Find Arrest Records in St. Clair County
St. Clair County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office. They run a 323-bed jail. The county is one of only a few in Alabama with two county seats: Ashville and Pell City. You can view current inmate data through an online roster. It gets updated all day long. The Sheriff's Office handles all bookings and keeps records of every person in custody. Criminal cases go through the 30th Judicial Circuit Court. You can search those records through the state court system.
St. Clair County Arrest Records Quick Facts
St. Clair County Sheriff's Office
The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for areas outside city limits. They also run all jail operations for the county. The office is split between Ashville and Pell City. This goes back to the 1800s. The county was formed from parts of two other counties. Today, court sessions are held at both spots. But the jail is in Pell City only.
| Pell City Office | 1610 Cogswell Avenue, Suite 206 Pell City, AL 35125 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (205) 884-6840 |
| Website | stclairsheriff.org |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
Online Inmate Roster
The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office has an online inmate roster at inmates.stclaircounty.org. You can search for current inmates by name. The roster gets updated as new bookings come in and inmates get out. Search results show the name, charges, bond, and booking date. It's free. No sign-up needed.
To use the inmate search, go to the site. Enter the first or last name of the person you want. Not sure of the spelling? Try a partial name. The system shows all inmates that match. Click a name to see full booking info. This includes all charges and bond details. No results? The person may be out. Or they might not be booked yet.
St. Clair County Jail Facilities
St. Clair County runs two jail facilities. The main one is in Pell City. Together they hold 323 beds. All new arrests go to the Pell City Jail. It doesn't matter where in the county the arrest was made. The jails hold people waiting for court. They also hold those serving short terms for minor crimes.
Pell City Jail
The Pell City Jail is the main lockup for St. Clair County. All bookings happen here. Most inmates stay here too. The jail has video visits and phone calls for inmates to talk with family. Commissary is open for purchases. Inmates can get money through approved transfer services.
| Address | 100 18th Street North Pell City, AL 35125 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (205) 814-3525 |
| Booking Hours | 24 hours, 7 days a week |
Booking Process
When someone gets arrested in St. Clair County, they go to the Pell City Jail for booking. Booking means they take a photo, fingerprints, and personal info. They also write down all charges. After that, the data goes into the jail system. It usually shows up on the online roster within a few hours. Bond amounts follow a set schedule. Sometimes a judge sets the bond based on the charges.
Court Records and Case Information
After an arrest in St. Clair County, criminal cases go to the 30th Judicial Circuit Court. This circuit covers only St. Clair County. Some circuits cover more than one county, but not this one. The Circuit Court handles felony cases. The District Court deals with minor crimes, traffic tickets, and first hearings. Court sessions are held in both Ashville and Pell City on different days.
Alacourt Case Search
The Alacourt Public Access system gives you free online access to St. Clair County court records. Go to the site. Pick St. Clair County from the dropdown. Choose Criminal as the case type. Enter the name. You can see case numbers, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes at no cost. Both Circuit Court and District Court cases show up.
Circuit Court Clerk
The St. Clair County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court records. This includes criminal case files, judgments, and sentencing papers. The clerk's office has spots in both Ashville and Pell City. You can ask for certified copies in person or by mail. Either office can help you.
| Ashville Office | 1815 Cogswell Avenue Ashville, AL 35953 |
|---|---|
| Pell City Office | 1815 Cogswell Avenue, Suite 100 Pell City, AL 35125 |
| Phone | (205) 594-2120 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
District Court
St. Clair County District Court handles minor crimes, traffic cases, small claims, and first hearings for felonies. Like the Circuit Court, sessions rotate between Ashville and Pell City. You can search District Court records on Alacourt. Just pick District Court as the case type.
Additional Arrest Record Resources
Alabama VINE
The Alabama VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system lets you track inmates in St. Clair County. You get notified when their status changes. It's free. The service sends alerts by phone, email, or text. You'll know when an inmate is let out, moved, or escapes. Call 1-877-846-3425 or go to the site to sign up.
Local Police Departments
Several cities in St. Clair County have their own police. This includes Pell City, Moody, Ragland, and Springville. All arrests from these agencies go to the county jail. But incident reports and arrest reports stay with each department. Contact that police department to get copies of their reports.
Federal Court Records
Federal criminal cases for St. Clair County residents go to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Federal arrests are totally separate from state court records. Search federal cases through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). The Federal Bureau of Prisons has an Inmate Locator. Use it to find people serving federal time.
State Prison Inmates
When someone gets more than one year in prison, they move from the St. Clair County Jail to a state prison. The Alabama Department of Corrections runs these facilities. Use the ADOC Inmate Search to find people in state prison. It shows where they are, how long the sentence is, and when they might get out.
Fees for Arrest Records
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Online Inmate Roster | Free |
| Alacourt Case Search | Free |
| Alabama VINE | Free |
| Police Report Copy | $5.00 - $15.00 |
| Certified Court Document | $1.00 - $5.00 per page |
| ALEA Criminal History Check | $25.00 |
| Expungement Filing Fee | $500.00 |
Processing Times
| Request Type | Typical Time |
|---|---|
| Online inmate roster | Updated throughout the day |
| Alacourt case search | Immediate |
| Police report request | 3-5 business days |
| Certified court copies | 1-5 business days |
| ALEA background check | 5-10 business days |
Legal Framework for Arrest Records
Public Records Law
Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, every citizen can look at and copy public records. There are some exceptions in the law. But arrest records, booking info, and court records are generally public in Alabama. The jailer's logbook is one example. It holds booking data. The law says it must be open to anyone who asks.
What Information Is Public
In St. Clair County, these details are public: inmate name, date of birth, booking date and time, charges, bond amount, court dates, and case outcomes. Mugshots taken at booking are public too. Some personal info can be held back. This includes Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and home addresses.
Records Not Available to the Public
Juvenile arrest records are private under Alabama law. The public can't see them. Sealed or expunged records are also off limits. You can't get details on active cases or warrants that haven't been served. Mental health records stay private too. So do some parts of domestic violence protection orders.
Expungement in St. Clair County
Alabama allows some arrest records to be wiped clean. You may qualify if charges were dropped. Or if you were found not guilty at trial. Finishing a pretrial diversion program helps too. Some non-violent crimes can be cleared after a wait. To start, file a petition with the St. Clair County Circuit Court. The filing fee is $500. Can't afford it? You might get a waiver. A judge may hold a hearing to decide on your case.
Legal Resources
Legal Services Alabama
Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal help to low-income people in St. Clair County. They don't do criminal defense. But they can help with things like expungement and knowing your rights.
| Phone | (866) 456-4995 |
|---|---|
| Website | legalservicesalabama.org |
Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral
Need a criminal defense lawyer? The Alabama State Bar runs a referral service. Call (800) 392-5660. They can connect you with attorneys in St. Clair County who handle criminal cases and expungements. The first meeting usually costs $50.
St. Clair County Bar Association
The local bar association helps people find lawyers in St. Clair County. Many criminal defense lawyers offer free first meetings. You can talk about your case before hiring them. The Circuit Court Clerk's office also has a list of attorneys who show up often in St. Clair County courts.
Search St. Clair County Records
Use the search tool below to look up arrest records and criminal history for St. Clair County. You can also search across Alabama.
Cities in St. Clair County
St. Clair County has several cities and towns. None have more than 100,000 people. Pell City is the biggest. It's one of the two county seats. Other towns include Ashville (the other county seat), Moody, Springville, Ragland, Riverside, Odenville, and Steele. Arrests from local police in all these areas go through the St. Clair County Jail in Pell City.
Pell City is the main population center and business hub for the county. The city has its own police. Arrests by Pell City officers go to the county jail, which is right there in the city. Moody and Springville have their own police too.
Nearby Counties
Need to search arrest records in a nearby county? Pick one below. You'll find their sheriff's office and jail info.