Access Winston County Police Records

Police records in Winston County are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Double Springs. Winston County sits in northwest Alabama. It covers 614 square miles of hilly terrain in the Appalachian foothills. About 23,500 people call it home. The county has an interesting history. During the Civil War, it tried to secede from Alabama. This earned it the nickname "The Free State of Winston." Today, the sheriff handles law enforcement for rural areas. The towns of Double Springs, Addison, and Haleyville have their own police forces. To get arrest records, mugshots, or incident reports from Winston County, you need to contact the right agency. For crimes outside town limits, start with the sheriff. For incidents in town, contact that town's police.

Winston County Sheriff's Office

The Winston County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of the county. Sheriff Ricky Grammer leads the department. The office is in Double Springs at the county courthouse. Hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

Deputies patrol the county and respond to calls outside city limits. They make arrests, investigate crimes, and write reports. The sheriff also runs the county jail. All booking records, mugshots, and inmate data come from this office.

Address: 46 Highway 195, Double Springs, AL 35553

Phone: (205) 489-2115

Fax: (205) 489-1530

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

The sheriff maintains several types of records:

• Arrest records with charges and booking details
• Mugshot photos from jail intake
• Incident reports for crimes outside city limits
• Crash reports for county road accidents
• Warrant lists for active cases
• Sex offender data for the county

To get copies, visit in person or call ahead. The staff can tell you what is available. Written requests work well for formal matters.

Winston County Jail

The Winston County Jail is operated by the sheriff's office. It is located in Double Springs. The facility holds people arrested in the county who are awaiting trial. It also holds inmates serving sentences of less than one year.

Booking records are created when someone is brought in. These records include the person's name, date of birth, charges, and mugshot. The bond amount is also recorded if one is set. This information helps family members and lawyers track cases.

To check if someone is in jail, call the sheriff's office. Staff can look up inmates by name. They can confirm if the person is there and tell you the charges and bond amount.

Jail Phone: (205) 489-2115

Bond Information

Bond is money paid to release someone before trial. A judge sets the amount based on the charges and the person's record. Serious crimes get higher bonds. People with prior failures to appear also get higher bonds.

To post bond, go to the jail with the full amount. Cash and money orders work. The jail holds the money until the case ends. If the person appears at all court dates, the money comes back. If they skip court, the bond is forfeited.

Bail bondsmen offer an alternative. You pay them a fee, usually 10% of the total bond. They post the full amount. That fee is their charge. You do not get it back even if everything goes well with the case.

Jail Visitation

The jail has visiting hours. Days and times vary so call ahead. You need photo ID to visit. There are dress code rules and limits on what you can bring in. Children must be with adults.

Phone calls are another way to stay in touch. Inmates can make calls if they have money in their account. Family can add funds to the account. Video visits may also be available. Ask the jail for details.

City Police in Winston County

Winston County has several towns with their own police departments. For crimes inside city limits, these agencies have the records. Here are the main ones.

Haleyville Police Department

Haleyville is the largest city in Winston County with about 4,000 residents. The police department handles all crimes within city limits. This is where to go for arrest records and incident reports from Haleyville.

Phone: (205) 486-3733

Double Springs Police Department

Double Springs is the county seat. The police department handles local matters. For records from Double Springs, contact them directly.

Phone: (205) 489-5321

Addison Police Department

Addison is a small town in Winston County. They have a police department for local law enforcement.

Phone: (205) 747-6141

If you are not sure which agency has your record, call the sheriff. They can point you in the right direction. Records from city police are separate from sheriff files.

How to Request Police Records

Alabama's open records law gives residents the right to public records. This is Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. Police records are included. Here is how to get them in Winston County.

First, figure out what you need. Be specific. Give the full name of the person involved. Include dates if you know them. A case number speeds things up. Vague requests take longer.

Second, decide how to ask. Going in person is often fastest. Bring ID. Phone calls work for simple questions. Written requests create a paper trail. Mail your letter to the address above.

Third, prove Alabama residency. The law applies only to state residents. Bring a driver's license or voter ID. Out of state requests may be denied under the law.

Fourth, expect to pay. Most records cost money. Copy fees run 25 cents to $1 per page. Certified copies cost more. Get a price estimate before committing.

Protected Records

Some records are not public in Alabama:

• Ongoing investigations where release would cause harm
• Juvenile records and identities
• Social Security and ID numbers
• Home addresses of crime victims
• Undercover officer information

If denied, you should get a reason. The agency must cite the law. You can challenge a denial in circuit court if you think it was wrong.

Winston County Court Records

Court records are kept separately from police records. The Circuit Clerk maintains court files. Winston County is in the 25th Judicial Circuit along with Marion County.

Circuit Court handles felonies, civil cases over $20,000, and family law matters like divorce. District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and small claims. Both courts are in Double Springs.

Circuit Clerk: (205) 489-5219

District Clerk: (205) 489-5219

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

Court records show what happens after arrest. They include charges, pleas, trial results, sentences, and appeals. If you need to know how a case ended, court records have that information.

Record Fees in Winston County

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

Sheriff's office copies cost 25 to 50 cents per page. Certified copies are more. Certification adds an official stamp that proves the copy is real. Background checks have a flat fee. Call for current prices.

City police fees are similar. Incident reports and crash reports usually cost $10 to $25. Some departments charge per page. Others have a flat fee.

Court records follow state rules. Alacourt online searches cost $9.99. Paper copies from the clerk run $1 to $5 per page. Certified documents cost more.

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

Payment options vary. Cash and money orders work at most offices. Credit cards may only work online. Call to confirm before you go.

State Level Record Resources

Not all police records are at the county level. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has a statewide database. ALEA combines records from all 67 counties.

For a complete criminal history, use ALEA. Their background checks show arrests and convictions from across Alabama. Cost is $25 by mail or $15 online. Go to the ALEA website to request.

State prison inmates are tracked by the Alabama Department of Corrections. Their website at doc.alabama.gov shows anyone in state prison. This does not include county jail inmates.

The sex offender registry is free. Go to community.alea.gov to search. Look up offenders by name, address, or map. The registry shows photos and offense details.

Crash reports from state troopers go through ALEA. If a trooper handled the crash, order from them. The online cost is $17. You need the date, location, and a driver name to find it.

Start Your Search

Use the search tool below to find arrest records, jail rosters, and criminal history in Winston County and throughout Alabama.

Communities in Winston County

Winston County has several small towns but none meet the 50,000 population threshold. Haleyville is the largest at about 4,000 people. Double Springs has around 1,000. Other communities include Addison, Arley, and Lynn. There are no large cities.

For police records, contact the town police if the incident happened in town. For everything else, the sheriff has jurisdiction. Most residents deal with the sheriff's office for law enforcement matters.

Nearby Counties

Winston County borders five other Alabama counties. If your incident happened near a county line, records might be in a different jurisdiction. Here are the neighbors.