Morgan County Arrest Records

Morgan County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office. They run a full online inmate roster with booking photos and charge details. The county seat is Decatur, a mid-sized city in North Alabama along the Tennessee River.

Morgan County Sheriff's Office

The Morgan County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county's unincorporated areas. All arrests made in Morgan County get processed through the county jail on Lee Street in Decatur. This is true for the sheriff's deputies and city police alike. The office has a solid online presence. They give the public several ways to look up inmate info. Sheriff's deputies patrol the rural parts of the county. City police handle Decatur, Hartselle, and other towns.

Morgan County Jail

The Morgan County Jail opened in 2006. It's a modern facility that can hold up to 994 inmates. It sits on Lee Street in Decatur and handles all bookings for the county. The jail has 108 corrections officers and 24-hour medical staff on site. This is where you would go to post bond or visit someone in custody. They process new arrests around the clock. Booking info gets added to the online roster throughout the day and night.

How to Search Morgan County Arrest Records

Online Inmate Roster

The Morgan County Sheriff's Office keeps an inmate roster on their website. This is the quickest way to find out if someone is in custody. The roster shows all current inmates along with their booking details. You can search by name. Or just browse the full list. Each inmate profile shows their name, charges, bond amount, next court date, and a mugshot. There is no fee to use this tool. You do not need to make an account.

The roster also has a 48-hour release view. This lets you see who got out of jail in the past two days. That can be helpful if you want to know when someone was released. Or if you need to confirm they are no longer in custody. The roster updates as bookings and releases happen. There can be a short delay for new arrests to show up after processing is done.

Alacourt Case Search

For court records and case info, you can use the Alacourt Public Access system. This is a statewide database that covers all Alabama counties. Pick Morgan County from the list. Select the type of case you want (Criminal, Traffic, etc.). Put in a name or case number. The system will show you what charges were filed, hearing dates, plea info, and the final outcome. Alacourt is free to use. You don't need to register.

VINELink Notifications

Morgan County takes part in the VINELink victim notification program. If you are a victim of a crime, you can sign up for alerts. Or if you just need to know when an inmate's status changes. The system will contact you by phone, email, or text. You'll get notified when someone is released, moved to a different facility, or escapes. This is a free service that runs around the clock. It saves you from having to check the roster over and over.

In-Person Records Requests

Some records are not available online. For those, you can go to the sheriff's office or Circuit Court Clerk's office in person. Bring a valid ID. Be ready to explain what records you need. Older records or those stored off-site may take some time to find. The clerk's office can give you certified copies of court documents. This is what you need if you are using them for legal purposes. There are fees for copies. Check with the office about current rates and what forms of payment they take.

Morgan County Court Records

Criminal cases in Morgan County are heard in the 8th Judicial Circuit Court. The Circuit Court deals with felony cases. District Court handles misdemeanors and preliminary hearings. After an arrest, the case goes through the court system. It creates a paper trail of documents. These include the charging papers, motions filed by attorneys, hearing notes, and the final disposition. Most court records are public once the case is filed. But a judge can seal certain documents if there is a good reason.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Morgan County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court records. They handle requests for copies. If you need to look up a case file or get a certified copy of a court document, this is where you go. The clerk's office can also tell you when hearings are scheduled. They'll let you know the status of a case.

District Court

Morgan County District Court takes care of misdemeanor cases, traffic tickets, and preliminary hearings for felonies. The court sits in the same courthouse as the Circuit Court. If you get arrested on minor charges, your case will likely be handled here. Not in Circuit Court.

Additional Arrest Record Resources

Decatur Police Department

The Decatur Police Department is the largest municipal police force in Morgan County. Arrests made by Decatur PD get processed at the Morgan County Jail. Same as any other arrest in the county. If you need records related to a Decatur Police investigation, contact their records division. The police department handles law enforcement within city limits. The sheriff covers the rest of the county.

Hartselle Police Department

Hartselle is the second largest city in Morgan County. The Hartselle Police Department handles arrests within that city. Those inmates also go to the Morgan County Jail for processing. For records from Hartselle PD investigations, contact their office directly.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

If you need an official criminal history report, you can request one through ALEA. This shows arrests and convictions from across the state. It's more thorough than what you can find online. ALEA background checks require you to submit fingerprints and pay a fee. The results include records from all Alabama counties. Not just Morgan.

Federal Court Records

Morgan County is part of the Northern District of Alabama for federal cases. If someone was arrested on federal charges, those records won't show up in the county system. You can search federal court records through the PACER system. There is a small fee per page to view documents. Some searches are free though.

Fees for Morgan County Arrest Records

Most of what you need is free online. The sheriff's inmate roster and Alacourt system cost nothing to use. You only pay when you need certified copies from the clerk's office. Or when you need an official background check from ALEA. The clerk's office takes cash and checks. Some offices may also accept credit cards. Call ahead to make sure if that matters to you.

Legal Framework for Public Records Access

Alabama law gives the public a right to access arrest records and other government documents. Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, any citizen can inspect and copy public writings of the state. There are some exceptions spelled out in other statutes. This is the legal basis for looking up arrest records in Morgan County and throughout Alabama.

What Information Is Available

Public arrest records in Morgan County usually include the name of the person arrested. Also the date and time of the arrest, charges at booking, bond amount, mugshot photo, and which agency made the arrest. After a case goes to court, you can also find the charges that were filed. Plus hearing dates, what plea was entered, trial details, verdict, and sentence. The online inmate roster gives you the basics. Court records fill in the rest once the case moves through the system.

Records That May Be Restricted

Not everything is public. Juvenile records are confidential under Alabama law. If a record has been sealed or expunged, it won't show up in public searches. Active investigations may have some info held back until an arrest happens. Personal details like Social Security numbers and home addresses are usually blacked out. This applies to documents that get released to the public.

Expungement in Alabama

Alabama does allow some arrest records to be expunged. If charges were dropped, the person might be able to get the record sealed. Same if they were found not guilty or finished a diversion program. The process involves filing a petition with the court and paying a fee. If a judge grants the expungement, the record gets taken out of public view. It would no longer show up on background checks. Or in court record searches.

Search Morgan County Records

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

Cities in Morgan County

Morgan County has several cities and towns. Decatur is the county seat and the largest city. Hartselle is the second largest. Neither has a population over 100,000. So they don't have dedicated pages on this site. However, residents of these cities can access arrest records through the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. All arrests made by city police in Morgan County get processed at the county jail.

Other communities in Morgan County include Falkville, Priceville, Somerville, Trinity, and Eva. These smaller towns rely on the sheriff's office for law enforcement. Some have small police departments. They also use the county jail for bookings.

Nearby Counties

Looking for arrest records in the North Alabama region? You may want to check these neighboring counties as well.