Mobile County Police Records

Police records in Mobile County include booking data, arrest logs, and incident reports from the Sheriff's Office and city police departments. Mobile County is the third most populous county in Alabama with over 412,000 residents. The Sheriff runs the Mobile Metro Jail, a maximum security facility that can hold about 1,500 inmates. The Sheriff's Office is also the second largest law enforcement agency in the state. You can look up current inmates through the "Who's in Jail" tool on the official website. This page explains how to search inmates, get arrest records, and request police reports in Mobile County.

Mobile County Sheriff's Office

The Mobile County Sheriff's Office is one of the busiest in Alabama. They employ over 600 people. The agency handles law enforcement for areas outside city limits and runs the county jail.

Main contact information:

• Address: 510 S. Royal St, Mobile, AL 36603
• Phone: 251-574-2423
• Non-Emergency Dispatch: 251-574-8633
• Website: mobileso.com

The Sheriff's Office is in downtown Mobile. It is near the courthouse. Office hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Dispatch is available 24 hours.

For incident reports, visit the Records Section at the main office. They have the paperwork for sheriff cases. City police reports come from those departments instead.

Mobile Metro Jail

The Mobile Metro Jail is a maximum security facility. It holds inmates awaiting trial and those with short sentences. Some state transfers are held here too.

• Address: 450 St. Emanuel Street, Mobile, AL 36603
• Phone: 251-574-6412

The jail can hold around 1,500 inmates. It is one of the larger facilities in the state. The population varies day to day as people are booked in and released.

Visitation is available for inmates. The jail offers one free video visit per week. Additional visits can be purchased. In-person visits follow a set schedule based on housing unit.

Inmate accounts can receive money for phone calls and commissary items. The jail uses electronic deposits. No cash is taken at the facility.

How to Search Mobile County Inmates

The Sheriff has a free tool to find current inmates. It is called "Who's in Jail."

Go to the Mobile County Who's in Jail page. You can search in two ways:

• Search by the person's name
• Search by booking number if you have it

Results show the inmate's information including their photo. You can see the charges filed, the bond amount, and when they were booked. The search is free and no account is needed.

The database shows people currently in custody. Once released, they drop off the list. For past arrests, you need to contact the Records Section.

Updates happen throughout the day. New bookings appear after the person is processed. This can take several hours after the arrest.

How to Request Police Records

Getting records from Mobile County takes a request to the right agency. Where you ask depends on who made the report.

For Sheriff's Office records, go to the Records Section. The address is 510 South Royal Street in Mobile. They handle incident reports, arrest records, and crash reports for sheriff deputies.

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, Alabama residents can inspect public records. Most police records fall under this law unless an exemption applies.

Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 requires sheriffs to keep a jail book. This is a log of all inmates. It is public record.

When you make a request, provide:

• Your name and address
• The records you need
• Names and dates to help locate them
• Payment for any fees

Requests can be made in person or by mail. Call ahead to check on fees and processing times. Alabama law does not set a deadline for responses.

Mobile County Police Record Fees

Fees apply for most record copies. Looking up inmates online is free.

Typical fees in Mobile County:

• Incident reports: $10 to $25
• Crash reports: $15 to $25
• Copy fees: Around $0.50 per page
• Certified copies: Higher fee for certification

Cash works for in-person requests. Money orders work for mail requests. Some offices take cards. Ask before you go.

Background checks are done by ALEA, not the Sheriff. Those cost $25 by mail or $15 online through the state portal.

Mobile County Court Records

Court records are separate from police records. After an arrest, the case goes to court. Those records are kept by the Circuit Clerk.

Mobile County is in the 13th Judicial Circuit. Felony cases are heard in Circuit Court. Misdemeanors go through District Court first.

The Mobile County Circuit Clerk handles court records:

• Address: 205 Government Street, Mobile, AL 36602
• Phone: 251-574-8400

Online court searches are available through Alacourt Access at pa.alacourt.com. A name search costs $9.99. It shows case details. Documents cost more.

For case status or court dates, contact the clerk. They can look up pending cases and tell you what is scheduled next.

Legal Resources in Mobile County

Legal help is available for those who need it in Mobile County.

Legal Services Alabama assists low-income residents with civil legal issues. For criminal matters, they provide referrals.

The Mobile Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. They connect people with attorneys who handle criminal cases. A small fee gets you a consultation.

Public defenders are appointed for people who cannot afford a lawyer in criminal court. You request one at arraignment. The court looks at your income.

Mobile County has a law library in the courthouse. The public can use it to look up laws and court procedures.

Cities in Mobile County

Mobile County contains the city of Mobile and smaller communities. City police handle crimes in their jurisdictions.

The largest city is:

• Mobile - The county seat and Alabama's third largest city

Other communities include Prichard, Saraland, and Chickasaw. Each has its own police force. Contact those departments for reports from within their city limits.

The Sheriff covers unincorporated areas. If something happened outside a city, the Sheriff likely has the record.

Nearby Counties

Mobile County sits on the Gulf Coast. Neighboring counties have their own sheriff offices and police records.

Search Mobile County Records

Use the search tool to find police records in Mobile County. Look up arrest data, inmates, and criminal history.