4,500 residents. Other communities include Hartford, Samson, Slocomb, Black, Coffee Springs, and Malvern. None of these cities are large enough for separate pages on this site.

All arrests by local police go through the Geneva County Jail. It does not matter which agency made the arrest. Geneva Police, Hartford Police, or any other local agency , all bookings happen at the county facility. The sheriff's office has records of every arrest in the county.

Nearby Counties

If you are looking for arrest records in southeast Alabama, check nearby counties too. An arrest near county lines could be in another county. It depends on where it happened. Geneva County borders several Alabama counties. It also shares a border with Florida.