Choctaw County Police Records

Police records from Choctaw County include arrest reports, jail booking data, and inmate rosters. The Choctaw County Sheriff's Office in Butler maintains these records for the county. You can request records directly from the sheriff or through formal open records requests under Alabama law.

Choctaw County Sheriff's Office

The Choctaw County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement throughout the county. Deputies patrol the roads, investigate crimes, and respond to calls. The sheriff also operates the county jail. The office is based in Butler, which is the county seat.

When someone is arrested in Choctaw County, an arrest record is created. This record contains the person's name, the charges filed, the booking date, and other key details. A mugshot is taken during booking. The record also shows the bond amount if one is set.

Contact Information:

• Address: 117 S. Mulberry Avenue, Butler, AL 36904
• Phone: (205) 459-2087
• County Seat: Butler
• Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Choctaw County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit. This circuit includes Clarke and Washington counties as well. Criminal cases go to Circuit Court for prosecution. The District Attorney for the 1st Circuit handles felonies in all three counties.

Contact the sheriff's office to ask about police records. They can tell you what is available and how to get copies. A written request provides better documentation of what you asked for and when.

Choctaw County Jail Information

The Choctaw County Jail operates under the sheriff's authority. Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 says sheriffs must maintain records of everyone confined in the county jail. This is a legal duty that applies statewide.

Jail records show who is currently in custody. They include the inmate's name, charges, booking date, and bond information. Mugshots are part of the booking record. The jail tracks releases and transfers too.

The county jail is a smaller facility. It holds people waiting for trial and those serving sentences of less than one year. Anyone sentenced to more than a year gets transferred to the Alabama Department of Corrections to serve time in state prison.

Want to check if someone is in the Choctaw County Jail? Call the sheriff's office and provide the person's name. Staff can confirm custody status and share basic information about the charges.

For notifications about an inmate, use VINELink. Go to vinelink.com and search for Choctaw County, Alabama. Register to get alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or has a status change. You choose to receive alerts by phone, text, or email.

Requesting Police Records

The Alabama Open Records Act gives residents access to public records. This law is in Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. It covers police records unless a specific exemption applies.

You must prove Alabama residency to request records. This is different from many other states. Show your driver's license, voter registration card, or another proof of address. Out-of-state residents cannot make requests under this law.

To make a request, start by identifying what you need. Be specific. List names, dates, and case numbers if you have them. Vague requests take more time to process.

Write your request down. Bring it to the sheriff's office or mail it in. Include your name, address, and phone number. This lets them reach you with questions or to tell you when records are ready.

Alabama law does not set a response deadline. Some requests take days. Others take weeks. The time depends on how complex the request is. If you have not heard back in a few weeks, call to check.

If your request is denied, the agency must tell you why in writing. You can appeal to circuit court within two years of the denial.

Records you can typically request include:

• Arrest reports with charges and booking information
• Incident reports for closed cases
• Mugshots from booking
• Traffic accident reports from the sheriff
• Jail roster and inmate information

Some records are exempt. Active investigations stay confidential until closed. Juvenile records are sealed. Personal data like Social Security numbers gets removed before release.

Fees for Copies

The sheriff can charge a reasonable fee for copying records. Most Alabama agencies charge between 25 cents and one dollar per page. Larger requests may have additional fees.

Ask about costs when you submit your request. Payment is usually cash, check, or money order. Not all offices take credit cards.

Viewing records may be free. If you just want to look at documents without getting copies, ask about that option. Many offices allow free inspection.

State background checks through ALEA cost $25 by mail or $15 online. Local sheriffs do not run background checks for the public. That is handled by ALEA.

Alabama Criminal Records

Arrests in Choctaw County get reported to the state. The sheriff sends fingerprints and arrest data to ALEA within 30 days. This builds the statewide criminal history database.

ALEA is the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. They keep the central criminal records for the state. If you need records from multiple counties, go through ALEA.

ALEA contact information:

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

You can also search Alabama court records through Alacourt Access at pa.alacourt.com. A name search costs $9.99 for one case. This shows criminal cases filed in court, which is different from arrest records.

For state prison inmates, use the ADOC search at doc.alabama.gov. This shows anyone serving time in Alabama state prisons. County jail inmates are not in this system.

Choctaw County Court Records

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

The Choctaw County Courthouse is in Butler. Circuit Court handles felony cases. District Court handles misdemeanors and initial hearings. Both courts are part of the 1st Judicial Circuit.

Court files include charging documents, plea agreements, trial transcripts, and sentencing orders. If you want to know the outcome of a case, you need court records. Police records just show the arrest.

Contact the Choctaw County Circuit Clerk for court documents. You can also search online through Alacourt if you prefer digital access.

Towns in Choctaw County

Choctaw County is rural with a few small towns. Butler is the county seat. Gilbertown, Lisman, Needham, Pennington, Silas, and Toxey are other communities. None have populations large enough for dedicated pages on this site.

Butler may have a small police force for crimes within town limits. Other towns may rely entirely on the sheriff for law enforcement. Check with the appropriate agency based on where the incident happened.

All inmates typically go to the Choctaw County Jail regardless of which agency made the arrest. The sheriff maintains jail records for everyone in custody.

Nearby Counties

Choctaw County borders several other counties. If you need records from a neighboring area, check these links:

Choctaw County also borders Mississippi to the west. If you need records from Mississippi, that is a completely different system with its own laws and procedures.

Each Alabama county keeps its own records. An arrest in Washington County is not in the Choctaw County system. Contact the correct sheriff's office for your request.

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