Search Monroe County Arrest Records

Monroe County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office. You can also find them through Alabama's statewide court system. The county seat is Monroeville. All criminal cases go through the 35th Judicial Circuit.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for areas outside city limits. They also run the county jail. Anyone arrested in Monroe County gets booked and processed there. It does not matter who made the arrest. Deputies, city cops, or state troopers all bring people to the same jail. The sheriff's office keeps records of all arrests. They can help with basic questions about who is in custody.

Monroe County Jail

The Monroe County Jail is where all arrests in the county get processed. When someone is arrested, they come here. Booking includes fingerprints, a mugshot, and recording personal info. Bond gets set if it applies. The jail is open 24/7 for booking and releases. Visits are allowed too. Call ahead to check the hours and rules. They can change.

After booking, inmates wait for trial or serve short sentences. Some wait for a transfer to state prison. Bond amounts depend on the charges. The person's history matters too. A judge sets the bond. You can often pay it right at the jail to get out. For serious crimes, bond may be very high. Sometimes there is no bond at all.

How to Search Monroe County Arrest Records

Alacourt Public Access Portal

The best way to search online is through Alacourt Public Access. This is the statewide court system. All Alabama counties use it. You can search by name, case number, or date range. Go to the website and pick Monroe from the list. Select what type of case you want. Then type in the name.

Alacourt shows court cases, not jail bookings. There can be a gap between the arrest and when it shows up. Once charges are filed, you will see the case number and charges. Hearing dates show up too. So does how the case ended. The system is free. No account needed. Search as much as you want.

Keep in mind that Alacourt only shows filed cases. If charges got dropped before filing, you will not find them. Very new arrests might not show up yet either. Give it a few days. New cases take time to appear in the system.

Contacting the Sheriff's Office

For current jail info, call the Sheriff's Office at (251) 575-3161. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody. They give basic booking details over the phone. They handle these calls all the time. Do not hesitate to ask. For more detailed records, you may need to go in person. Fill out a request form there. Bring your ID.

Alabama VINE Notification System

Want to track an inmate? Use Alabama VINE. This free service sends you alerts. You get a notice when an inmate is released or moved. It also alerts you if they escape. Pick phone, email, or text for your alerts. The service was made for crime victims. But anyone can sign up. Call 1-877-846-3425 to register by phone.

VINE updates are fast. Within minutes of a status change, you get a notice. This helps if you need to know right away when someone gets out.

Public Records Requests

For records not online, submit a written request. Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, you can inspect and copy public records. Send your request to the Sheriff's Office or Circuit Clerk. It depends on what you need. Be specific. Include your contact info and sign it. The agency must respond in a fair amount of time.

Monroe County Court Records

Criminal cases here go through the 35th Judicial Circuit. Monroe is the only county in this circuit. Judges are not shared with other counties. Felony cases go to Circuit Court. Misdemeanors and traffic cases go to District Court. Both courts are in the Monroe County Courthouse in Monroeville.

Monroe County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk's office keeps all official court records. This includes criminal case files, civil cases, and appeals. Need certified copies for legal use? This is where you get them. Think expungement petitions or background check disputes. The clerk's office also handles case filings. They keep the dockets and issue subpoenas.

Monroe County District Court

District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and preliminary hearings. Minor offense arrests get heard here. The court also deals with small claims. Some civil matters go here too. You can search District Court records through Alacourt. It works the same as Circuit Court.

35th Judicial Circuit

Monroe County is the only county in the 35th Judicial Circuit. Circuit judges hear all felony cases. They also handle civil matters over a certain dollar amount. Appeals from District Court come here too. The court deals with serious crimes. Think assault, burglary, and drug trafficking. Cases are heard at the courthouse. Check the docket through the clerk's office or Alacourt to find hearing dates.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Monroeville Police Department

Monroeville is the county seat. It is the largest town in Monroe County. The police department handles law enforcement inside city limits. When they make an arrest, the person goes to the county jail for booking. Need incident reports from Monroeville PD? Contact them directly. Do not call the sheriff for those.

ALEA Criminal History Checks

Need a full criminal history for all of Alabama? Request one from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). This is more complete than online searches. Jobs often require it. So do licenses and legal matters. Submit an application and get fingerprinted. The fee is $25. It takes about 5-10 business days by mail.

ALEA records show arrests and convictions from every Alabama county. Not just Monroe. This gives you the full picture. Some employers want an ALEA check for this reason. Licensing boards often require it too.

Federal Court Records

Monroe County is in the Southern District of Alabama for federal cases. Federal crimes are separate from state crimes. They use a different court system. Search federal court records using PACER. Find federal inmates through the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Alabama Department of Corrections

Felony convictions over a year mean a transfer to state prison. The person leaves the county jail and goes to an ADOC facility. Search for state inmates with the ADOC Inmate Search. You can see their location, sentence details, and release date. County jail inmates are not in this system.

Fees for Monroe County Arrest Records

Online searches through Alacourt cost nothing. VINE is free too. Fees kick in when you need physical copies. Certified copies for legal use cost more. The Circuit Clerk sets the fees. Bring cash, check, or money order. Call ahead to check what they take.

Processing Times

Legal Framework for Public Records

Alabama has an open records law. It gives you the right to see government records. Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, you can inspect and copy public records. Some exceptions exist. But most arrest records are covered.

What Records Are Public

Most arrest records in Monroe County are public. This includes booking info. Name, arrest date, charges, bond amount. Mugshots are usually public too. Court documents, dockets, and hearing dates are public once filed. Final case outcomes are public. The jail log showing current inmates is also public.

Records That May Be Restricted

Some records are not public. Juvenile records are protected under Alabama Code Section 12-15-102. The public cannot see them. Expunged or sealed records are hidden by court order. Active investigation files can be held back. Personal info like Social Security numbers gets blacked out on copies.

Expungement in Monroe County

Alabama allows expungement of some arrest records. You might qualify. Charges dismissed? You may be eligible. Acquitted at trial? Same thing. Finished a diversion program? That counts too. Enough time since a non-violent conviction also works. Start by getting your criminal history from ALEA. Then file a petition with the Circuit Court.

The filing fee is $500. Cannot afford it? Ask about a hardship waiver. After filing, there may be a hearing. The court decides if you qualify. If approved, the record gets sealed. You usually do not have to mention an expunged arrest on job forms. The whole process can take months. Plan ahead.

To start, contact the Circuit Clerk's office for forms. You will need details about the arrest. Case number and date are key. The clerk can tell you what else to include.

Search Monroe County Records

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

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe County has several small towns. None have over 100,000 people. Monroeville is the county seat and largest city. It has about 5,500 residents. Other towns include Excel, Frisco City, and Beatrice. All arrests go through the county jail. Court cases go through the county court system.

Monroe County is rural. The sheriff's office handles most law enforcement outside Monroeville. For arrest records from any town in the county, contact the sheriff or circuit clerk.

Nearby Counties

Monroe County is in southwest Alabama. Not sure where someone was arrested? These nearby counties are worth checking.

Clarke County is to the north. Wilcox and Butler are to the east. Conecuh and Escambia are to the south. Baldwin County is southwest near the coast. Each county has its own sheriff and court system. Check the right county if you are not sure where an arrest happened.