Find Arrest Records in Marengo County

Marengo County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office. They run the county jail in Linden. Once charges get filed, the 17th Judicial Circuit Court takes over criminal cases. You can search those court records through Alacourt.

Marengo County Sheriff's Office

The Marengo County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for areas outside city limits. They also run the county jail. The department does patrol, investigations, and warrant service. They handle court security, civil process, and jail work too. When arrests happen in Linden, Demopolis, or other towns, the Sheriff's Office works with local police.

Anyone arrested in Marengo County gets booked at the county jail in Linden. The jail keeps booking logs, inmate rosters, and custody records. Once someone is processed into the facility, their booking info becomes public. The Sheriff's Office can give you details about current inmates and recent bookings if you ask.

Requesting Inmate Information

Want to know if someone is in the Marengo County Jail? Call the Sheriff's Office at (334) 295-4287. Staff can tell you if the person is being held. They can also share what charges they face and the bond amount. For more details or copies of booking records, you might need to submit a written request. You can also visit the office in person during business hours.

Jail staff processes inmates around the clock. So booking info is on hand at any time. But detailed records requests only get handled during regular business hours. When you call about an inmate, have the person's full name ready. Also know the rough date of arrest. This helps staff find records faster. It makes a big difference if the person has a common name.

Bond Information

Judges set bond amounts in Marengo County. They look at how serious the charges are. They also weigh flight risk and criminal history. For minor offenses, bonds may be preset. You can get out right away once you pay. Felony charges usually need a bond hearing first. The Sheriff's Office can tell you the bond amount for any current inmate. You can pay bonds in cash or use a licensed bail bondsman. Several bail bond companies work in the Linden area. They can post bond any time of day or night.

Court Records and Case Information

After an arrest in Marengo County, charges go through the 17th Judicial Circuit Court. This circuit also covers Greene, Hale, and Sumter counties. The Circuit Court takes felony cases. The District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Both courts keep records you can search online.

Alacourt Case Search

The Alacourt Public Access portal gives free access to court records for Marengo County. It covers all Alabama counties too. To search criminal cases, go to the site. Pick Marengo County from the dropdown. Choose Criminal as the case type. Then enter the person's name. Results show case numbers, charges filed, and hearing dates. You also see attorneys of record and case status. All of this is free to view.

Alacourt gets updates often as court cases move along. New cases show up within a day or two of filing. Hearing results, pleas, and sentences get posted after they happen. The system goes back several years. So you can find old cases and recent ones. This is the best free tool for finding criminal case info in Marengo County.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Marengo County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court records. This includes criminal case files, judgments, orders, and sentencing docs. The clerk's office is in the Linden courthouse. You can get certified copies of court records in person or by mail. There is a fee. The office also takes expungement petitions and requests to seal records.

District Court

Marengo County District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felonies. This court is also in the Linden courthouse. If someone got arrested for a minor offense, their case will likely stay in District Court. Felony cases start here for the preliminary hearing. Then they move to Circuit Court if the defendant is bound over for trial.

You can also search District Court records on Alacourt. Just pick District Court as the case type. Traffic tickets, DUI charges, and misdemeanors show up in these results. Sometimes you can pay fines and court costs online through Alacourt. But some cases need in-person payment at the clerk's office.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Alabama VINE

The Alabama VINE system lets you track inmates in Marengo County. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. You can get alerts when an inmate's status changes. This free service sends notices by phone, email, or text. You find out when someone is released, moved, or escapes. Sign up online or call 1-877-846-3425. The system covers all county jails in Alabama.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) keeps a statewide criminal history database. You can ask for a background check through ALEA. People do this for jobs, licenses, or personal reasons. A name-based search costs $25. Results show arrest records, charges, and outcomes from across Alabama. ALEA also does fingerprint-based checks if you need more accuracy.

Federal Court Records

Federal criminal cases with Marengo County residents go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. Federal arrests are handled apart from state charges. This includes drug trafficking, gun crimes, fraud, and other federal offenses. You can search federal case records through PACER. That stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has an Inmate Locator for finding people serving federal time.

State Prison Inmates

If someone gets sent to state prison, they leave the Marengo County Jail. They go to an Alabama Department of Corrections facility. Use the ADOC Inmate Search to find people serving state time. This database shows where they are now. It also lists sentence length, expected release date, and more. County jails only hold inmates waiting for trial. They also hold people serving less than one year. Longer sentences get served in state prison.

Fees for Arrest Records

Some record searches are free. Others cost money. Here is what you can expect to pay for arrest and court records in Marengo County.

Processing Times

How long it takes to get records depends on the type of request and how you submit it.

Legal Framework for Arrest Records

Public Records Law

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, every citizen can look at and copy public records. There are some exceptions written into law. But in general, arrest records and booking info are public in Alabama. Court records are too. The jailer's logbook has booking info in it. The law says anyone can look at this log.

What Information Is Public

Here is what counts as public arrest info in Marengo County: inmate name, date of birth, booking date and time. Also charges at booking, bond amount, court dates, and case outcomes. Mugshots are public when they exist. Some personal details stay private though. This includes Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers. Home addresses get withheld too. Victim info stays private in some cases.

Records Not Available to the Public

Some records are kept private under Alabama law. Juvenile arrest and court records are sealed. The public cannot see them. Records that have been expunged or sealed by a judge stay hidden too. Active case details and unfiled warrants may be held back while cases are still open. Mental health records are also off limits. Some domestic violence protective order details may be restricted as well.

Expungement in Marengo County

Alabama lets you clear certain arrest records in some cases. You may qualify if charges got dismissed. You can also apply if you were found not guilty at trial. Finishing a pretrial diversion program works too. Some non-violent convictions can be cleared after a waiting period. The wait varies from one to ten years. It depends on what the offense was.

To ask for expungement, file a petition with the Marengo County Circuit Court. The filing fee is $500. You might get a fee waiver if money is tight. You need to give your case number and date of arrest. Also include details about how your case ended. The judge may set a hearing. At that point, the judge decides if you qualify. If approved, the arrest record gets removed from public databases. You can then legally say you were never arrested for that offense.

Legal Resources

Need legal help with arrest records or charges? Not sure what to do after an arrest? These resources may help.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal help to low-income people. They can assist with expungement petitions. They also help you understand your rights when it comes to arrest records. They do not handle criminal defense work. But they can help clear records after a case is done.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

Need to hire a lawyer for a criminal case or expungement? The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service. They can link you with attorneys who work in Marengo County. These lawyers handle criminal defense. The first meeting usually costs $25 for 30 minutes.

Public Defender

Got arrested but cannot afford a lawyer? You have the right to a public defender. Ask for one at your first court date. The court will check if you qualify. They look at your income and assets. Public defenders handle all parts of criminal cases. This goes from arraignment through trial and sentencing if needed.

Search Marengo County Records

Use the search tool below to look up arrest records in Marengo County. You can also search criminal history across Alabama.

Cities and Towns in Marengo County

Marengo County has several towns and cities. None of them have over 100,000 people. So there are no city pages for this county. But here is info about where arrests get processed in the main areas.

Linden is the county seat. About 1,800 people live there. The city has its own police. But arrests go to the Marengo County Jail for booking. Demopolis is the biggest city in the county with around 7,000 people. The Demopolis Police Department handles law work in city limits. Arrests there also go through the county jail. Both cities use the 17th Judicial Circuit for criminal court.

Other spots in Marengo County include Faunsdale, Thomaston, Myrtlewood, and Sweet Water. These smaller towns rely on the Sheriff's Office for police work. All arrest records for the whole county are kept at the Sheriff's Office in Linden.

Nearby Counties

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