Lee County Arrest Records

Police records in Lee County are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Opelika. The jail has a free online search tool. You can find who is locked up right now. Check their charges and bail amounts. Lee County is one of the fastest growing counties in Alabama. The population tops 174,000. Auburn and Opelika are the main cities. This page explains how to search arrest records, find inmates, and request police reports in Lee County.

Lee County Sheriff's Office

The sheriff handles law enforcement outside city limits. They run the county jail too. The office is in Opelika, close to the jail.

Here is how to reach them:

• Address: 1900 Frederick Road, Opelika, AL 36801
• Phone: (334) 749-5651
• Jail Location: Next to the Sheriff's Office
• Website: leecountysheriff.org

The jail holds about 380 people on average. Total capacity is 420. It gets full at times. The staff processes hundreds of bookings each month.

For records, contact the main office. Tell them what you need. Arrest records are common asks. So are incident reports. Have a case number ready if you have one. It speeds things up.

Lee County Inmate Search

The sheriff runs an online jail roster. Go to leecosheriffal.gov/inmateSearch to use it. Type a name. See who matches.

The search shows current inmates. Each listing has a photo. You see the charges too. Bond amounts show if bail was set. Booking dates tell you when they came in.

What the roster includes:

• Full name of the inmate
• Booking photo (mugshot)
• Current charges on file
• Bond amount if set
• Date booked into jail

This tool is free. No sign up. No fees. Just go to the site and search. It works on phones and computers.

Remember: These are current inmates only. Someone released last week will not show up. For past records, call the sheriff.

How to Get Police Records

Requesting records takes some work. You need to go to the right agency. You need to follow their rules.

For arrests made by the sheriff, ask the sheriff. For city arrests, ask that city. Auburn has its own police. So does Opelika. Smaller towns may use the sheriff.

Steps to get copies:

• Call or visit the records division
• Ask for the specific report
• Provide a case number or date
• Pay the copy fee
• Pick up or wait for mail

Alabama law gives residents access to public records. Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 covers this. Show your ID to prove you live in Alabama. Out of state folks may face limits.

Some records are sealed. Active investigations stay private. Juvenile cases are closed. Victim names may be redacted in some reports.

If you were in the incident, getting records is easier. Bring your ID. Show you were involved. Most agencies help quickly in these cases.

Lee County Jail Information

The jail is next to the sheriff's office on Frederick Road. It holds people waiting for court. Short sentences get served here too. Long ones go to state prison.

Jail features and services:

• Booking and intake processing
• Housing by security level
• Video visitation program
• On site medical staff
• Commissary for inmates

Video visits are the main way families connect. Inmates get 30 minutes per week. Up to four visitors can be on the call. You schedule visits ahead of time.

To put money on an inmate's books, use the approved service. This lets them buy items from commissary. Snacks, stamps, and hygiene products are common buys.

Lee County also offers VINELink alerts. Sign up to get notified when an inmate's status changes. This is free and works by phone, text, or email. Victims use this most often.

Record Fees in Lee County

Most online searches are free. Paper records have costs. Here is what to expect.

The inmate roster costs nothing. Look up anyone at no charge. This is public data.

Copies of arrest reports have fees. The sheriff charges per page. Typical rates run $0.50 to $1.50 per page. A full report might be 5 to 20 pages.

Accident reports may cost $10 to $25. This depends on the agency. Highway crashes go through ALEA. Local crashes go through local police or the sheriff.

Background checks must go through ALEA. The state charges $25 by mail. Online checks are $15. The sheriff does not run state level checks.

Court records are separate. The Circuit Clerk handles those. Name searches on Alacourt cost $9.99. You pay more for full case files.

Always call ahead. Fees change. Ask about payment types too. Some offices want exact cash. Others take money orders only.

Auburn Police Records

Auburn is the biggest city in Lee County. It has its own police department. Auburn University is here. That adds a lot of people during the school year.

For crimes in Auburn, contact Auburn Police. Not the sheriff. They keep their own records. Their office is downtown.

Auburn handles:

• City crimes and arrests
• Traffic stops within city limits
• Campus area calls (with AU police)
• Local incident reports

The sheriff handles areas outside Auburn and Opelika. Rural roads. Small communities. If you are not sure who came, think about where it happened. City lines matter.

Alabama Laws on Police Records

State laws control what records you can get. Here are the main ones.

The Alabama Open Records Act is the base. Section 36-12-40 says residents can see public records. Police reports are public in most cases.

Criminal history is different. You need consent to get someone else's record. The person must sign a release. Alabama Code Section 41-9-591 covers this rule.

Expungement erases some records. If charges are dropped, you can apply. If found not guilty, same thing. Alabama Code Section 41-9-625 sets the process. The agency must remove the record from public view.

Juvenile records stay private. Kids under 18 have sealed files. Only certain people can see them. Alabama Code Section 12-15-133 explains who.

Arrests must be reported to ALEA within 30 days. This keeps the state database current. It also means ALEA has records the sheriff may not show online.

Court Records in Lee County

Police records and court records are not the same. They live in different offices.

Police records show the arrest. Who got booked. What charges were filed. How much bond was set. The sheriff has these.

Court records show what happened next. Was there a trial? A plea deal? What sentence was given? The Circuit Clerk has these.

Lee County is in the 5th Judicial Circuit. The courthouse is in Opelika. You can search cases on Alacourt Access. This state site covers all Alabama courts.

For a full background, you need both. The arrest record shows the start. The court record shows the end. Many employers want both.

Cities in Lee County

Lee County has two main cities. Auburn and Opelika. Both have police departments.

Auburn is the larger one. Population over 78,000. It is home to Auburn University. The city police handle all calls inside city limits. Contact them for Auburn records.

Opelika is the county seat. Smaller than Auburn but still busy. They have their own police too. For Opelika incidents, go to their department.

Smaller towns use the sheriff more. Smiths Station, Phenix City border areas, and rural spots fall to the county. When in doubt, call and ask. They can point you the right way.

Nearby Counties

Lee County sits in east Alabama near the Georgia line. These counties are close by.

Russell County has Phenix City. That is right on the Georgia border near Columbus. If an incident was there, check Russell County records.

Not sure which county? Look up the address. County lines decide who keeps the records. The wrong county will not have your file.

Search Lee County Records

Use this tool to find police and arrest records in Lee County.