Butler County Police Records Search

Police records from Butler County include arrest reports, jail booking data, and incident documentation. The Butler County Sheriff's Office in Greenville maintains these records for the county. Requests for records can be made through the sheriff or via formal open records requests under Alabama state law.

Butler County Sheriff's Office

The Butler County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services for the county. They patrol unincorporated areas, investigate crimes, and transport prisoners. The main office is in Greenville, which is the county seat.

When deputies make an arrest, they create an official record. This arrest record shows who was arrested, what charges were filed, and when the booking happened. A mugshot is taken. Bond information is recorded too. All of this goes into the official file.

Contact Information:

• Address: 700 Court Square, Greenville, AL 36037
• Phone: (334) 382-6521
• County Seat: Greenville
• Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Butler County is part of the 22nd Judicial Circuit. This circuit includes Covington and Crenshaw counties as well. Criminal cases go to the Circuit Court in Greenville. The District Attorney handles felony prosecutions for the entire circuit.

The sheriff's office can help you find police records. Call them to ask what records are available. Put your request in writing if you want formal documentation. They will let you know the process and any fees involved.

Butler County Jail Information

The Butler County Jail operates under the sheriff's authority. Alabama law requires this. Under Alabama Code Section 36-22-8, the sheriff must maintain records of everyone confined in the county jail. This duty is taken seriously.

Jail records show current inmates and recent bookings. Each record includes the person's name, charges, booking date, and bond amount. Mugshots are part of the booking record. The jail also tracks releases and transfers.

The county jail holds people in several situations. Some are waiting for trial. Some are serving short sentences of less than one year. Some are waiting to be transferred to state prison after sentencing. The sheriff oversees all of them.

Need to check if someone is in the Butler County Jail? Call the sheriff's office. Give them the person's full name. They can confirm custody status and tell you the charges. Basic information is typically available by phone.

Sign up for VINELink if you want alerts about an inmate. Go to vinelink.com and search for Butler County, Alabama. Register to get notifications when the inmate's status changes. You pick how you want to be notified: phone, text, or email.

If someone goes to state prison, they leave the county jail system. The Alabama Department of Corrections takes over. Use the ADOC search at doc.alabama.gov for state prisoners.

Requesting Police Records

The Alabama Open Records Act covers police records. You can find it in Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. This law says Alabama residents can inspect and copy public records held by government agencies.

One important rule: You must be an Alabama resident. This is different from federal FOIA requests. You have to show proof that you live in Alabama. A driver's license works. So does voter registration or a utility bill with your name and Alabama address.

To make a records request, follow these steps. First, identify what you want. Be specific. List the person's name, dates involved, and case numbers if you have them. Vague requests take longer to process.

Write your request down. You can deliver it by hand or mail it to the sheriff's office. Include your full name, address, and phone number. Explain exactly what records you are looking for.

Alabama law does not give agencies a deadline to respond. Some take days. Some take weeks. It depends on how complicated the request is. If you have not heard back in a few weeks, call to follow up.

If they deny your request, they must tell you why in writing. You can appeal to the circuit court. The deadline to file is two years from the denial date.

What police records can you request?

• Arrest reports showing charges and booking details
• Incident reports for cases that are closed
• Mugshots taken at the time of booking
• Traffic accident reports from the sheriff
• Jail roster information and inmate records

Some records are exempt. Active investigations are confidential until closed. Juvenile records are sealed. Personal data like Social Security numbers gets removed. If only part of a record is exempt, you can still get the rest.

Fees for Records

The sheriff can charge for copies of records. Alabama law says the fee must be reasonable. Most agencies charge between 25 cents and one dollar for each page copied.

Ask about fees when you submit your request. Payment is usually cash, check, or money order. Not every office takes credit cards, so check first.

Viewing records may be free. If you just want to look at something without taking copies, you might not have to pay. Ask about this option when you visit.

State background checks cost more. ALEA charges $25 by mail or $15 online for criminal history reports. The local sheriff does not run background checks for the public. That is ALEA's job.

Alabama Criminal Records

Arrests in Butler County are reported to the state. The sheriff sends fingerprints and arrest data to ALEA within 30 days of each booking. This creates a statewide criminal record for the person.

ALEA is the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. They keep the central criminal history database. If you need records from across the state, contact ALEA. Local records only show what happened in Butler County.

Contact ALEA for statewide records:

• Address: 301 S. Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36130
• Phone: (334) 353-4301
• Criminal Records: 1-866-740-4762
• Website: alea.gov

To search court records, use Alacourt Access online. The website is pa.alacourt.com. A name search costs $9.99 for one case. This shows criminal cases filed in Alabama courts, which is different from arrest records.

Butler County Court Records

Court records and police records are different. Police records document the arrest. Court records document what happened after. The Circuit Clerk keeps court files.

The Butler County Courthouse is in Greenville. Circuit Court handles felony cases. District Court handles misdemeanors and initial appearances. Both courts operate in the same building.

Court files include the indictment or complaint, any plea agreements, trial transcripts, and sentencing orders. If you want to know what sentence someone got, you need court records. Police records show only the arrest.

Contact the Butler County Circuit Clerk to get court records. You can also search online through Alacourt if you prefer not to go in person.

Towns in Butler County

Butler County has several small towns. Greenville is the county seat and largest city with about 7,500 people. Other communities include Georgiana, McKenzie, and Chapman. None have populations large enough for separate pages on this site.

Greenville has its own police department. Crimes that happen inside city limits are handled by Greenville Police. Contact them for those records. The sheriff handles everything in rural areas.

No matter which agency makes the arrest, inmates go to the Butler County Jail. The sheriff maintains the jail records. Call the sheriff's office to check on inmates or request booking information.

Nearby Counties

Butler County shares borders with several other counties. If you need records from a neighboring jurisdiction, check these:

Each county keeps its own records. An arrest in Crenshaw County is not in the Butler County system. Make sure you contact the correct sheriff's office for your request.

Start Your Search

Use the search tool below to find police records in Butler County and throughout Alabama. Search arrest data, inmate information, and criminal records.