Houston County Arrest Records

Houston County arrest records are kept by the Houston County Sheriff's Office. They run a medium-security jail in Dothan. The county was the last one made in Alabama. It formed in 1903 from parts of Dale, Geneva, and Henry counties. Houston County sits in the 20th Judicial Circuit. It serves as a hub for southeast Alabama. The sheriff's office has online tools to search for current inmates. You can use their inmate listing page or the Citizen Connect booking search system.

Houston County Sheriff's Office

The Houston County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for areas outside city limits. Sheriff Donald Valenza leads the department. They handle patrol, investigations, civil process, and jail operations. The sheriff's office is on North Foster Street in downtown Dothan. All arrests in Houston County go through the county jail. This is true no matter which agency made the arrest.

Houston County Jail

The Houston County Jail is a medium-security facility on East Main Street in Dothan. This is where all arrestees get booked and held. They stay here while awaiting trial or serving short sentences. The jail takes bookings around the clock. They keep records of everyone in custody. Family members can call the jail to ask about someone who was arrested. Staff can tell you about bond amounts and visitation schedules.

How to Search Houston County Arrest Records

Sheriff's Office Inmate Listing

The Houston County Sheriff's Office keeps an inmate listing on their website. This page shows current inmates at the Houston County Jail. It has basic booking info. You can browse the list to see who is in custody right now. The listing shows the inmate's name, booking date, charges, and bond amount. It is free to use. You do not need to sign up or make an account.

The inmate listing gets updated as new arrests come in. People get removed when they are released. Someone arrested in the evening might not show up until the next morning. The staff need time to do all the paperwork. If you are looking for someone specific and they are not on the list, check back later. You can also call the jail to ask if they are in custody.

Citizen Connect Booking Search

Houston County also uses the Citizen Connect booking search system. Southern Software runs this system. It gives you another way to search for inmates and view booking details. Citizen Connect may show extra info not on the sheriff's main website. You can search by name directly. You do not have to just browse through a list.

To use Citizen Connect, go to the booking search page. Enter the person's name. Results will show booking records that match. You can view details about each booking. This includes the charges, arrest date, and bond info. This system works well when you need to search by name. It saves you from scrolling through a full roster.

Alacourt Case Search

After charges have been filed in court, you can look up case info through the Alacourt Public Access system. Pick Houston County from the dropdown menu. Choose the case type like Criminal or Traffic. Then enter the name you want to search. Alacourt shows detailed case info. You can see the charges filed, hearing dates, case status, and outcome once the case is done. This is a free system that covers all 67 Alabama counties.

VINELink Notifications

Houston County is part of the VINELink victim notification system. This lets you sign up for alerts when an inmate's status changes. You can get notified by phone, email, or text. You will know when someone is released, moved to another facility, or escapes. This service helps crime victims who want to know when an offender is getting out. It is free and works around the clock.

In-Person Records Requests

For records that you cannot find online, you can make a request in person. Go to the sheriff's office or the Circuit Court Clerk's office. Bring a valid ID. Be ready to explain what records you need. Some older records might take time to get. This is true if they are stored in archives. The clerk can give you certified copies of court documents if you need them for legal purposes.

Houston County Court Records

Criminal cases in Houston County are heard in the 20th Judicial Circuit Court. Felony cases go to Circuit Court. Misdemeanors and preliminary hearings are handled in District Court. The 20th Judicial Circuit also includes Henry County. Some judicial resources are shared between the two counties. Court records become public once a case is filed. Some documents may be sealed by a judge's order in certain situations.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Houston County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court records in the county. This office handles criminal case filings. They track court dockets and give case info to the public. If you need copies of court documents or want to view case files, contact this office.

District Court

Houston County District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felonies. The court shares space in the courthouse complex with the Circuit Court. Many arrests lead to charges filed in District Court. This is true for less serious offenses. Traffic tickets and minor criminal matters usually stay in District Court. Serious charges get sent up to Circuit Court.

Municipal Courts

Dothan and other cities in Houston County run municipal courts. These courts handle city ordinance violations and some minor criminal matters. Arrests for city ordinance violations may lead to cases in municipal court. These do not go to the county courts. Still, the booking process goes through the Houston County Jail for most arrests.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Dothan Police Department

The Dothan Police Department is the largest city law enforcement agency in Houston County. Dothan is the county seat. It is also the regional center for the Wiregrass area of southeast Alabama. Arrests made by Dothan PD are processed at the Houston County Jail. For police reports or records tied to Dothan Police cases, contact their records division directly.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

For official criminal history reports that go beyond what you can find online, you can ask for a background check through ALEA. This gives you a fuller picture of someone's criminal history. It includes arrests and convictions from across Alabama. An ALEA criminal history check needs fingerprints. It costs $25.

Federal Court Records

Houston County falls within the Middle District of Alabama for federal court cases. Federal crimes are handled separately from state crimes. They go through the federal court system. The Middle District has its main courthouse in Montgomery. You can search federal court records through the PACER system. It covers all federal courts nationwide.

Alabama Department of Corrections

If someone has been convicted and sent to state prison, they will be moved from the county jail to the Alabama Department of Corrections. You can search for state prison inmates using the ADOC Inmate Search. This shows current location and sentence info. It also shows projected release dates for people serving time in Alabama's state prison system.

Fees for Houston County Arrest Records

The good news is that most online searches are free. You can check the sheriff's inmate listing and use Citizen Connect. You can also search Alacourt without paying. Fees come into play when you need certified copies of court documents. You also pay for official criminal history reports from ALEA. The clerk's office accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Some offices may also take credit cards. Call ahead to confirm.

Legal Framework for Public Records Access

Alabama law gives the public broad access to arrest records and other government documents. Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, every citizen has the right to inspect and copy any public writing of this state. This applies unless there is a specific law that says otherwise. This is the legal foundation for accessing arrest records in Houston County and throughout Alabama.

What Information Is Available

Public arrest records in Houston County usually include the name of the person arrested. You can also see when the arrest happened, what charges were filed at booking, and how much bond was set at. The records show mugshot photos and which agency made the arrest. Once a case goes to court, you can find more info. This includes charges formally filed, hearing dates, and what plea was entered. If there was a trial, you can see trial details, the verdict, and the sentence given.

Records That May Be Restricted

Not everything is open to the public. Juvenile records are confidential under Alabama law. You cannot access arrest records for people under 18. Records that have been sealed or expunged are also off limits. If an investigation is still going on, some info may be held back until an arrest is made. Personal details like Social Security numbers and home addresses are often removed from public documents. This protects privacy.

Expungement in Alabama

Alabama does allow for expungement of certain arrest records in some cases. If charges against someone were dropped, they may be able to get the record expunged. The same goes if they were found not guilty at trial. It also applies if they finished a diversion program like drug court. The process involves filing a petition with the court where the case was heard. There is a filing fee of $500. If the judge grants the petition, the record gets sealed. It will not show up in most background checks.

Search Houston County Records

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

Cities in Houston County

Houston County includes several cities and towns. Dothan is the county seat and the largest city in the region. It is often called the "Peanut Capital of the World." Arrests made by city police in Houston County are processed at the Houston County Jail.

Dothan has about 72,000 residents. It is the main city in the county. Other communities in Houston County include Ashford, Columbia, Cottonwood, Cowarts, Gordon, Kinsey, Madrid, Rehobeth, and Taylor. These smaller places are served by the Houston County Sheriff's Office. They do not have separate arrest record pages.

Nearby Counties

If you are searching for arrest records in the southeast Alabama region, check these nearby counties too. Someone arrested near county lines might be processed in a nearby county. It depends on where the arrest took place.