Washington County Arrest Records

Police records in Washington County come primarily from the Sheriff's Office in Chatom. Washington County is one of Alabama's oldest counties. It was created in 1800, which makes it older than the state itself. The county spans 1,080 square miles in southwest Alabama near the Mississippi border. About 15,000 people live here. It is a rural area with no large cities. The sheriff handles law enforcement for most of the county. Chatom and Millry have small police departments. When you need arrest records, mugshots, or incident reports from Washington County, you will likely deal with the sheriff's office. They keep the main files for the county. Jail records, bond info, and booking photos all come from there.

Washington County Sheriff's Office

The Washington County Sheriff's Office serves as the main law enforcement agency for the county. Sheriff Richard Stringer leads the department. The office is in Chatom, the county seat. They handle patrols, arrests, investigations, and the county jail.

The sheriff's office keeps records of all arrests made by deputies. They also store incident reports for crimes in unincorporated areas. Crash reports for accidents on county roads are here too. The jail booking records and mugshots are also maintained at this office.

Address: 45 Court Street, Chatom, AL 36518

Phone: (251) 847-2201

Fax: (251) 847-5200

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

To request records, you can visit in person or call. The staff can tell you what they have on file. For a formal request, submit it in writing. Include as much detail as you can. Names, dates, and case numbers help speed things up.

Types of Records at the Sheriff's Office

The sheriff maintains various types of public records:

• Arrest records with charges and booking dates
• Mugshot photos from jail bookings
• Incident reports for crimes and calls for service
• Crash reports for county road accidents
• Warrant information and active warrants
• Sex offender registration data

Most of these records are public under Alabama law. There are exceptions for ongoing investigations and certain personal details. Fees apply to copies and certified documents.

Washington County Jail

The Washington County Jail is operated by the sheriff's office. It is located in Chatom. The jail holds people arrested in the county who are awaiting trial. It also holds those serving sentences of less than one year.

Booking records are created when someone is brought into the jail. The record includes the person's name, date of birth, physical description, and mugshot. It also shows the charges, the arresting agency, and the bond amount if one is set.

To check if someone is in jail, call the sheriff's office. They can look up inmates by name. You can ask about charges and bond amounts. This information is public.

Jail Phone: (251) 847-2201

Posting Bond

When someone is arrested, a judge sets a bond amount. Bond is the money paid to release the person before trial. The amount depends on the charges and the person's history. More serious charges mean higher bonds.

You can post bond in cash at the jail. Bring the full amount. The jail holds it until the case ends. If the person appears in court as required, the money is returned. If they fail to appear, the bond is forfeited.

Bail bondsmen offer another option. You pay them a fee, usually 10% of the bond. They post the full amount. That 10% is their charge for the service. You do not get it back even if the person makes all court dates.

Jail Visits

The Washington County Jail has visiting hours. Times and days vary so call ahead to confirm. Visitors must show photo ID. There are dress codes and rules about what you can bring. Children may need to be accompanied by adults.

Phone calls and video visits may also be options. Inmates can purchase phone time from commissary. Family can add money to inmate accounts. Ask the jail about methods to deposit funds.

How to Request Police Records

Getting police records in Washington County follows Alabama's open records law. The law is in Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. It says residents can inspect and copy public records. Police records are generally included.

Step one is to figure out what you need. Be precise. Give the full name of the person involved. Include dates if you know them. Case numbers make searches faster. The more detail you provide, the quicker the response.

Step two is to decide how to request. Going in person is often fastest. Bring ID. Phone calls work for simple questions. Written requests create a record. Mail or fax your request to the address listed above.

Step three involves proving residency. Alabama law limits public records requests to state residents. You must show proof like a driver's license. People from out of state may be denied access.

Step four is paying any fees. Most records cost money to copy. Prices range from 25 cents to $1 per page. Certified copies cost more. Get a quote before you commit.

What You Cannot Get

Some records are protected from disclosure in Alabama:

• Ongoing investigations where release could cause harm
• Juvenile records and names of minors
• Social Security numbers
• Driver's license numbers
• Home addresses of crime victims
• Undercover officer information

If your request is denied, the agency must tell you why. They should cite the specific law. You can challenge a denial in circuit court if you think it was wrong.

Washington County Court Records

Court records are separate from police records. The Circuit Clerk keeps court files. Washington County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit along with Choctaw and Clarke counties.

Circuit Court handles felony cases, civil lawsuits over $20,000, and family law matters. District Court covers misdemeanors, traffic violations, and small claims. Both courts are in the courthouse in Chatom.

Circuit Clerk: (251) 847-2208

District Clerk: (251) 847-3115

You can search court records in person at the clerk's office. Bring ID and be ready to pay for copies. Online searches are available through Alacourt Access at pa.alacourt.com. A name search costs $9.99.

Court records show different information than police records. They include case filings, charges, hearing dates, plea agreements, sentences, and appeals. If you need to know how a criminal case ended, the court file has that info.

Fees for Records in Washington County

Record fees vary by office and document type. Here is what to expect.

Sheriff's office fees for basic copies run 25 to 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost more. A certification adds an official stamp proving the copy is authentic. Background checks have a flat fee. Call to ask about current prices.

Court record fees follow state guidelines. Alacourt online searches cost $9.99. Paper copies from the clerk cost $1 to $5 per page. Certified court documents have higher fees. The clerk can quote exact prices.

ALEA handles statewide records. Background checks are $25 by mail or $15 online. Crash reports from state troopers cost $17 online. These are paid separately from county fees.

Payment methods vary. The sheriff takes cash and money orders. Some offices accept cards. Courts may have different options. Call ahead to confirm what payment they accept.

State Level Record Resources

Some police records are held at the state level, not the county. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency maintains the statewide criminal database. ALEA has arrest records from all 67 counties combined into one system.

For a complete criminal history check, you need to go through ALEA. Their background checks show records from across Alabama. The cost is $25 by mail or $15 online. You can request at the ALEA website.

State prison inmates are not in county systems. The Alabama Department of Corrections has records for anyone in state prison. Search at doc.alabama.gov. This shows current location, sentence dates, and offense information.

The sex offender registry is free. Go to community.alea.gov to search. You can look up offenders by name or by map. The registry includes photos, addresses, and conviction details.

Crash reports from state troopers are through ALEA too. If an ALEA trooper worked the accident, order the report from them. The online cost is $17. By mail it is $15. You need dates and names to find the report.

Search Now

Use the search tool below to find arrest records, jail data, and criminal history in Washington County and across Alabama.

Towns in Washington County

Washington County has small towns but no large cities. Chatom is the county seat with about 1,200 people. Other communities include Millry, McIntosh, and Fruitdale. None have populations over 50,000. This means all police record requests go through either the sheriff or small town police departments.

Chatom has a small police force. For crimes in town, they may have the record. Call them directly. For anything outside town limits, contact the sheriff. Millry also has limited local law enforcement.

Nearby Counties

Washington County shares borders with three other Alabama counties and the state of Mississippi. If your incident happened near a boundary, records might be in another jurisdiction. Check these neighbors.

Washington County also borders the state of Mississippi to the west. If the incident occurred across the state line, you will need to contact Mississippi authorities.