Decatur Inmate Records Search
Decatur inmate records are maintained at the Morgan County Jail. The city does not operate its own jail facility. Decatur Police make arrests within city limits and transport inmates to the county jail. With about 57,974 residents, Decatur is the county seat of Morgan County and the tenth largest city in Alabama.
Decatur Quick Facts
Where Decatur Inmates Are Held
Decatur uses the Morgan County Jail for all inmates. The city has no long-term holding facility. When Decatur Police arrest someone, they take the person to the county jail. The sheriff's office handles booking and housing from there. This is how most Alabama cities operate in Decatur.
The Morgan County Jail sits on Highway 31 South in Decatur. It is one of the larger jails in north Alabama. The main facility has about 594 beds. An annex adds another 400 beds for a total of 994. The jail serves Decatur and all other Morgan County cities. The sheriff's staff work around the clock to process new arrivals in Decatur.
After arrest, the booking process takes a few hours. Staff take mugshots and fingerprints. They enter charges into the computer system. The inmate gets a housing assignment based on charge level and security needs. Bond information appears on the roster once booking is complete. Family members can start checking the online roster right after someone is arrested in Decatur.
| Detention Facility | Morgan County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 119 Lee Street NE Decatur, AL 35601 |
| Phone | (256) 351-4850 |
| Hours | 24 hours, 7 days a week |
| Website | morgancountysheriffal.gov |
Decatur Police Department
The Decatur Police Department handles law enforcement in the city. The department has over 150 sworn officers. They patrol Decatur and respond to calls for service. The main station is on Moulton Street downtown. Officers make arrests and transport inmates to the Morgan County Jail in Decatur.
Chief Todd Pinion leads the department. The records division handles questions about arrests made by Decatur Police. You can call the main line to reach records staff. They can tell you if someone was recently arrested. For current inmate status after booking, you need to contact the Morgan County Jail since that is where Decatur inmates are held.
The department works with the Morgan County Sheriff and other local agencies. All of them send inmates to the same county jail. The roster at the county level shows all bookings from across Morgan County, including Decatur Police arrests.
| Police Department | Decatur Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 402 Lee Street NE Decatur, AL 35601 |
| Main Phone | (256) 341-4660 |
| Records Division | (256) 341-4660 |
| Website | cityofdecatural.com/police |
How to Search Decatur Inmates Online
You can search for Decatur inmates through the Morgan County Sheriff website. The county posts a free jail roster online. Go to morgancountysheriffal.gov/roster.php to search. This roster shows all current inmates at the Morgan County Jail, including people arrested in Decatur.
The roster shows key info for each inmate. You see the name, mugshot, and booking date. Charges are listed with bond amounts. The page updates as new people come in. Recent releases also appear for a short time. You can scroll through the list or use the search function for Decatur inmates.
To find Decatur inmates, check these sources:
- Morgan County Sheriff roster for current county jail inmates
- ADOC Inmate Search for state prisoners from Decatur
- Alacourt ACCESS for court records at $9.99 per search
- Municipal court records for city ordinance cases in Decatur
For state inmates from Decatur, use the ADOC search at doc.alabama.gov/inmatesearch. This is free for current state prisoners. Enter a name or AIS number. The AIS is a six-digit code for state inmates. County jail and state prison records are completely separate systems.
Decatur also has a municipal court that handles city ordinance violations. Minor traffic tickets and code violations go through municipal court. These records are separate from the county jail roster. Contact Decatur Municipal Court at (256) 341-4570 for those cases in Decatur.
Decatur Inmate Record Fees
The online jail roster is free to view. You pay nothing to look up current inmates from Decatur. Fees apply when you need official copies. The sheriff's office and police department both charge for records.
Contact the Morgan County Sheriff for fee details on jail records. Background checks typically run $5 to $25. Copy fees are about $0.25 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more. Decatur Police records division has its own fees for arrest reports. Call ahead before visiting in person in Decatur.
Bond filing requires payment to the Circuit Clerk. The standard filing fee is $35 in Morgan County. Licensed bondsmen charge about 10% of the bond amount. Cash bonds need the full amount. Property bonds require court approval. Contact the Morgan County Circuit Clerk at (256) 351-4680 for bond questions on Decatur cases.
For court records, Alacourt ACCESS costs $9.99 per name search. You get case details and hearing dates. Document images cost extra. ADOC charges $25 minimum for historical state prison records. Current state inmate searches are free online for Decatur inmates.
Morgan County Jail Facility
The Morgan County Jail is one of the larger facilities in north Alabama. It has 994 beds total. The main jail holds about 594 inmates. An annex building adds 400 more beds. This size lets Morgan County handle the jail needs for Decatur and all surrounding cities in the county.
Sheriff Ron Puckett oversees the jail operations. The corrections staff work in three shifts to cover 24 hours a day. New inmates arrive at all hours. The booking area stays busy with arrests from across Morgan County, including many from Decatur. Processing a new inmate takes about two to four hours depending on how busy the jail is.
Decatur is the county seat. The courthouse sits nearby in downtown Decatur. This makes it easy to transport inmates to court. Most hearings happen at the Morgan County Courthouse on Lee Street. Inmates move between the jail and court several times during their case. Bond hearings, arraignments, and trials all happen at the courthouse in Decatur.
The jail offers programs for inmates. Some can earn early release through good behavior. Educational programs help inmates prepare for release. Work release is available for some low-risk inmates in Decatur. Family members can deposit money into inmate accounts for phone calls and commissary purchases through the sheriff's website.
Alabama Inmate Records Laws
Alabama law makes most inmate records public. Code of Alabama Section 36-12-40 gives residents the right to inspect public records. This covers jail rosters and booking logs for Decatur inmates. The Morgan County Sheriff must make these records available.
You do not need to explain why you want records. The law applies to all public agencies. Under Section 36-12-41, agencies must provide copies when you pay a fair fee. The agency has 10 business days to acknowledge your request. They must respond within 15 business days for Decatur inmate records.
Some records are protected from public view. Youthful offender files stay sealed under Section 15-19-7. Expunged records cannot be seen by the public. Medical records stay private under federal HIPAA rules. Security details about jail operations are also exempt in Decatur.
Only Alabama residents can make formal records requests. You must show proof of residency. A driver's license or voter card works. The online roster is open to everyone. You do not need to be a resident to view the roster online for Decatur inmates.
Other Alabama Cities
Decatur is one of ten Alabama cities with over 50,000 residents. Like most cities, Decatur uses the county jail system. Only Birmingham, Montgomery, Hoover, and Dothan operate their own city jails in Alabama.
Morgan County Inmate Records
Decatur is the county seat of Morgan County. All Decatur inmates go to the Morgan County Jail. The sheriff maintains all inmate records after booking. For full details on the Morgan County Jail, visiting hours, and record requests, see the county page.