Search Clay County Alabama Police Records

Clay County police records come from the Sheriff's Office in Ashland. This is a small county in east central Alabama. It borders Georgia and sits along the Tallapoosa River in some spots. The population is about 13,000 people. Crime is low compared to urban areas, but the sheriff still handles arrests and keeps records. If you need to find an arrest record, check on a jail inmate, or get an incident report, the sheriff is your main contact. This page explains what records are available in Clay County and how to get them. The process is pretty simple for most requests.

Clay County Sheriff's Office

The Clay County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for most of the county. They cover the rural areas outside of town limits. The office is in Ashland, which is the county seat. This is where you go for records requests.

Sheriff Brandon Eddins leads the department. The staff handles patrols, investigations, and the county jail. They also serve court papers and handle civil process. All these activities create records. Those records are stored at the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office is a small operation. Clay County does not have a big budget. Staff size is limited. This means response times for records requests can vary. Simple requests go quick. Complex ones take longer. Be patient when waiting for records from a small county like this.

Types of Records Available

The sheriff maintains many types of records. Arrest records show details on who was taken into custody. Incident reports cover crimes and calls for service. Accident reports document crashes on county roads. Booking records show who went through the jail.

Some records are restricted. Ongoing investigation files stay closed until the case ends. Juvenile records are sealed under state law. Certain victim information gets kept private. But most basic police records in Clay County are public. You have a right to access them under Alabama law.

Clay County Jail

The Clay County Jail is a small facility in Ashland. It holds people who are awaiting court or serving short sentences. Capacity is limited. About 30 to 40 inmates can be held at one time. Most people pass through quickly as their cases get processed.

When someone gets booked into the jail, a record is created. This booking record includes the name, date of birth, charges, and bond amount. A mugshot is taken. All of this information is public in most cases.

Finding Inmates in Clay County

To find out if someone is in the Clay County Jail, call the number above. Give the staff the name of the person you are looking for. They will tell you if that person is in custody. They can share the charges and bond amount.

Online inmate lookup may be limited in Clay County. This is a small jail with few resources for web tools. Third party sites sometimes have data. The sheriff may post updates on social media. But the surest way to get current info is to call directly.

For people sentenced to more than a year, they go to state prison. The Alabama Department of Corrections handles those inmates. Use the ADOC website to search for someone in state custody. The county jail only holds people short term.

How to Request Police Records

Getting records from Clay County is a straightforward process. You have several options depending on what you need and how fast you need it.

Walk In Requests

The easiest way is to visit the sheriff's office in person. Go during business hours. Tell the clerk what you need. Bring a photo ID to prove you are an Alabama resident. Many simple requests can be handled on the spot. You pay the fee and get your copies.

Phone Requests

For basic questions, a phone call works. Call the sheriff's office number. Ask about the record you need. They can tell you if it is available and what it costs. You cannot get copies over the phone, but you can find out what to do next.

Written Requests

For formal records requests, put it in writing. This creates documentation of your request. Include these details:

• Your full name and address
• Phone number where you can be reached
• Description of the record you want
• Names, dates, and case numbers if known
• Reason you need the record
• Copy of your Alabama ID

Mail your request to the sheriff's office address. You can also drop it off in person. The staff will process it and contact you about fees. Once you pay, they will send or prepare your copies.

How Long Does It Take

Timing varies. A simple arrest record might be ready in a day or two. An old record from archives could take a week or more. Complex requests with multiple documents take longer. The sheriff's office does not have a big staff. During busy times, expect delays.

There is no legal deadline for the sheriff to respond. Alabama law does not set a specific timeframe. Most requests get handled within a reasonable time. If you hear nothing after a week, follow up with a phone call.

Your Right to Public Records

Alabama law gives you the right to access public records. This includes most police records. The Alabama Open Records Act is in Section 36-12-40 of the state code.

The law says every citizen can inspect and copy public writings. Government agencies must make records available. This covers the sheriff's office and all the records they keep. You do not need to give a reason for wanting the records. Just ask and you should get access.

But there are limits. Not everything is public. Here is what may be withheld:

• Records from active investigations
• Juvenile case files
• Victim home addresses and phone numbers
• Social Security numbers
• Security plans and procedures
• Certain personnel records

One thing about Alabama law. Only state residents can request records. You must show proof that you live in Alabama. An out of state driver's license will not work. This is unusual compared to most states. But it is the law here.

If the sheriff denies your request, you can appeal. There is no formal review process. Your option is to file a lawsuit in circuit court. A judge will decide if the records should be released. Most disputes do not go that far.

Fees for Records in Clay County

You will likely pay a fee for police records. The sheriff can charge to cover the cost of finding and copying records. Fees in Clay County are typical for a small Alabama county.

These are estimates. The sheriff sets actual fees. Prices can change. Call ahead to confirm what you will pay. Ask about accepted payment methods too. Cash is always safe. Some offices take checks or money orders. Credit cards may or may not be an option.

Looking up jail inmates online is usually free. The basic inmate list does not cost anything. But if you want copies of booking documents, that will have a fee.

Other Law Enforcement Agencies

The sheriff is the main law enforcement in Clay County. But a few small towns have their own police. If your record involves an incident in one of those towns, contact that police department instead.

Ashland Police Department

Ashland is the county seat and has its own police force. They handle crimes within the town limits. For records from Ashland, contact the town police, not the sheriff.

Lineville Police Department

Lineville is another town in Clay County with local police. Incidents in Lineville go through their department. Call them for records from within the town.

For state highways in Clay County, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency may have records. State troopers handle crashes on state routes. Those accident reports go through ALEA, not the sheriff.

Court Records in Clay County

Police records and court records are two different things. The sheriff handles arrests. The courts handle prosecution. After an arrest, the case moves to the court system. The court creates its own files.

Clay County is part of the 40th Judicial Circuit. This circuit includes Clay, Coosa, and Tallapoosa Counties. The Circuit Clerk in Ashland keeps court records. Criminal case files, civil suits, and other court documents are there.

You can search Alabama court records online through Alacourt. That is a paid service. A name search costs $9.99. It covers all Alabama courts, not just Clay County. For certified copies, you must go through the Circuit Clerk's office.

Do not confuse police records with court records. The sheriff cannot give you court documents. The Circuit Clerk cannot give you arrest records. Know which office has what you need before you make a request.

Statewide Criminal Records

For a full background check, go through ALEA. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has the statewide criminal database. This includes arrests and convictions from all 67 Alabama counties.

A local sheriff only has records from that county. If someone was arrested in Clay County but also has history elsewhere, the sheriff will not have the full picture. ALEA does.

You can order a background check from ALEA online for $15. By mail, it costs $25. The check covers your entire Alabama criminal history. For jobs that require fingerprint checks, you get printed locally and the prints go to ALEA for processing.

The Clay County Sheriff can help with fingerprinting if needed. Call ahead to schedule. They send the prints to ALEA. Results take a week or two depending on volume.

Nearby Counties

Clay County shares borders with several other Alabama counties. Some also border Georgia. Here are links to neighboring county pages.

Search Clay County Records Now

Use the search tool below to find police records in Clay County, Alabama. Look up arrests, inmates, and criminal history.