Madison County Arrest Records

Police records in Madison County cover arrest data, jail bookings, and incident reports from the Sheriff's Office and local police agencies. Madison County is the second most populous county in Alabama with over 423,000 residents. The Sheriff runs the Madison County Detention Center in Huntsville, which holds around 1,167 inmates on average. You can view the current inmate roster online for free through the official sheriff website. This guide shows you how to search inmates, request arrest records, and find police reports in Madison County.

Madison County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for Madison County. They cover the areas outside city limits. The office also runs the county jail.

Contact the Sheriff's Office here:

• Address: 100 Northside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Non-Emergency: 256-722-7181 (24 hours)
• Website: madisoncountysheriffal.org

The main office is on the north side of the courthouse square in downtown Huntsville. Someone is there 24 hours a day. For records requests, normal business hours apply.

The Records Division handles requests for incident reports and arrest records. They can tell you the fees and what you need to submit.

Madison County Detention Center

The Madison County Detention Center holds inmates awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. It is a medium security facility.

• Address: 815 Wheeler Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Phone: 256-519-4800
• Chief of Corrections: Chad Brooks

The jail has a capacity of about 1,220 inmates. The typical daily population runs around 1,167. This makes it one of the busier detention facilities in north Alabama.

Inmates can receive visits from family and friends. Video visitation is also an option. Check the Sheriff's website for the current schedule. Rules change from time to time.

Money can be put on inmate accounts for commissary purchases. The jail uses electronic systems for deposits. Cash is not accepted at the facility.

How to Search Madison County Inmates

The Sheriff provides a free online inmate roster. Anyone can use it.

Visit the Madison County Inmate Roster to see who is in jail. The page shows current inmates with their mugshots.

The roster includes:

• Inmate name and photo
• Charges they face
• Bond amount if set
• Booking date and time

There is also a list of inmates released in the past 48 hours. This helps if you want to know if someone got out recently.

The roster updates throughout the day. New bookings appear after processing is done. This usually takes a few hours after arrest.

VINELink victim notification is available for Madison County. Register at vinelink.com to get alerts when an inmate's status changes. This is free to use.

How to Request Police Records

Getting police records in Madison County involves a written request in most cases. The process varies based on what you need.

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, Alabama residents can inspect public records. This covers most police records that are not part of an active investigation.

For arrest records, contact the Sheriff's Office Records Division. Provide the person's name and date of birth. An approximate arrest date helps narrow things down.

For incident reports from city police, contact that department. Huntsville Police handles reports from within city limits. Madison Police covers the city of Madison.

Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 says sheriffs must keep a jail book. This log of all inmates is a public record. You can ask to see it.

To make a request, include:

• Your name and contact info
• The specific records you want
• Names and dates if you know them
• Payment for fees if required

Response times depend on the complexity. Simple requests take a few days. Large requests take longer.

Madison County Record Fees

Most record copies come with a fee. The online inmate roster is free.

Common fees include:

• Incident reports: $10 to $20
• Crash reports: $15 to $25
• Copy charges: $0.50 to $1.00 per page
• Certified copies: Additional fee for certification

Cash and money orders work for in-person requests. Some offices take credit cards. Check before you go.

Criminal background checks go through ALEA at the state level. The Sheriff does not do background checks for the public. State fees are $25 by mail or $15 online.

Madison County Court Records

Court records cover what happens after an arrest. The Sheriff handles the arrest. The courts handle the case that follows.

Madison County is part of the 23rd Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases are filed at the Circuit Clerk's office. Felonies go to Circuit Court. Misdemeanors start in District Court.

The Madison County Circuit Clerk is located at:

• Address: 100 Northside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Phone: 256-532-3330

You can search court records online at Alacourt Access. The site is pa.alacourt.com. A name search costs $9.99 and shows case information. Document images cost extra.

For questions about a pending case, contact the clerk. They can tell you the next court date and the case status.

Legal Help in Madison County

If you need a lawyer, several options exist in the Huntsville area.

Legal Services Alabama serves low-income residents. They help with civil matters mostly. For criminal cases, they can give referrals.

The Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral program. Call them for a consultation with a local attorney.

Public defenders are appointed for those who qualify in criminal cases. You ask for one at your first court appearance. The court reviews your income to decide if you qualify.

The Madison County Law Library is open to the public. You can research legal issues there. It is in the courthouse building.

Cities in Madison County

Madison County has several cities. Each has its own police department for crimes within city limits.

Major cities include:

• Huntsville - The county seat and largest city in the county
• Madison - A fast-growing city north of Huntsville
• Decatur - Split between Madison and Morgan counties

Each city police department keeps its own records. If an incident happened in a city, contact that city's police for reports. The Sheriff handles areas outside city limits.

Not sure which agency to contact? Look up where the incident occurred. That tells you who has the records.

Nearby Counties

Madison County borders several other counties. Each maintains separate police records.

Search Madison County Records

Use the form below to find police records in Madison County. Search arrest records, inmates, and more.