Randolph County Police Records

Police records in Randolph County are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Wedowee. This eastern Alabama county borders Georgia and includes Lake Wedowee. The sheriff handles law enforcement for the county and operates the jail. If you need arrest records, incident reports, or inmate information, start at the sheriff's office. Randolph County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit. Criminal court records are kept by the circuit clerk after charges are filed. This page covers how to access police records and court files in Randolph County. We provide contact information, explain the fees, and describe your rights under Alabama law. Simple record requests usually take about a week to process.

Randolph County Sheriff's Office

The Randolph County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency. Deputies patrol the county, respond to calls, and investigate crimes. The office handles civil papers and courthouse security. They run the county jail as well.

When you need police records, the sheriff's office is your first stop. They have arrest records for all bookings. They keep incident reports for calls their deputies handled. They can check warrant status and confirm if someone is in custody.

Contact Information

The office is in Wedowee on Main Street. It is near the courthouse. Walk in during business hours for simple requests. Call ahead for anything complex or if you want to make sure staff is available.

Records Available

Randolph County keeps these police record types:

• Arrest and booking records
• Mugshots from jail bookings
• Incident reports from deputy calls
• Traffic accident reports
• Warrant information
• Current jail roster

Certain records are restricted. Active investigation files stay confidential. Juvenile records are sealed. Social Security numbers and home addresses are removed before copies are released.

Randolph County Jail

The Randolph County Jail is operated by the sheriff. It holds people awaiting trial and those serving sentences under one year. When someone is arrested in the county, they get booked into this facility.

To find out if someone is in custody, call the jail. Give them the person's name and date of birth. Staff can confirm if they are there, what the charges are, and the bond amount. They can explain how to post bail if needed.

Finding Inmates

Randolph County has an online inmate roster. You can search current inmates on the sheriff's website. The roster shows names, charges, booking dates, and bond information. It updates regularly but may lag slightly behind real-time bookings.

VINELink also covers Randolph County. This free state service lets you search inmates across Alabama. Sign up for custody alerts. When an inmate is released or moved, you get notified by phone, email, or text. Visit vinelink.com and choose Alabama.

Visitation

The jail has scheduled visiting hours. Bring valid ID. Dress appropriately. Cell phones and personal items may not be allowed. Call the jail to confirm the current schedule. Hours can change based on security or staffing needs.

Video visitation may be an option. Some jails let you visit remotely via computer or phone. Check with the jail to see what they offer. Video visits typically need to be scheduled in advance.

How to Request Records

There are a few ways to get police records from Randolph County. Choose the one that works for your situation.

In Person

Visit the sheriff's office during regular hours. Bring ID. Tell them what you need. For basic requests like an incident report, you may get it right away. Pay the fee and take your copies.

Written Request

Put detailed requests in writing. State clearly what records you want. Include all relevant names, dates, and numbers. Sign your request and include your contact information. Mail or drop it off at the sheriff's office.

A good request includes:

• Your name, address, and phone
• Description of records wanted
• Names of people involved
• Date or date range of incident
• Report or case number if known
• Reason for request (helpful but not required)

Online Options

Randolph County has some online records through the sheriff's website. State systems add more options. ALEA offers online background checks for $15. Alacourt Access at pa.alacourt.com has court records statewide.

Alabama Open Records Law

The Alabama Open Records Act is your legal basis for requesting records. It is in Sections 36-12-40 through 36-12-46 of the Alabama Code.

This law lets citizens inspect and copy public records. Most police records are public. Arrest logs, incident reports, and booking records can be requested. Agencies can charge reasonable fees.

Some records are exempt:

• Active criminal investigations
• Juvenile records
• Information that could put someone at risk
• Personnel files
• Medical records

Only Alabama residents can use this law. You must show proof of residency like a driver's license. People from out of state do not have the same access rights.

Alabama does not set a response deadline. Agencies can take the time they need. Most respond within a couple of weeks. Send a follow-up if you hear nothing after two weeks.

If Denied

The agency should explain any denial. You can challenge it in circuit court. The deadline is two years from denial. A lawyer can help you decide if it is worth fighting.

Records Fees

Randolph County charges for police record copies. These fees cover costs for copying and staff time.

Pay with cash or money order for walk-in requests. Mail requests should include a money order. Credit cards may be accepted at some offices. Call ahead to confirm payment options.

Criminal Court Records

Court records are separate from police records. Police records cover arrests and investigations. Court records track cases after charges are filed. They include dockets, motions, plea agreements, and sentencing documents.

The Randolph County Circuit Clerk handles court records. Their office is in the courthouse in Wedowee. You can search cases, view files, and get copies there.

Circuit Clerk

Alacourt Access provides online court records. Go to pa.alacourt.com and search by name. A basic search costs $9.99 and includes one case. Document images cost more. All 67 Alabama counties are in the system.

Randolph County is in the 5th Judicial Circuit with Chambers, Lee, Macon, and Tallapoosa counties. Circuit court handles felonies and larger civil cases. District court deals with misdemeanors and smaller civil matters.

Other Law Enforcement

Other agencies operate in Randolph County besides the sheriff. Each keeps its own records. Contact the right agency for each report you need.

Roanoke Police Department serves the city of Roanoke. For incidents inside city limits, go to city police. The sheriff does not have their records.

Wedowee Police Department covers the town of Wedowee. Contact them for incidents within town limits.

Alabama State Troopers handle highway crashes. Order crash reports from ALEA for $17 online. State trooper records go through the state agency.

Figure out which agency responded before requesting records. City police, county sheriff, and state troopers all keep separate systems.

Nearby Counties

Randolph County shares borders with several counties. If an incident occurred near a county line, you may need to check both places.

State Resources

State agencies can fill gaps when local offices do not have what you need.

ALEA maintains the statewide criminal database. For full fingerprint-based background checks, go through ALEA. Online checks cost $15. Mail requests are $25. Their office is in Montgomery.

Alabama Department of Corrections tracks state prison inmates. Anyone sentenced to over one year ends up in their system. Search at doc.alabama.gov. County jail inmates are not included.

VINELink is free for statewide inmate searches. It covers county jails and state prisons across Alabama. Register for custody alerts on specific inmates. Get notified when status changes.

Legal Services Alabama provides free legal help to qualifying residents. If you have trouble with records requests or face a denial, they may be able to help. Call 1-866-456-4995.

Nearby Major City

Randolph County is near Auburn in Lee County. If you need police records from the Auburn area or Auburn University, contact the Lee County Sheriff or Auburn Police Department.

Start Your Search

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