Sumter County Police Records

Police records in Sumter County are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Livingston. The sheriff handles all arrests, jail bookings, and law enforcement for rural areas of the county. Sumter is one of the smallest counties in Alabama by population. It has just over 11,000 residents spread across 905 square miles. The county does not have any large cities with their own police departments. This means the sheriff is the main source for arrest records, mugshots, and inmate data. If you need a police report from Sumter County, the sheriff's office is where you start. You can visit in person at the courthouse in Livingston, call by phone, or check their website for jail roster updates.

Sumter County Sheriff's Office

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. Sheriff Tyrone Clark leads the department. The office sits at the county courthouse in downtown Livingston. Staff are there Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM Central Time.

To get arrest records or police reports from Sumter County, you have a few options. You can walk into the sheriff's office and ask in person. This works well for simple requests. Bring your photo ID. You can also call ahead to ask what they have on file. For written requests, mail a letter to the address below.

Address: 115 Franklin Street, Livingston, AL 35470

Phone: (205) 652-9274

Fax: (205) 652-7941

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

The sheriff's office handles several types of records. Arrest records show who was taken into custody and why. Incident reports cover crimes and calls for service. Crash reports document traffic accidents on county roads. The office also runs background checks for local purposes.

Types of Records Available

When you contact the Sumter County Sheriff, you can ask for the following records:

• Arrest records with booking dates and charges
• Incident reports for crimes in the county
• Crash reports for accidents on county roads
• Background check requests for employment
• Warrant information for active cases

Some records cost money to get. The fee depends on the type of record and how many pages. Cash and money orders are accepted. Personal checks may not be.

Sumter County Jail Information

The Sumter County Jail is run by the sheriff's office. It sits near the courthouse in Livingston. The jail holds people who are arrested in the county and waiting for trial. It also holds those serving short sentences of less than one year.

When someone gets booked into the jail, a record is created. This booking record has their name, date of birth, charges, and a mugshot photo. The bond amount is also listed if one is set. Family members often need this information to post bail.

To find out if someone is in the Sumter County Jail, you can call the jail directly. Staff can look up an inmate by name. They will tell you if the person is there and what charges they face. They can also tell you the bond amount if one has been set.

Jail Phone: (205) 652-9274

Visiting hours at the jail follow a set schedule. Days and times change, so call ahead to confirm. You will need to show ID to visit. There are rules about what you can bring into the facility. Money can be placed on an inmate's account for phone calls and commissary items.

Posting Bond in Sumter County

If someone you know gets arrested in Sumter County, you may want to help them get out. Bond is the amount of money paid to release someone before trial. The judge sets the bond amount based on the charges and the person's history.

To post bond, go to the jail. Bring cash or a money order for the full bond amount. Some cases allow a bail bondsman. A bondsman charges a fee, usually 10% of the total bond. The bondsman then posts the full amount for you.

Once bond is posted, the person is released. They must appear in court at the scheduled times. If they do not show up, the bond is forfeited and a warrant is issued.

How to Request Police Records

Getting police records in Sumter County takes a few steps. The Alabama Open Records Act gives residents the right to see public records. This includes most police records. Here is what you need to do.

First, figure out what record you need. Be specific. A name and date help the staff find the right file. If you know a case number, include that too. Vague requests take longer to fill.

Second, decide how to submit your request. You can visit in person, call, or send a letter. In-person requests are often the fastest. Phone calls work for simple questions. Written requests create a paper trail.

Third, be ready to show ID. Alabama law requires that you be a state resident to request public records. Bring a driver's license or other proof of residency. Out of state requests may be denied.

Fourth, expect to pay a fee. Most records cost money. The fee covers copying and staff time. Ask about fees before you commit. Get a total in writing if possible.

Alabama Open Records Act

The Alabama Open Records Act is the law that lets you see public records. It is found in Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. Under this law, every citizen has the right to inspect and copy public records. Police records are included.

The law has limits though. Active investigations can be kept private. Personal details like Social Security numbers are redacted. Home addresses may be blocked out too. Juvenile records are not public in Alabama.

If the sheriff denies your request, you can ask why. They should cite a specific law. If you disagree, you can take the matter to court. There is no state agency that handles complaints about denied requests.

Sumter County Court Records

Court records are different from police records. Police records cover arrests and incidents. Court records cover what happens after charges are filed. The Sumter County Circuit Clerk handles court records.

Sumter County is part of the 17th Judicial Circuit. This circuit also includes Greene and Marengo counties. Circuit Court handles felony cases, civil suits over $20,000, and domestic matters like divorce.

The Circuit Clerk's office is in the courthouse in Livingston. They have records of criminal cases, civil lawsuits, and family court matters. You can search for cases by name or case number.

Circuit Clerk Phone: (205) 652-2291

For online searches, use Alacourt Access at pa.alacourt.com. A name search costs $9.99. You can view case details, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. More detailed records cost extra.

District Court handles lesser matters in Sumter County. This includes misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic tickets. The District Clerk can provide records for these cases. They are in the same courthouse.

Record Fees in Sumter County

Getting records costs money. Fees vary by record type and office. Here is what to expect in Sumter County.

The sheriff's office charges for copies. The per-page rate is usually between 25 cents and 50 cents. Certified copies cost more. A certification adds an official stamp that proves the copy is real. Courts and employers often need certified copies.

Background checks have a flat fee. The exact amount depends on the type of check. A simple name check costs less than a full fingerprint check. Ask the sheriff's office for current prices.

Crash reports from the sheriff cost around $10 to $15. The price can change. If ALEA troopers handled the crash, you must request the report from them instead. ALEA charges $17 online.

Court records have their own fees. Alacourt online searches are $9.99. Paper copies from the Circuit Clerk range from $1 to $5 per page. Certified court documents cost more due to the seal and signature.

Payment methods vary. The sheriff's office may take cash and money orders. Credit cards may not be accepted at all county offices. Call ahead to confirm what payment they take.

Statewide Record Resources

Some records are not kept at the county level. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency runs the statewide criminal database. ALEA has records from all 67 counties. If you need a full criminal history, you go through ALEA.

ALEA background checks cost $25 by mail or $15 online. You can submit a request at the ALEA portal. Results show arrests and convictions from across Alabama. Note that ALEA records require written consent from the person whose record you want.

For state prison inmates, use the Alabama Department of Corrections search. Their website at doc.alabama.gov shows everyone in state prison. This does not include county jail inmates. Sumter County jail inmates are only in the county system.

The Alabama Sex Offender Registry is free to search. Visit community.alea.gov to find registered offenders. You can search by name, address, or map. The registry shows photos, addresses, and offense details.

For crash reports involving state troopers, contact ALEA. You can order reports online for $17. By mail the cost is $15. You need the date, location, and at least one driver name to find the report.

Find Records Now

Use the search tool below to look up arrest records, inmate data, and criminal history in Sumter County and across Alabama.

Cities and Towns in Sumter County

Sumter County has several small towns but no large cities. Livingston is the county seat and largest town with about 3,000 people. Other communities include York, Cuba, Epes, and Geiger. None of these towns have their own police departments. The sheriff provides law enforcement for the entire county.

Since no cities in Sumter County meet the 50,000 population threshold, all police records requests go to the sheriff. If an incident happened in Livingston or any other town, the sheriff's office has the report.

Nearby Counties

Sumter County shares borders with five other Alabama counties. If the incident you are researching happened near a county line, records may be in a different county. Check these neighboring counties for related records.