Search Lawrence County Arrest Records

Lawrence County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Moulton. The county sits in the 6th Judicial Circuit. It covers a rural area in northwest Alabama.

Lawrence County Sheriff's Office

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. They patrol areas outside city limits. They also run the county jail. All local arrests go through this jail. The office is in Moulton and offers public safety services to residents. Deputies take calls across the county. The sheriff also handles civil process, courthouse security, and moving prisoners.

Lawrence County is smaller and more rural than its neighbors. The sheriff's office has a modest staff. That fits the county population. Like most rural Alabama counties, the sheriff works with state troopers from ALEA. These troopers also patrol the highways in Lawrence County. Town police in Moulton and other areas handle calls within city limits. But those arrests still go through the county jail.

Lawrence County Jail

The Lawrence County Jail is where all arrests get handled. It does not matter who makes the arrest. Sheriff's deputies, Moulton Police, or any other local agency bring people here for booking. The jail holds inmates waiting for trial. It also holds those serving short sentences. Longer state sentences are served at an Alabama DOC facility after sentencing. Bail bondsmen work in the area if someone needs to post bond.

The jail runs around the clock for intake and releases. Call ahead to check on visiting hours and rules. These can change. Inmates can get mail. They may also have phone access. Calls are usually collect or go through a paid system. The jail also runs a commissary. Friends and family can add money to an account. Inmates use this to buy approved items.

How to Search Lawrence County Arrest Records

Contacting the Sheriff's Office

Lawrence County is a smaller county. Online inmate rosters are not always up for every Alabama county. The best way to find out if someone is in custody is to call the jail. Call (256) 974-9291 directly. Give them the name of the person you want to find. They can tell you if that person is held there now. Staff can also share info about charges and bond amounts over the phone. For more detailed records, you may need to go in person.

When you call, have as much info as you can. A full name helps a lot. A date of birth is even better if you have it. Common names can cause mix-ups. Any details you can give will help staff find the right person. Jail staff take these calls all the time. They can usually help fast.

Alacourt Case Search

The Alacourt Public Access system covers all 67 Alabama counties. Lawrence is one of them. This is the best free online way to look up court records after charges are filed. Go to the website. Pick Lawrence County from the list. Select the case type and enter a name or case number. You can see what charges were filed, court dates, case status, and how things ended. Alacourt is free. You do not need to make an account.

Keep in mind that Alacourt shows court records. It does not show jail records. There is a gap between when someone gets arrested and when charges get filed in court. An arrest from yesterday may not show up for days or longer. For current custody status, the jail is the better source. Use Alacourt when you want to know how a case turned out. It also shows what hearings are set.

Alabama VINE Notifications

Lawrence County uses the statewide VINELink victim notification system. Need to know when an inmate gets out or moved? You can sign up for alerts. The system will call, text, or email you when custody status changes. This saves you from having to check the jail over and over. Signing up is free. The service runs all day, every day.

In-Person Records Requests

For records not on the phone or online, you can go in person. Visit the sheriff's office or the Circuit Court Clerk's office. Bring a valid photo ID with you. The clerk's office at the courthouse in Moulton keeps court files. They can give you copies. There are fees for certified copies. You need these for legal uses. Cash and checks are usually accepted. Check payment methods before your visit.

The courthouse sits on the town square in Moulton. Parking is on the streets around the square. Court offices are open on weekdays during normal hours. If you need records from a specific case, have the case number ready. This speeds things up. Staff can help you search by name if you lack a case number. It just takes longer.

Lawrence County Court Records

Criminal cases in Lawrence County go through the 6th Judicial Circuit Court. Lawrence shares this circuit with Limestone, Morgan, and some other north Alabama counties. The Circuit Court handles felony cases after a grand jury reviews them. District Court deals with misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and preliminary hearings on felonies. Most minor offenses get resolved at the District Court level. They never reach Circuit Court.

Court records become public once a case is filed. You can find charging papers, motions, orders, and judgments in the court file. The final disposition tells you how the case ended. Was it a guilty plea? A trial verdict? A dismissal? Something else? Sentencing info is also part of the public record for convictions. Some documents might be sealed by a judge. But that is not common for routine criminal cases.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Lawrence County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court records. They handle public requests for copies. This office is your main contact for getting court documents. They can look up cases by name or case number. They will tell you what is in the file. Certified copies cost a fee. But just looking at a file is usually free if you go in person.

District Court

Lawrence County District Court is where most people with minor charges have their cases heard. Traffic tickets, misdemeanors, and preliminary felony hearings all happen here. The District Court is in the same courthouse as the Circuit Court. If you have a case in District Court, check the schedule through Alacourt. You can also call the clerk's office.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Moulton Police Department

Moulton is the county seat. It has its own police department. Arrests made by Moulton PD go to the Lawrence County Jail. This is the same as sheriff's arrests. If you need records tied to a Moulton Police case, contact their department. For jail and booking info, the county sheriff's office is still the right place to call.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

For an official criminal history report, ALEA does background checks. You need to send in fingerprints and pay a $25 fee. The results cover arrests and convictions from all Alabama counties. Not just Lawrence. This is more thorough than Alacourt. Employers often use it for official background checks. ALEA is in Montgomery. But you can send requests by mail.

Federal Court Records

Lawrence County falls in the Northern District of Alabama for federal court. If someone was arrested on federal charges, those records are not in the county system. Search federal cases through the PACER system. PACER charges a small fee per page. But some basic searches are free. You can find federal inmates through the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

State Prison Inmates

After someone is sentenced to state prison, they leave the county jail. They go to an Alabama DOC facility. The ADOC Inmate Search lets you find people serving state time. Enter a name to see where they are, how long the sentence is, and when they might get out. This database does not include county jail inmates. It only shows those in state prison.

Fees for Lawrence County Arrest Records

Most basic lookups are free. You can call the jail, use Alacourt, and search ADOC at no cost. Fees come up when you need certified copies from the clerk. Or an official background check from ALEA. The clerk's office can tell you what copies will cost. Call or visit to find out. Bring cash or a check. Not all offices take cards.

Legal Framework for Public Records Access

Alabama law gives the public a right to see arrest records and other government documents. Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 says citizens can look at and copy public writings of the state. There are exceptions in other laws. But arrest and court records are generally open to anyone who asks. This is why the sheriff's office and courts will give you info about arrests and cases.

What Information Is Available

Public arrest records in Lawrence County usually include the name of the person arrested. You also get the date and time of arrest, charges at booking, bond amount, and which agency made the arrest. Court records add more detail. You see formal charges filed, hearing dates, attorney info, plea entered, trial outcome, and sentencing. Put jail info and court records together. You get a fairly full picture.

Records That May Be Restricted

Some records are kept private. Juvenile cases are not public under Alabama law. Sealed or expunged records will not show up in searches. Ongoing cases may have some details held back until an arrest is made. Personal info like Social Security numbers and home addresses gets removed from public documents. If a judge has sealed a case, the clerk cannot give you access.

Expungement in Alabama

Alabama allows some arrest records to be expunged. People whose charges were dismissed may qualify. So may those found not guilty or who finished a diversion program. Some non-violent convictions can be expunged after a waiting period. You file a petition with the court and pay a $500 fee. A judge must approve it. If granted, the record is removed from public databases. Expunged records will not show up on standard background checks or in Alacourt.

Not everything qualifies for expungement. Violent felonies, sex offenses, and some other serious crimes cannot be expunged. The law has lists of what is eligible and what is not. If you want to get a record expunged, talk to a lawyer who handles these cases in Lawrence County. The circuit clerk can tell you what you need to file and the fees.

Search Lawrence County Records

Use the search tool below to look up arrest records and other public records in Lawrence County and across Alabama.

Cities in Lawrence County

Lawrence County has several small towns. None have a population over 100,000. Moulton is the county seat and the largest town. Other communities include Town Creek, Courtland, Hillsboro, and North Courtland. All arrests made by local police in these towns go through the Lawrence County Jail. For arrest records from any of these areas, contact the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office.

None of these cities have their own pages on this site. Use the county-level resources above to find arrest info. The sheriff's office handles all booking no matter which agency made the arrest. Calling them at (256) 974-9291 is the right first step for any Lawrence County arrest inquiry.

Nearby Counties

Looking for arrest records in northwest Alabama? These nearby counties may also help your search.