Search Henry County Arrest Records

Henry County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Abbeville. The county sits in Alabama's 20th Judicial Circuit. All bookings go through the county jail.

Henry County Sheriff's Office

The Henry County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement for rural parts of the county. The office does patrol, criminal cases, civil process, and jail work. All arrests in Henry County go through the jail in Abbeville. It does not matter if a deputy picks someone up in a rural spot or a city cop hands them over. They all end up at the same place.

Henry County is one of the smaller counties in Alabama. Due to its size, the sheriff's office may not have as many online tools as bigger areas. But the staff can help with records by phone or in person. Need to check on a recent arrest? Want info on a past booking? Calling the sheriff's office is often the fastest way to get answers.

Henry County Jail

The Henry County Jail is a small place that does bookings and short-term holds. People stay here while they wait for trial, bond out, or serve time under one year. Longer terms mean a move to the Alabama Department of Corrections. The jail runs 24/7 for booking and release. You can call any time to see if someone is in custody.

The inmate count here tends to stay low. Family can call the jail to ask about visits, bond amounts, and court dates. Some booking info might show up in regional jail systems. But calling the jail is still the best way to confirm if someone is locked up in Henry County right now.

How to Search Henry County Arrest Records

Contacting the Sheriff's Office

For current inmate info in Henry County, call the sheriff's office at (334) 585-3131. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody. They can share the charges and bond amount too. This matters a lot in smaller counties. Online rosters may not exist or get updated as often as in big areas. Have the full name and date of birth ready when you call. That makes the search go faster.

You can also go to the sheriff's office in person during work hours. Bring a photo ID. Be ready to fill out a records request form. Staff will tell you what records exist and what copies cost. Basic info on current inmates is free most of the time. Certified copies of booking records or other docs may have a small fee.

Alacourt Case Search

Once charges are filed in court, you can look up case info through Alacourt Public Access. This statewide database covers all 67 Alabama counties. Henry County is included. To search, pick Henry County from the dropdown. Choose a case type like Criminal or Traffic. Enter the name you want. Results show case numbers, charges, hearing dates, status, and how the case ended.

Alacourt is free. You do not need to sign up. Court clerks add new case info as they get it. There may be a short delay between filing and when it shows up. Still, this is a great tool for tracking cases through the court process. You can see when hearings are set. You can check if a plea was entered. You can find out how a case ended.

VINELink Notifications

Henry County uses the VINELink victim alert system. Sign up to get alerts when an inmate's status changes. You can get a call, email, or text when someone is let out, moved to a new place, or escapes. VINELink is free and works 24 hours a day.

Go to the site and search for the inmate by name. Find the right person and sign up for alerts. The system will reach out when status changes happen. This helps crime victims a lot. They want to know when the person who hurt them gets out. No need to keep calling the jail. You get peace of mind.

In-Person Records Requests

Some records are not online. You can ask for them in person at the sheriff's office or Circuit Court Clerk's office. Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, citizens have the right to see and copy public documents. Some records may be off-limits or need a wait time before release.

Be as specific as you can when you ask. Know the arrest date? The person's name? A case number? Share that. The more details you give, the faster staff can find what you need. Old records may take longer to pull if they are in storage.

Henry County Court Records

Criminal cases in Henry County go to the 20th Judicial Circuit Court. This circuit is shared with Houston County. Some judges and resources serve both places. Felonies go to Circuit Court. Misdemeanors and early hearings go to District Court. Once an arrest leads to charges, the case enters the court system. Records then become available through the clerk's office and Alacourt.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Henry County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court records. This covers criminal files, civil cases, probate, and other court docs. Need copies? Want to review a case file? Contact this office. The clerk can give you certified copies for legal uses. There is a fee for that.

District Court

Henry County District Court takes on misdemeanors, traffic tickets, small claims, and early hearings for felony cases. Many arrests end up with charges filed in District Court. This is true for less serious crimes. If a felony charge shows up at a hearing, the case moves to Circuit Court. District Court records can also be searched on Alacourt.

20th Judicial Circuit

The 20th Judicial Circuit serves Henry County and Houston County. Judges may travel between the two to hear cases. Court schedules and resources are shared across the circuit. Got questions about dates? Need to know when a judge will be in Henry County? The circuit clerk's office can help.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

Want a full criminal history report? ALEA can help. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency runs the statewide crime database. They provide detailed reports with arrests and convictions from all of Alabama. Not just Henry County. An ALEA check needs fingerprints and costs $25.

To ask for an ALEA check, fill out ALEA Form 46. Add fingerprints on an FBI card. Include a copy of your photo ID. Mail it to the ALEA Criminal Records Unit in Montgomery. Or go in person. Mail takes 5-10 business days. In-person is same-day.

Federal Court Records

Henry County is in the Middle District of Alabama for federal cases. Federal crimes are handled apart from state crimes. They go through federal court in Montgomery. Search federal records through PACER. It covers all federal courts in the country. Criminal, civil, and bankruptcy cases are all there.

Alabama Department of Corrections

If someone gets a felony with more than one year in prison, they leave the county jail. They go to the Alabama Department of Corrections. Use the ADOC Inmate Search to find state inmates. It is free. It shows where they are, sentence details, and when they might get out.

Sex Offender Registry

The ALEA Sex Offender Registry tracks offenders all over Alabama. This includes Henry County. Search by name or address to see who lives near you. The registry shows photos, crime details, and current addresses. It is free and helps people know about offenders in their area.

Fees for Henry County Arrest Records

Most basic searches are free. Calling the sheriff's office, using Alacourt, and VINELink cost nothing. Fees kick in when you need certified copies or an official ALEA report. The Circuit Court Clerk takes cash, checks, and money orders. Credit cards may or may not work. Call ahead if you plan to pay with a card.

Legal Framework for Public Records Access

Alabama law gives broad access to arrest records and other government docs. Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, every citizen can inspect and copy public writings. This is the legal basis for getting arrest records in Henry County. The rule applies unless another law blocks access to certain records.

What Information Is Available

Public arrest records in Henry County usually include the name, arrest date and time, charges at booking, bond amounts, mugshots, and arresting agency. Once a case goes to court, more info opens up. Formal charges, hearing dates, pleas, trial info, verdicts, and sentences. Most of this is public record.

Records That May Be Restricted

Some records are not public. Juvenile records are private under Alabama law. Arrest records for those under 18 stay sealed. Records that a court sealed or expunged are also off-limits. Ongoing cases may hide info until an arrest happens. Social Security numbers and home addresses are usually blacked out from public docs.

Expungement in Alabama

Alabama lets some arrest records be expunged. People with dismissed charges may qualify. Same for those found not guilty or who finished a diversion program. Some non-violent crimes can be cleared after a wait. You file a petition with the circuit court and pay a $500 fee. If the judge says yes, the record gets sealed. It usually will not show on background checks after that.

Violent felonies, sex crimes, and other serious offenses cannot be expunged. The judge decides whether to grant or deny the petition. Think you might qualify? Talk to a lawyer. They can explain your options and walk you through the process.

Search Henry County Records

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

Cities in Henry County

Henry County has several small towns. Abbeville is the county seat and the largest one. Other spots include Headland, Newville, and Haleburg. None of these are big enough for their own page here. Arrest records for all of them go through the county sheriff's office.

Abbeville has about 2,500 people. It is the government hub for the county. Headland is the other main town with around 5,000 residents. Both have their own police. But city cops send arrests to the Henry County Jail. For records on any city in Henry County, call the sheriff at (334) 585-3131.

Nearby Counties

Looking for arrest records in southeast Alabama? You may want to check nearby counties too. Arrests near county lines could end up in a different place. It depends on where the arrest happened.