Access Sumter County Arrest Records

Sumter County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Livingston. The county sits in the 17th Judicial Circuit. It covers a rural area in western Alabama, right near the Mississippi state line.

Sumter County Sheriff's Office

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for all unincorporated areas. They run the jail, serve warrants, and provide court security. It's a smaller county. So the sheriff's office works closely with local police in York and Livingston on big cases. The jail in Livingston books people from across the county. They stay there until they post bond or go to court.

How to Request Arrest Records

To get arrest records from the Sheriff's Office, you have to call or visit in person. Sumter County does not have an online inmate search. Larger counties do, but not this one. Call the main number during business hours to ask about current inmates or recent bookings. You can ask about past arrests too. For written records, you may need to file a formal public records request.

When you call or visit, have the full name and date of birth ready. This helps staff find records faster. Some records may take a few days to get. Older cases or archived files take longer. The sheriff's office may charge a small fee for copies of booking sheets or arrest reports.

Sumter County Jail

The Sumter County Jail sits next to the sheriff's office in Livingston. It's a smaller facility. Most inmates there are waiting for trial or serving short sentences. If someone gets a longer state prison term, they get moved to a state facility after sentencing. The jail takes cash bonds during business hours. After hours, you may need to use a bail bondsman.

Visitation at the jail follows a set schedule. Call them to find out the current hours and rules. All visitors must show valid ID. You may be searched. Some jails in Alabama now use video visitation. Check ahead to see what options are available.

Court Records and Criminal Cases

After someone is arrested in Sumter County, their case goes to the 17th Judicial Circuit Court. This circuit also covers Greene and Marengo Counties. The Circuit Court handles felonies. The District Court takes care of misdemeanors and traffic tickets. Both courts are in the Sumter County Courthouse in Livingston.

Alacourt Case Search

You can look up court records for Sumter County using the Alacourt Public Access system. It's a free online tool. Search by name, case number, or date range. Pick Sumter County from the dropdown and choose Criminal as the case type. Results show charges, hearing dates, and how the case ended. You don't need to pay or create an account for basic searches.

The Alacourt system covers cases going back several years. For very old records, contact the Circuit Clerk directly. Some archived cases may not be online yet. Court staff can help you find old records if you know the year and the defendant's name.

Sumter County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk's office keeps all court files. That includes criminal case records, judgments, and sentencing papers. If you need certified copies, this is where you get them. Certified copies are often needed for background checks, job licenses, or legal matters in other courts.

District Court

Sumter County District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Many arrests end up in district court, not circuit court. DUI, simple assault, small thefts, and disorderly conduct are common charges here. Search these records on Alacourt by picking District Court as the case type.

Other Ways to Find Arrest Records

Alabama VINE

The Alabama VINE program lets you track inmates in Sumter County. It's free for crime victims and the public. Sign up to get calls, emails, or texts when an inmate is released or moved. You'll also get alerts if they escape. Call 1-877-846-3425 to sign up by phone. Or use the website to set up alerts.

ALEA Background Checks

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency runs background checks that cover all 67 counties. Need a formal criminal history for a job or license? Request one through ALEA. The fee is $25 for most requests. It takes about 5 to 10 business days. Results include arrests and convictions from across Alabama, including Sumter County.

State Prison Inmates

If someone was convicted in Sumter County and sent to state prison, they're not in the county jail anymore. Use the Alabama Department of Corrections Inmate Search to find them. It shows which facility they're at, how long their sentence is, and when they might get out. The database covers all state prisons in Alabama.

Federal Cases

Federal crimes in Sumter County go through the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. Things like drug trafficking across state lines, bank robbery, or federal gun charges don't go through state courts. They go federal. Search federal case records at PACER. The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator helps find people serving federal time.

Fees for Record Requests

Most online searches are free. But when you need physical copies or certified papers, there are fees. Here's what you can expect to pay for different record types in Sumter County.

How Long Records Take

Processing times vary based on what you need. Online searches through Alacourt give you results right away. Request copies from the sheriff's office or clerk? Expect to wait a few days. Background checks through ALEA take about a week or two. Expungement petitions can take several months to work through the courts.

Legal Rules for Arrest Records

Alabama Public Records Law

Alabama's public records law gives citizens the right to see and copy government papers. That includes arrest records. Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, every citizen can look at public writings. There are some limits though. Juvenile records are sealed. Ongoing investigations may be kept private. Some victim info can be protected too.

What You Can and Cannot Get

Most arrest info in Sumter County is public. You can get the person's name, charges, booking date and time, bond amount, and court dates. Mugshots are usually public too. What you can't get: Social Security numbers, home addresses in some cases, and anything sealed by court order. Juvenile arrest records are private under Alabama law. They don't get released to the public.

Expungement in Alabama

Have an arrest record in Sumter County that you want gone? You may be able to get it expunged. Alabama allows expungement in certain cases. You might qualify if charges were dropped or you were found not guilty. Finishing a pretrial diversion program can help too. Some non-violent offenses can be expunged after a waiting period. File a petition with the Sumter County Circuit Court. The fee is $500, but you can ask for a waiver if you can't afford it.

Expungement doesn't happen on its own. You have to file the paperwork. You might have to attend a hearing. The prosecutor can object. If the court grants it, the arrest record gets removed from public databases. Law enforcement can still see sealed records sometimes. But employers and landlords doing background checks shouldn't find expunged records.

Waiting Periods for Expungement

The waiting period before you can file depends on what happened with your case. Charges dismissed or acquitted? You can file right away. For misdemeanor convictions, you usually wait two years after finishing your sentence. Felony expungement has longer waits. It only applies to certain crimes. Check with a lawyer or the circuit clerk to see if you qualify.

Legal Help in Sumter County

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help to low-income folks. They can help with criminal records and expungement petitions. Other legal matters too. They cover Sumter County and many other parts of the state.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

Need to hire a lawyer for criminal defense or expungement? The Alabama State Bar can connect you with attorneys in your area. Call their referral service at (800) 392-5660. They'll give you names of lawyers who handle criminal cases in Sumter County.

University of West Alabama

The University of West Alabama is in Livingston. It doesn't have a law school. But the university sometimes partners with legal aid groups for community programs. Contact them to see if any legal clinics or help is available to residents.

Public Defender

If you're charged with a crime in Sumter County and can't afford a lawyer, you have the right to a public defender. At your first court date, tell the judge you need one. You'll fill out a financial form. If you qualify, a public defender gets assigned to your case. They handle criminal charges but don't help with expungement or civil matters.

Search Sumter County Records

Use the search tool below to look up arrest records and criminal history info for Sumter County and all of Alabama.

Cities in Sumter County

Sumter County has several small towns. Livingston is the county seat and largest city. It's home to the University of West Alabama. Other communities include York, Epes, Gainesville, Emelle, and Geiger. None of these have more than 100,000 people. So all arrest records go through the county sheriff and circuit court. Municipal police in Livingston and York do make arrests. But booking happens at the county jail.

Sumter County is rural with a small population. There are no major city police departments here like Birmingham or Mobile has. The sheriff's office is the main law enforcement agency. Looking for arrest records from anywhere in the county? Start with the sheriff's office in Livingston.

Nearby Counties

Sumter County shares borders with several other Alabama counties. Mississippi is to the west. If you need to search arrest records in a neighboring county, pick one below to get their sheriff's office and court info.

Sumter County is also near Lamar and Fayette Counties to the north. Across the state line, Noxubee and Kemper Counties in Mississippi are closest. Records in Mississippi are kept by those counties. They're not in the Alabama court systems.