Cleburne County Alabama Police Records

Cleburne County police records are managed by the Sheriff's Office in Heflin. This small county in northeast Alabama sits right on the Georgia border. The Talladega National Forest covers part of the county, and the area is mostly rural. With only about 15,000 residents, this is one of the quieter counties in the state. The sheriff handles arrests, runs the jail, and keeps police records. If you need to look up an arrest, find an inmate, or get a copy of an incident report, this page will show you how. The records request process is simple but does require some patience with a small county office.

Cleburne County Sheriff's Office

The Cleburne County Sheriff's Office is located in Heflin. Sheriff Ronald Hunt runs the department. Deputies patrol the county, make arrests, and respond to calls. The office also runs the county jail and handles civil process.

This is where you go for police records. Arrest records, incident reports, and accident reports are kept here. The staff can help you with records requests during business hours. For complex requests, you may need to put things in writing.

Cleburne County is rural with a lot of forest land. The sheriff's department is small but covers the whole county. Response times can be longer in remote areas. Records are centralized at the Heflin office.

Records Maintained by the Sheriff

The sheriff keeps several types of records. Arrest records document who was taken into custody and why. Incident reports describe crimes or calls for service. Accident reports cover crashes on county roads. The jail roster tracks current inmates.

Not all records are public. Active investigation files can be withheld. Juvenile records are sealed. Personal information like Social Security numbers gets redacted. But basic arrest and incident data is available to the public under Alabama law.

Cleburne County Jail

The Cleburne County Jail is a small facility attached to the sheriff's office. It holds people awaiting trial or serving sentences under one year. The jail has limited capacity. Most inmates are there short term while their cases move through court.

Booking records are created when someone enters the jail. These include the person's name, charges, bond amount, and mugshot. This information is generally public. You can get it by calling the jail or visiting in person.

How to Find Jail Inmates

To check if someone is in the Cleburne County Jail, your best bet is to call. Give the staff the person's name. They will confirm if that person is in custody. They can tell you the charges and bond amount if one was set.

Online inmate rosters may be limited for Cleburne County. Small jails often lack the resources for web tools. The sheriff may post updates on Facebook or the county website. Third party sites sometimes aggregate Alabama jail data. But calling is the most reliable method.

People sentenced to more than a year in Alabama go to state prison. The county jail does not hold long term inmates. For state prisoners, use the Alabama Department of Corrections search tool online.

How to Request Police Records

Getting police records in Cleburne County involves a few steps. The method depends on what you need and how quickly you need it.

In Person

Visit the sheriff's office during regular hours. Bring a valid photo ID. Tell the staff what record you are looking for. Simple requests may be filled right away. You pay the fee and get your copies. More complicated requests might require a written form.

By Phone

Call the sheriff's office for basic information. They can tell you if a record exists. They can explain fees and procedures. But you cannot get copies over the phone. A call is a good first step to find out what you need to do next.

By Mail or In Writing

Formal requests should be in writing. This protects you and creates a record of your request. Include these items:

• Your name, address, and phone number
• Detailed description of the record needed
• Names of people involved in the incident
• Date of the incident if known
• Case or report number if available
• Copy of your Alabama ID

Mail your request to the sheriff's office. They will process it and let you know the fee. Once you pay, they will send or prepare your records.

Response Time

Simple requests are usually quick. A day or two for basic records. Older records from archives take longer. Complex requests with many documents need more time. Cleburne County has limited staff. Be patient. Follow up after a week if you have not heard back.

Alabama Open Records Law

Your right to police records comes from state law. The Alabama Open Records Act is found in Section 36-12-40 of the Alabama Code. This law gives citizens access to government records including police records.

The law states that every citizen has the right to inspect and take copies of public writings. Police records are public writings in most cases. The sheriff must allow you to see them. You do not have to explain why you want the records.

There are exceptions to public access:

• Active criminal investigations
• Juvenile records and case files
• Victim personal information
• Security plans and procedures
• Sealed court records

Alabama law has a residency requirement. Only state residents can request public records. You must show a valid Alabama ID. Out of state requests can be denied. This is different from most other states.

There is no deadline for agencies to respond. Alabama law does not set a timeframe. Most requests are handled within a reasonable period. If denied, your recourse is to file a lawsuit in circuit court. A judge decides whether the records must be released.

Fees for Cleburne County Records

Expect to pay for records. The sheriff can charge fees to cover costs. Here are typical amounts for Cleburne County.

These are estimates. The sheriff sets actual fees. Call ahead to confirm costs. Ask about payment methods. Cash is usually accepted. Money orders work. Checks may be accepted. Credit card availability varies.

Looking at the jail roster online is free. Basic inmate lists have no charge. Paper copies of booking records may have a fee.

Local Police Departments

The sheriff handles most of Cleburne County. But some towns have their own police. If an incident happened within town limits, that police department has the records.

Heflin Police Department

Heflin is the county seat with its own police force. They cover crimes inside Heflin city limits. For records from Heflin, contact the town police instead of the sheriff.

Ranburne Police Department

Ranburne is a small town with local police coverage. Contact them for incidents within Ranburne. The sheriff would not have those records.

Alabama State Troopers

State highways are patrolled by ALEA troopers. Crashes on state routes may be documented by troopers instead of the sheriff. Those records go through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. You can order them online at the ALEA portal.

Court Records vs Police Records

These are two different things. Police records cover arrests and incidents. Court records cover what happens after charges are filed. The sheriff has police records. The Circuit Clerk has court records.

After someone is arrested, the case goes to court. The court creates a new file with charging documents, motions, hearings, and judgments. This is separate from the arrest record at the sheriff's office.

Cleburne County is in the 40th Judicial Circuit. This circuit also includes Clay and Coosa Counties. The Circuit Clerk in Heflin handles court records. You can search Alabama court records online through Alacourt for a fee.

If you need court documents, contact the Circuit Clerk. The sheriff cannot provide court records. Make sure you know which type of record you need before making a request.

Statewide Background Checks

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency maintains the statewide criminal database. If you need a complete background check, ALEA is the source. The sheriff only has records from Cleburne County. ALEA has records from all 67 counties.

You can order a background check from ALEA online for $15. By mail, the cost is $25. Results include arrests and convictions from across Alabama. This is more thorough than checking one county.

Fingerprint based checks are more complete. You get printed at a local law enforcement office. The prints go to ALEA. This catches more records than a name search. Many employers require fingerprint checks for jobs involving vulnerable populations.

The Cleburne County Sheriff's Office can do fingerprinting. Call to schedule an appointment. The prints get sent to ALEA for processing. Expect results in one to two weeks.

Nearby Counties

Cleburne County borders several Alabama counties and Georgia. Here are links to neighboring county police records pages.

Search Cleburne County Records

Use the search tool below to look up police records, arrest records, and jail information in Cleburne County, Alabama.