Montgomery County Arrest Records

Montgomery County arrest records are on the Sheriff's Office website. Their online inmate search shows current inmates and bookings from the last 96 hours. Being the state capital means a lot of arrests come through here. The Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility holds about 1,200 inmates on any given day. Once charges are filed, the 15th Judicial Circuit Court takes over. You can search those court records through Alacourt.

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records and runs the county jail. Sheriff Derrick Cunningham leads the department. They serve as the main law enforcement for areas outside city limits. The Sheriff's Office also handles court security, serves warrants, and deals with civil process work.

Online Inmate Search

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office has an online inmate search portal that anyone can use. It shows who is in the Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility right now. You can also see people booked in the past 96 hours. Search by name or booking number. Or just browse the full roster if you want.

The search shows the inmate's full name, date of birth, and booking date. You also get their charges, bond amount, and mugshot. They update it throughout the day when new bookings come in or people get released. If you need the latest info on someone, you can call the jail too.

Mobile App Access

The Sheriff's Office has a mobile app too. You can search for inmates and see booking details right from your phone. It even sends you alerts when an inmate's status changes. Pretty helpful if you're trying to find someone who was just arrested. Get it from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Just search for the Montgomery County Sheriff app.

Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility

The Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility is the main county jail for Montgomery County. It's named after a former Sheriff here. The jail holds people waiting for court and those serving short sentences for misdemeanors. About 1,200 inmates are there on any given day. That makes it one of the bigger county jails in Alabama.

Video Visitation Program

Montgomery County runs a video visitation program at the jail. Family and friends need to book visits ahead of time online or by phone. You talk to inmates through video terminals. No need to go into the secure part of the jail. This has mostly taken the place of in-person visits now.

Just know that all video visits are recorded and watched. There are fees for the service. You have to pick from set time slots. If it's your first time, you need to make an account and show ID before you can book.

Booking Process

When someone gets arrested in Montgomery County, they go to the Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility for booking. This takes a few hours. They get fingerprinted, photographed, and go through a health screening. Their info goes into the jail system. After that, they show up in the online search and you can see their bond info.

Court Records for Criminal Cases

After an arrest, charges have to be filed in court before the case moves forward. Montgomery County is in the 15th Judicial Circuit. That court deals with felonies and civil matters. District Court takes care of misdemeanors and preliminary felony hearings. The City of Montgomery Municipal Court handles ordinance violations and minor offenses in the city.

15th Judicial Circuit Court

The Circuit Court handles all felony cases in Montgomery County. This covers arraignments, pretrial motions, trials, sentencing, and appeals. Records show up on Alacourt once charges are filed. The Circuit Clerk's office keeps the physical files. They can give you certified copies if you ask.

Montgomery County District Court

District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and preliminary felony hearings. A lot of arrests end up going through District Court, not Circuit Court. Small claims and civil cases under $20,000 get heard here too.

Alacourt Case Search

The Alacourt Public Access system lets you search court records for free. It covers the whole state, including Montgomery County. Pick Montgomery County from the menu and choose the case type. Then type in the name. You'll see case numbers, charges, hearing dates, and status. This is the best way to find case info after charges are filed.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Alabama VINE

The Alabama VINE system lets you track an inmate's status. You can sign up to get notified when they're released. It's free and covers the whole state, including Montgomery County. Call 1-877-846-3425 or use the website. You can get email, phone, or text alerts.

ALEA Criminal History

Need an official criminal history report? ALEA keeps statewide records. You can request one through their Criminal Records Unit in Montgomery. You'll need to fill out Form 46, give fingerprints, and pay the fee. If you go to the ALEA office at 301 S. Ripley Street in person, they can do it the same day.

Montgomery Police Department

The Montgomery Police Department makes arrests in the city. But all bookings still go through the county jail. The police department can give you arrest reports and incident info for their cases. Call MPD at (334) 625-2831 to ask for records.

Federal Cases

Federal cases go through the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. The federal courthouse is at 1 Church Street in Montgomery. Use PACER to search federal case records. To find federal inmates, use the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

Fees for Arrest Records

Payment Methods

The Circuit Clerk's office takes cash, money orders, and credit cards. You can pay some fees online through Alacourt. The Sheriff's Office usually takes cash and money orders for records. It's a good idea to call ahead and ask what they accept before you go.

Legal Framework

Alabama law says you can look at and copy public records. That's under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. Some things are exempt, but most arrest records, jail rosters, and court case info are public.

Some stuff stays private though. Juvenile arrest records are protected under Alabama Code Section 12-15-102. Expunged records are sealed under Alabama Code Title 15, Chapter 27. Active investigation files and warrants that haven't been served are usually off limits too.

Expungement

You can ask to have some arrest records expunged. This works for charges that were dropped, cases where you were found not guilty, and certain non-violent offenses after a wait. You file the petition in the circuit court that heard your case. If granted, the record gets sealed. It won't show up on regular background checks. Call a lawyer or the Alabama Legal Help hotline at 1-866-456-4995 if you need help with this.

Cities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County has the state capital and a few smaller towns. When city police make an arrest, booking still happens at the county jail.

Other places in the county include Pike Road, Prattville (partly in Autauga County), and some unincorporated areas. Montgomery city police make most of the arrests since that's where most people live. No matter which agency makes the arrest, everyone gets booked at Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility.

Nearby Counties

Not sure which county the arrest was in? You might need to check the jails in nearby counties too. These counties border Montgomery County.

Search Arrest Records

Use the search tool below to look up arrest records in Montgomery County and throughout Alabama.