Lowndes County Police Records

Police records in Lowndes County are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Hayneville. This rural Alabama county sits between Montgomery and Selma. You can request arrest records, incident reports, and jail information from the sheriff or through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Lowndes County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit. The circuit court clerk handles criminal case files after charges are filed. If you need police records from this county, this page walks you through where to go and what to expect. Most requests take a few days to process. Some records are free to view online. Others require a written request and a small fee.

Lowndes County Sheriff's Office

The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. They handle patrol, criminal investigations, and civil process. The office also runs the county jail. If you need an arrest record or want to check on someone in custody, start here.

Sheriff Chris West leads the department. The office is in Hayneville at the county courthouse complex. You can call or visit in person during business hours. For jail inquiries, ask for the detention division.

Contact Information

The sheriff's office handles most police record requests. Incident reports, arrest logs, and booking records all come from this office. They can tell you if someone is in custody right now. For older records or court documents, you may need to contact the circuit clerk.

What Records Are Available

Lowndes County keeps several types of police records. Not all are public. Here is what you can typically get:

• Arrest records showing name, charges, and booking date
• Incident reports for calls the sheriff responded to
• Accident reports for crashes in unincorporated areas
• Warrant information for active warrants
• Jail roster showing current inmates

Some records have limits. Juvenile records are sealed. Active investigation files stay closed until the case is done. Home addresses and social security numbers get redacted before release.

Lowndes County Jail

The Lowndes County Jail is next to the sheriff's office in Hayneville. It holds people arrested in the county who are waiting for court or serving short sentences. The jail is small compared to larger counties. Capacity is under 100 inmates.

If you need to find out if someone is in custody, call the jail directly. You will need the person's full name and date of birth. The staff can confirm if they are there and what the charges are. They can also tell you the bond amount if one has been set.

Inmate Information

Lowndes County does not have a full online inmate roster like some larger counties. You have to call or visit to get current inmate information. This is common in smaller rural counties across Alabama.

For statewide inmate searches, use VINELink. This free service lets you search for inmates across Alabama. You can also sign up for alerts when someone's status changes. Go to vinelink.com and select Alabama to search.

Visitation

Jail visits have set hours and rules. You must show valid ID. There are limits on what you can bring. Contact the jail ahead of time to confirm the current schedule. Rules can change based on staffing or security concerns.

Some facilities now use video visitation instead of in-person visits. Check with the jail to see what options they offer. Video visits can be done from home using a computer or phone in some cases.

How to Request Police Records in Lowndes County

Getting police records in Lowndes County takes a few steps. The process depends on what type of record you need and who you are.

In Person Requests

The fastest way to get records is often in person. Go to the sheriff's office during business hours. Tell the clerk what you need. Bring your ID. They may be able to print it while you wait. This works well for simple requests like a copy of an arrest report.

Written Requests

For more complex requests, put it in writing. State what records you want as clearly as you can. Include the date range, the names involved, and any case numbers you have. Sign and date the request. You can mail it or drop it off.

A basic records request should include:

• Your full name and contact information
• Description of records you want
• Names of people involved in the incident
• Approximate date the incident occurred
• Case number or report number if known

Online Options

Lowndes County has limited online records access. For statewide criminal history, you can use the ALEA background check system. This costs $15 online or $25 by mail. It searches the central state database.

Court records are available through Alacourt Access at pa.alacourt.com. You can search criminal cases filed in Lowndes County Circuit Court. There is a fee for detailed case information.

Alabama Open Records Act

The Alabama Open Records Act gives you the right to request public records. This includes most police records. The law is found in Alabama Code Sections 36-12-40 through 36-12-46.

Under this law, every Alabama citizen can inspect and copy public records. Police arrest logs, incident reports, and booking records are generally public. There are some exceptions. Ongoing investigation files can be withheld. Juvenile records are not public. Information that would endanger someone can be redacted.

One catch with Alabama law: only Alabama residents can make public records requests. You need to show proof of residency like a driver's license. Out of state residents do not have the same rights under this law.

There is no set deadline for agencies to respond. Alabama law does not require them to answer within a certain number of days. Most offices try to respond within a week or two. Complex requests take longer. If you think your request is being ignored, you can send a follow-up letter or contact the office by phone.

Fees

Agencies can charge for copies. The fee should be reasonable. Most charge between 25 cents and one dollar per page. If a request requires a lot of staff time to process, they may charge for that too. Ask for a cost estimate before they do the work if you are concerned about fees.

If your request is denied, the agency should explain why. You can appeal a denial to circuit court. There is a two year time limit to file an appeal. Many denials are based on exemptions in the law like ongoing investigations or privacy protections.

Police Records Fees in Lowndes County

Fees vary by record type and how you request it. Here is what to expect in Lowndes County:

Pay by cash or money order for in-person requests. Some offices take credit cards now. For mail requests, send a money order or cashier's check. Personal checks may not be accepted. Call ahead to confirm payment methods.

Criminal Court Records

Police records and court records are different things. Police records cover the investigation and arrest. Court records cover what happens after charges are filed. Both can be useful depending on what information you need.

The Lowndes County Circuit Clerk handles court records. Their office is in the courthouse in Hayneville. You can search for criminal cases, view case files, and get copies of court documents there.

Circuit Clerk Contact

For online court records, use Alacourt Access. This is the official state court records system. A name search costs $9.99 and includes one case. More cases cost extra. You can view docket information, charges, and case outcomes.

Lowndes County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit along with Butler, Crenshaw, and Luverne counties. The circuit court handles felony cases and civil matters over $20,000. District court handles misdemeanors and small civil cases.

Nearby Counties

Lowndes County borders several other counties. If an incident happened near the county line, you may need to check records in multiple places. Here are the neighboring counties:

Additional Resources

Beyond the sheriff's office and circuit clerk, there are other places to find information:

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) handles statewide criminal history records. For a full background check with fingerprints, you go through ALEA. Their website has online services for some record types. You can order crash reports and background checks online.

Alabama Department of Corrections tracks inmates in state prison. If someone was convicted and sentenced to more than a year, they end up in the state system. Search the ADOC database at doc.alabama.gov to find state prison inmates.

VINELink is a free victim notification service. You can search for inmates and register for alerts. When the person's custody status changes, you get notified by phone, email, or text. This is helpful if you need to know when someone gets out.

Legal Aid organizations can help if you have trouble getting records. Legal Services Alabama provides free help to low-income residents. They can advise on your rights under the open records law.

Search Lowndes County Records

Use the search tool below to find police records, arrest records, and inmate information in Lowndes County and across Alabama.