DeKalb County Arrest Records

Police records in DeKalb County are managed by the Sheriff's Office in Fort Payne. They run a free online inmate roster you can search anytime. This guide shows how to find arrest records, check jail status, and request criminal history in DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Nick Welden runs the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office. The main office is on Jordan Road in Fort Payne. They patrol the county, run the jail, and serve court papers.

Contact details:

• Address: 2801 Jordan Road SW, Fort Payne, AL 35968
• Phone: 256-845-3801 (24 hours, non-emergency)

The phone line is staffed day and night. Call for inmate info or to report issues. During office hours, staff can help with records requests too.

DeKalb County is in the 9th Judicial Circuit. Cherokee County is also in this circuit. The Circuit Court in Fort Payne handles felony cases.

Online Inmate Search

DeKalb County posts a free inmate roster online. Visit dekalbcountysheriff.org/roster.php to search. No account needed.

The roster shows two lists:

• Current Inmates: People in jail now.
• 48 Hour Release: Recent releases from the last two days.

Type a name and hit search. You get the mugshot, charges, bond, and booking date. Updates happen often to keep info fresh.

This is the fastest way to check if someone is in jail. Takes just seconds. Free to use anytime.

DeKalb County Jail

The DeKalb County Jail houses inmates from across the county. It serves 11 municipalities. This means Fort Payne, Rainsville, Sylvania, and other towns all use this jail.

When a city police officer makes an arrest, the person comes to the county jail. The sheriff runs the facility. All booking happens here.

Inmate Work Crews

DeKalb County runs inmate work crews. These teams pick up trash along roads. They collect an average of 1,400 pounds of garbage each day. It is a work program that helps the county.

Contact the Jail

Call the main line at 256-845-3801 for jail questions. Give the full name of the person you are asking about. Staff can tell you if they are there and the bond amount.

How to Get Police Records

Getting records in DeKalb County works a few ways. It depends on what you need.

Arrest Records

The online roster covers recent arrests. For older records or copies, go to the sheriff's office in person. Bring ID. Ask for the records division.

Incident Reports

The agency that took the call has the report. Sheriff's office has county calls. City police handle city calls. Fort Payne Police has reports for things that happened in Fort Payne.

Public Records Law

Alabama residents can see public records. Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 says so. Arrest records are public. You have the right to ask.

Some info gets blacked out. Home addresses stay private. So do Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers. The law limits what is shared.

Posting Bond

Bond lets someone get out of jail before trial. The amount depends on the charges. Call the jail to find out what is owed.

Ways to pay bond:

• Cash: Pay the full amount at the jail.
• Bondsman: Pay a fee to a bail bond company.
• Property: Put up land or a home as collateral.

Bondsmen usually charge 10% of the total bond. That fee does not come back even if the case is dismissed. Cash bonds can be refunded if the person shows up for all court dates.

After you post bond, release takes time. The jail has to do paperwork. A few hours is normal. Weekends may take longer.

Background Checks

A local check only covers DeKalb County. For statewide records, you need ALEA. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency runs the central database.

ALEA checks cost $15 online or $25 by mail. Written consent is required from the person. Start at the ALEA website and fill out the form.

Fingerprint checks catch more records. They find info under other names or aliases. Many employers want these. Call the sheriff about fingerprinting services.

Remember: ALEA records are not public. You must have consent to run a check on someone else. Alabama law requires this.

Court Records

Arrest and court records are different. The sheriff handles arrests. The Circuit Clerk handles court cases.

The DeKalb County Courthouse is in Fort Payne. Go to the Circuit Clerk's office for case files. Bring the name or case number you are looking for.

Online searches are possible. Use pa.alacourt.com for Alacourt Access. Name searches run $9.99. Not all records show up online though.

Certified copies cost extra. You need these for legal matters. Plain copies are fine for personal use and cost less.

Cities and Towns in DeKalb County

DeKalb County has 11 municipalities. Each may have its own police. Here are the main ones:

• Fort Payne (county seat)
• Rainsville
• Sylvania
• Collinsville
• Henagar
• Ider
• Crossville
• Fyffe
• Geraldine
• Hammondville
• Valley Head

None of these cities meet the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated page. Fort Payne is the largest at around 14,000. For city police records, contact that city directly.

All cities send their arrests to the county jail. So the jail roster shows bookings from across the county, no matter which police made the arrest.

Statewide Search Tools

Alabama has several tools that cover the whole state. These go beyond just DeKalb County.

The sex offender registry is free. Go to community.alea.gov to search. Look up offenders by name or location.

VINELink sends alerts about inmates. Register at vinelink.com. You get notified when someone is released or transferred.

State prison inmates are in the ADOC system. Visit doc.alabama.gov to search. County jail inmates are not included there.

Crash reports depend on who responded. ALEA troopers handle highways. The sheriff handles county roads. City police handle city streets.

Fees for Records

Here are common fees in DeKalb County:

• Online inmate roster: Free
• Incident report copy: $10-25 range
• ALEA background check: $15 online, $25 mail
• Crash report (ALEA): $17
• Court name search: $9.99 (Alacourt)

Call ahead to confirm current fees. They can change. Most offices accept money orders. Some take credit cards.

Nearby Counties

DeKalb County borders several other counties. For records from these areas, reach out to their sheriff offices.

Search DeKalb County Records

Use this tool to look up police records in DeKalb County. Find arrest info, jail status, and court records.