Lamar County Inmate Records

Lamar County inmate records are kept by the sheriff's office in Vernon. The county jail holds people awaiting trial and those serving sentences under one year. There is no online roster in Lamar County. You must call the jail to ask about current inmates. Lamar County is a small rural county in northwest Alabama near the Mississippi border. About 13,000 people live here. The jail serves all towns in the county.

Lamar County Sheriff's Office

The Lamar County Sheriff's Office manages the county jail in Vernon. The sheriff leads a small team that handles both patrol and jail duties. With a low population, the county does not need a large staff. Deputies cover roads and respond to calls across the rural area. Corrections officers run the jail around the clock in Lamar County.

The jail is a small facility that matches the county's needs. Most inmates are locals facing charges in district or circuit court. Some are held for other agencies while waiting transfer. The booking process includes photos, fingerprints, and a health check. Inmates then wait for their court date or bond posting in Lamar County.

You can contact the sheriff by phone at any hour. The jail line is staffed 24/7 for questions about inmates. Staff can confirm if someone is in custody and tell you the bond amount. For detailed records or copies, visit during office hours. The office sits in the Vernon courthouse area in Lamar County.

How to Find Lamar County Inmates

Lamar County does not post an online inmate roster. The sheriff's office has limited web presence. To find out if someone is in the county jail, you need to call directly. This is common in small Alabama counties that lack the budget for online systems. The trade-off is that you must make a phone call instead of searching from home in Lamar County.

Call the jail at (205) 695-7173 to ask about current inmates. Tell them the person's name. The staff can check if that person is in custody. They will give you basic info like charges and bond amount. For more detail, you may need to visit in person during office hours in Lamar County.

To check on a Lamar County inmate, you need this info:

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth if you have it
• Approximate date of arrest

The more info you give, the faster the search goes. Common names take longer to sort out. If you know the exact date of arrest, that helps narrow results. Staff are busy, so have your details ready before you call in Lamar County.

For state prisoners from Lamar County, use the ADOC Inmate Search. This free tool covers people serving more than one year in state prison. ADOC assigns each inmate a six-digit AIS number. The county jail only holds people for short stays or those awaiting trial in Lamar County.

Lamar County Inmate Record Fees

Phone inquiries about current inmates are free. You can call the jail and ask basic questions at no cost. Fees apply when you request written records or official copies. The sheriff's office sets rates for printed documents in Lamar County.

Bond amounts depend on the charges. The court sets bond at the first hearing. Cash bonds require the full amount upfront. A licensed bondsman charges around 10% and posts the rest. The bond filing fee is $35 in most Alabama courts. This goes to the Circuit Clerk with the paperwork in Lamar County.

For court records, use Alacourt ACCESS. This statewide system costs $9.99 per name search. It shows case details, charges, and court dates. This is useful when you need more than basic jail info. The system covers all Alabama courts including Lamar County.

ADOC records cost $25 minimum for historical searches. This covers people who went to state prison from Lamar County. The fee applies even if no records are found. Send Form 23-A to ADOC in Montgomery with a money order. Response time is two to four weeks for Lamar County requests.

How to Request Records in Lamar County

You can request inmate records by phone, in person, or by mail in Lamar County. Phone works for quick questions. In-person visits let you get copies right away. Mail requests create a written record of your ask.

For in-person requests, go to the sheriff's office during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID. Tell them what you need. Staff can search the system and print copies while you wait. Some old records may take longer to pull. Be ready to pay any fees when you visit in Lamar County.

To request records by mail, write a letter with the inmate's full name, date of birth if known, and what records you want. Include your address and a check or money order. Mail it to Lamar County Sheriff's Office, 44 Courthouse Square, Vernon, AL 35592. Allow two to three weeks for a reply.

Code of Alabama Section 36-12-40 gives Alabama residents the right to inspect public records. The sheriff must respond within 15 business days. If they deny your request, they must explain why in writing. You can appeal a denial through the courts if needed in Lamar County.

Lamar County as a Small Rural County

Lamar County is one of Alabama's smaller counties by population. About 13,000 people live here across a rural landscape. Vernon, the county seat, has only about 1,800 residents. The rest of the population spreads across small towns and farm areas. This rural character shapes how the jail operates in Lamar County.

Small counties face budget limits. They cannot afford the software and staff for online rosters. Phone-based systems work fine when inmate counts are low. The trade-off is that you must call instead of clicking. Staff know many locals by name. This can speed up searches if you have the right info in Lamar County.

The county sits along the Mississippi border. Sulligent and Millport are other towns in the area. Highway 17 runs through Vernon. Traffic from Mississippi crosses into Lamar County daily. Some arrests involve out-of-state drivers passing through. The jail handles these cases along with local matters.

Lamar County shares the 24th Judicial Circuit with Fayette and Pickens counties. The circuit court handles felony cases from all three counties. District court in Vernon covers lesser charges. If someone faces serious charges, they may move through courts in multiple locations. Track case info through Alacourt if you need court records from Lamar County.

Alabama Inmate Records Laws

Alabama law gives residents access to public records including jail data. Several statutes govern how these records work in Lamar County. Understanding the rules helps when you make a request or want to know what is available.

Code of Alabama Section 36-12-40 establishes the right to inspect public records. This includes jail rosters, booking logs, and most inmate files. You do not have to give a reason for your request. This applies to all agencies in Lamar County. Under Section 36-12-41, agencies must provide copies for a fair fee.

Some records are protected. Youthful offender files stay sealed per Section 15-19-7. Expunged records are hidden under Sections 15-27-1 through 15-27-21. Medical records stay private under federal HIPAA rules. Jail security info is also blocked from public view in Lamar County.

Only Alabama residents can make formal records requests. You need to show ID like a license or voter card. Out-of-state requests may be turned down. Since Lamar County has no online roster, phone inquiries are the main way non-residents check on inmates. Call the jail directly if you live outside Alabama but need info on someone in Lamar County.

Cities in Lamar County

Lamar County has a few small towns. None come close to the 50,000 population threshold for a city page. All inmates from these towns go to the county jail in Vernon. There are no separate city jails in Lamar County.

Vernon is the county seat with about 1,800 people. Other towns include Sulligent, Millport, Kennedy, and Detroit. These are rural communities with small police forces or no local police at all. The sheriff provides law enforcement across most of the county. All arrests lead to the county jail in Vernon.

No cities in Lamar County meet the population requirement for a separate page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lamar County. If you cannot find someone in the Lamar County jail, check nearby counties. Inmates sometimes transfer between facilities. Each county keeps its own records system.