Coosa County Alabama Police Records

Coosa County police records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Rockford. This is one of the smallest counties in Alabama by population. Only about 10,000 people live here. The county sits in east central Alabama, known for lakes and timber land. The Coosa River runs along part of the boundary. Crime is low in this quiet area, but the sheriff still handles law enforcement and keeps records. If you need an arrest record, want to check on jail inmates, or need a copy of an incident report, this guide will help. The process is straightforward but does take some patience with a small rural office.

Coosa County Sheriff's Office

The Coosa County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county. Sheriff Michael Howell leads the department. The office is in Rockford, a very small town that serves as the county seat. Deputies patrol the rural areas and respond to calls throughout the county.

Police records are kept here. Arrest records, incident reports, accident reports, and jail booking data are all at the sheriff's office. Staff can assist with records requests during business hours. The office is small, so complex requests may take time.

Coosa County covers a lot of land with few people. The sheriff has limited staff to cover the whole area. This affects both response times and records processing. Be prepared to wait a bit longer than you might in a larger county.

Records Available

The sheriff maintains these types of records:

• Arrest records with charges and booking details
• Incident reports documenting crimes and calls
• Accident reports for crashes on county roads
• Jail roster showing inmates in custody
• Civil process and warrant records

Some records have restrictions. Active investigations stay confidential. Juvenile files are sealed. Personal information of victims may be removed. But basic arrest and incident data is public under Alabama law.

Coosa County Jail

The Coosa County Jail is a small facility in Rockford. It holds people awaiting trial and those serving sentences under a year. With such a small population, the jail rarely has many inmates at once. Most people move through quickly as their cases get handled.

Booking records are created when someone is admitted. These include name, date of birth, charges, and bond amount. A mugshot is taken. This information is public in most cases. You can request it by calling or visiting.

Finding Inmates

To check if someone is in the Coosa County Jail, call the number above. Give the staff the person's name. They will tell you if that person is in custody. They can share charges and bond information.

Online inmate lookup is limited in Coosa County. Very small jails often do not have web resources. The sheriff may post updates on Facebook. Third party aggregator sites sometimes have data. But calling the jail directly is your most reliable option.

Inmates sentenced to more than one year go to state prison. The county jail does not hold long term inmates. To find someone in state custody, use the Alabama Department of Corrections website.

How to Get Police Records

Here is how to request police records from Coosa County.

In Person

Visit the sheriff's office in Rockford during business hours. Bring a photo ID showing you are an Alabama resident. Tell the staff what record you need. Simple requests may be handled right away. Pay the fee and get your copies. More complex requests will take longer.

By Phone

Call the office for basic information. Staff can tell you if a record exists. They will explain the fees. You cannot get copies over the phone. But calling first helps you know what to expect.

Written Request

For formal records requests, put it in writing. This documents your request clearly. Include:

• Your full name, address, and phone
• Description of the record you want
• Names of people involved
• Date of the incident
• Case or report number if available
• Copy of your Alabama ID

Send your request to the sheriff's office by mail or drop it off. They will process it and tell you the fee. Pay to receive your records.

Timing

Simple requests are quick. A day or two in most cases. Old records from storage take longer. Complex requests with multiple documents need more time. Coosa County is very small. Be patient. Follow up after a week if you hear nothing.

Alabama Open Records Law

Your right to access police records is based on state law. The Alabama Open Records Act is found in Section 36-12-40 of the Alabama Code.

This law says every citizen can inspect and copy public writings. Police records are public writings. Arrest records, incident reports, and booking data are included. The sheriff must allow access unless an exemption applies.

Some records are exempt:

• Active criminal investigation files
• Juvenile records and files
• Victim personal information
• Security plans and procedures
• Certain personnel matters

Alabama has a residency rule. Only state residents can request public records. You need an Alabama ID. People from other states face limits. This is unusual compared to most places.

There is no deadline for agencies to respond. Alabama does not set a timeframe. Most requests get handled in reasonable time. If denied, your option is to sue in circuit court.

Record Fees

You will pay for police records. The sheriff charges to cover costs. Typical fees in Coosa County:

Fees can vary. Call to confirm prices. Ask about payment. Cash is safe. Money orders work. Checks may be taken. Credit card availability depends.

Other Law Enforcement

The sheriff covers most of Coosa County. There are no major city police departments here. Rockford is tiny. Most law enforcement goes through the sheriff.

Goodwater Police

Goodwater is a small town that may have police coverage. Check with them for incidents within town limits.

State Troopers

ALEA troopers handle state highways. Crashes on state routes may be documented by troopers. Those reports go through ALEA. Order them online at the ALEA portal for $17.

Neighboring Agencies

If an incident happened near a county line, a neighboring sheriff may have the record. Check bordering counties if Coosa does not have what you need.

Court Records

Police records and court records are separate. The sheriff has arrest data. Courts have case files. Know the difference before you request.

After an arrest, a case goes to court. The court makes its own file with charges, motions, hearings, and judgments. This is at the Circuit Clerk office, not the sheriff.

Coosa County is in the 40th Judicial Circuit. This circuit also covers Clay and Tallapoosa Counties. The Circuit Clerk in Rockford handles court records.

Search Alabama court records online through Alacourt. A name search costs $9.99. For certified copies, go through the Circuit Clerk directly.

Statewide Criminal Records

For complete background checks, use ALEA. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has the statewide criminal database. The sheriff only has Coosa County records. ALEA has all 67 counties.

Order an ALEA background check online for $15. By mail the fee is $25. Results include arrests and convictions from across Alabama.

Fingerprint checks are more thorough. Get printed locally and prints go to ALEA. Many employers require this for jobs involving vulnerable groups.

The Coosa County Sheriff can do fingerprinting. Call ahead to schedule. ALEA results take one to two weeks.

Nearby Counties

Coosa County borders several other Alabama counties. Here are links to neighboring police records pages.

Search Coosa County Records Now

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