St. Clair County Police Records Search

Police records in St. Clair County are held by the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Billy J. Murray leads the department. The county has two county seats, Pell City and Ashville. A new 55,000 square foot jail opened in 2023 with room for 323 inmates. You can search the online inmate roster for free. This page covers how to find arrest records, look up current inmates, and request police reports in St. Clair County. The county lies east of Birmingham along Interstate 20.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Office

The sheriff is the top law officer in the county. Billy J. Murray serves as sheriff. The office has locations in both Pell City and Ashville. This is because the county has dual county seats.

Pell City Office:

• Address: 1610 Cogswell Avenue, Suite 206, Pell City, AL 35125
• Phone: (205) 884-6840

Ashville Office:

• Address: 48 6th Street, Suite 300, Ashville, AL 35953
• Phone: (205) 594-2140

Website: stclairsheriff.org

Deputies patrol county roads. Investigators work on crimes. The civil unit serves papers. The jail division runs the detention center.

St. Clair County Jail

The jail is in Pell City. A new facility opened in 2023. It covers 55,000 square feet. It can hold 323 inmates. This replaced the old jail that was too small.

Jail contact:

• Address: 100 18th Street North, Pell City, AL 35125
• Phone: (205) 814-3525

The lobby is open 24 hours a day. You can post bond at any time. Staff is always there to help.

When someone is booked, staff takes a photo. They log the charges. They record bond amounts. This info goes into the system. The online roster updates from this data.

The jail does not take cash for inmate funds. Money must go through JailATM. No money orders either. Family can add funds to accounts online. This is for commissary and phone calls.

Search Inmates in St. Clair County

The sheriff posts an inmate roster online. You can search for free. Just enter a name to start.

Go to the sheriff's website. Click the inmate roster link. Type the name of the person you want to find. Results show current inmates.

Each listing shows:

• Inmate name and photo
• Date of birth
• Booking date
• All charges filed
• Bond amount set
• Release info if out

The roster updates often. New bookings may take a few hours. The jail must finish processing first. Check back later if you just heard about an arrest.

This is public data. Families use it to find loved ones. Employers check status. Victims see if someone is in custody. Anyone can search.

Request Police Records in St. Clair County

You can get copies of arrest records and incident reports. These requests go to the sheriff's office.

Start by collecting details. Know the date of the incident. Know where it happened. Have any case numbers. More detail means faster service.

Contact the records unit. You can call either office in Pell City or Ashville. Ask how to make a request. Some need a form. Others handle it at the counter.

Alabama limits access to state residents. Bring your Alabama ID. It must show a local address. Out of state requests may be turned down.

What you need:

• Your name and phone number
• Alabama ID or driver's license
• Date and details of the incident
• Case number if you have it
• Payment for any fees

Fees apply for most records. Copies cost per page. Reports may have a flat rate. Ask about costs before you pay.

Alabama law does not set a response deadline. Some requests finish fast. Others take time. Follow up if you have not heard back.

Posting Bond in St. Clair County

When someone is arrested, a judge sets bail. The bail amount varies by charge. The person's record matters too. Some bonds are set by a schedule. Others need a hearing.

Ways to pay bond:

• Cash: Pay the full bail. You get it back when the case ends, less fines.
• Bondsman: Pay a bail agent a fee, usually 10 percent. They cover the rest. You do not get the fee back.
• Property: Use real estate as collateral. This takes more time.

The jail accepts cash and money orders for bond. Personal checks may not work. Call ahead to confirm. The lobby is open all day and all night.

After bond posts, release takes time. Staff checks for other warrants. They process the paperwork. Expect a wait of a few hours.

St. Clair County Court Records

Court records and police records are different. Police make arrests. Courts handle trials. Each has its own files.

St. Clair County is in the 30th Judicial Circuit. Courts sit in both Pell City and Ashville. District Court handles minor crimes. Circuit Court handles felonies.

Search court records at pa.alacourt.com. A name search is $9.99. You can see hearing dates, charges, and outcomes. Document copies cost more.

For paper copies, go to the Circuit Clerk. They have offices in both county seats. Give them the case name or number. They make copies for a fee.

Court records show what happened after arrest. Was there a trial? A plea? What sentence was handed down? This info is in the court file.

Legal Help in St. Clair County

Cannot afford a lawyer? There are options. Courts must provide help for those who qualify.

At the first hearing, the judge asks about income. If you are poor, you get a public defender. This lawyer handles your case for free. It is a constitutional right.

Legal aid serves civil cases. They help with eviction, family law, and debt. Criminal cases are not covered. Contact Legal Services Alabama to see if you qualify.

The state bar has a referral service. Call and explain your issue. They give you a lawyer's name. The first consult is often low cost.

Courthouse law libraries are free to use. Research your case there. Staff cannot give advice, but they can help find materials.

Alabama Records Law

State law controls access to police records. The Open Records Act is the key statute.

Section 36-12-40 of the Alabama Code lets residents see public records. Arrest logs and incident reports are included. But only Alabama residents can ask. Bring ID to prove where you live.

Some records stay private. Open cases may be kept secret. Home addresses of those arrested are not released. Juvenile records are sealed. These rules protect people.

No deadline exists for agencies to respond. Some are fast. Some drag on. Keep following up if you hear nothing.

If denied, sue in circuit court. There is no other appeal. You have two years after the denial to file.

Nearby Counties

St. Clair County is in central Alabama, east of Birmingham. It borders these counties:

If an arrest happened near a county line, check both counties. The location decides which sheriff handled it.

Cities in St. Clair County

Pell City is the largest city. Ashville is the other county seat. Both have local police. Other towns include Moody, Ragland, Springville, Riverside, and Odenville. Some have their own police. Others use the sheriff.

If a crime happened in a city, that city's police may have responded. Crimes outside city limits go to the sheriff. The jail roster shows inmates from all agencies.

Note that Pell City (population around 14,000) and other cities in St. Clair County fall below our 50,000 threshold and do not have dedicated pages. Contact local police departments directly for city records.

Start Your Search

Use the search below to find St. Clair County police records. Look up inmates, arrests, and more.