Dothan Inmate Records
Dothan inmate records come from two sources. The city runs its own jail for municipal charges. The Houston County Jail handles county and state charges. Dothan is one of only four Alabama cities with a city jail. With about 71,650 residents, Dothan is the largest city in the Wiregrass region and serves as the county seat of Houston County.
Dothan Quick Facts
Where Dothan Inmates Are Held
Dothan has two jail facilities. The city jail handles municipal cases. The county jail handles everything else. Which jail holds an inmate depends on the charges. City charges like minor traffic crimes stay at the city jail. County and state charges go to the Houston County Jail in Dothan.
When Dothan Police arrest someone, they decide where to take the person. Minor city offenses go to the city jail on Columbia Highway. More serious charges go straight to the county jail on Bel Air Drive. Some people start at the city jail and transfer to the county later. This happens when the charges get upgraded or new charges are added in Dothan.
The two jails keep separate records. You may need to check both when looking for someone. The city jail has its own booking log. The county jail has a different system. Both are public records under Alabama law. The county uses Southern Software for its roster. The city posts mugshots on its police department website.
| Dothan City Jail |
210 North Saint Andrews Street Dothan, AL 36303 Phone: (334) 615-3200 |
|---|---|
| Houston County Jail |
462 Bel Air Drive Dothan, AL 36303 Phone: (334) 677-4850 |
| Sheriff's Main Office |
462 Bel Air Drive Dothan, AL 36303 Phone: (334) 677-4800 |
| County Website | houstoncosoal.gov |
Dothan Police Department
The Dothan Police Department runs the city jail. The department has about 180 sworn officers. They cover all of Dothan and some areas outside city limits. The main station is on Saint Andrews Street downtown. Officers make arrests and handle booking for city charges in Dothan.
Chief Will Benny leads the department. The records division can answer questions about city arrests. Call the main line to reach staff. They can look up recent arrests at the city jail. For county inmates, you need to contact the Houston County Sheriff instead. The two agencies share info but keep separate records for Dothan.
The police department posts mugshots on its website. Go to the news section and look for mugshots. This shows recent arrests by Dothan Police. The list does not include arrests by the county sheriff. For those, check the Houston County inmate listing page.
| Police Department | Dothan Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 210 North Saint Andrews Street Dothan, AL 36303 |
| Main Phone | (334) 615-3000 |
| City Jail | (334) 615-3200 |
| Website | dothanpd.org |
How to Search Dothan Inmates Online
You have two places to search for Dothan inmates. The city posts mugshots on the police website. The county has a full inmate listing. You may need to check both to find someone. The city site shows recent arrests. The county site shows everyone currently in the Houston County Jail.
For county inmates, go to houstoncosoal.gov/inmate-listing. The roster uses Southern Software. You can search by name. Results show the mugshot, charges, and bond amount. The list updates as new people come in and others leave. This covers arrests from Dothan and all of Houston County.
For city jail inmates, check the Dothan Police website. Go to dothanpd.org/news/mugshots. This shows recent arrests. The page is updated regularly. Mugshots appear with names and arrest dates. This only covers people arrested by Dothan Police on city charges.
To find Dothan inmates, check these sources:
- Houston County inmate listing for county jail inmates
- Dothan Police mugshots for city jail arrests
- ADOC Inmate Search for state prisoners from Dothan
- Alacourt ACCESS for court records at $9.99 per search
For state inmates from Dothan, use the ADOC search at doc.alabama.gov/inmatesearch. Enter a name or AIS number. The AIS is a six-digit code for state inmates. County and city jail records are separate from state prison records. You may need to check multiple systems when looking for someone in Dothan.
Dothan Inmate Record Fees
Both online rosters are free to view. The county inmate listing costs nothing. The city mugshots page is also free. Fees apply when you need copies. Official records cost money from both agencies in Dothan.
The Dothan Police records division charges for arrest reports. Call (334) 615-3000 to ask about current fees. The Houston County Sheriff handles requests for jail records. Background checks range from $5 to $25 in most cases. For court records, Alacourt ACCESS costs $9.99 per name search. Document images have extra fees through that service.
Bond filing has standard fees. The filing fee is $35 in Houston County. Bondsmen charge about 10% of the bond amount. Cash bonds require the full amount upfront. Property bonds need court approval. Contact the Houston County Circuit Clerk at (334) 677-4811 for bond info on Dothan cases.
ADOC charges $25 minimum for historical state prison records. This fee is not refundable. Current state inmate searches are free online. County and city jail rosters are free to search but copies cost money in Dothan.
Dothan's City Jail System
Dothan is one of only four Alabama cities with its own jail. Birmingham, Montgomery, and Hoover are the others. Most cities use county jails for all inmates. Dothan runs a separate facility for city charges. This gives the city more control over minor offenders in Dothan.
The city jail handles municipal court cases. Traffic violations, minor drug charges, and city code violations go here. Inmates can serve sentences up to 12 months at the city jail. Longer sentences go to county or state facilities. The city jail is smaller than the county jail but still processes hundreds of inmates each year in Dothan.
Having two jails means two record systems. Someone arrested in Dothan might be in either one. The city jail has its own booking log. The county jail uses Southern Software. When searching for an inmate, check both locations. Start with the county roster since it covers more people. Then check the city mugshots page for recent city arrests in Dothan.
Dothan is known as the Peanut Capital of the World. The city hosts the National Peanut Festival each fall. This brings visitors from across the region. During big events, both jails may see more bookings. Public intoxication and traffic offenses increase. If searching for someone during festival time, check both rosters for Dothan inmates.
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 at both Dothan facilities. Booking logs and mugshots are public information.
You do not need to give a reason for your request. Under Section 36-12-41, agencies must provide copies when you pay a fair fee. Both the city and county must respond to proper requests. They have 10 business days to acknowledge and 15 business days to respond for Dothan inmate records.
Some records are not public. Youthful offender files stay sealed under Section 15-19-7. Expunged records are hidden from view. Medical records stay private. Security details about jail operations are exempt. Only Alabama residents can make formal records requests in Dothan.
The online rosters are open to everyone with internet access. You do not need to be an Alabama resident to view the jail roster. Formal records requests with copies require residency proof. A driver's license or voter card works as proof.
Other Alabama Cities
Dothan is one of ten Alabama cities over 50,000 people. Only four cities run their own jails like Dothan does. Birmingham and Montgomery have city jails. Hoover has one too. The other six major cities use county jails only.
Houston County Inmate Records
Dothan is the county seat of Houston County. The county jail handles most inmates from the area. For county charges, state charges, and longer sentences, inmates go to the Houston County Jail. See the county page for full details on that facility.