Search Lauderdale County Inmate Records

Lauderdale County inmate records are managed by the sheriff's office in Florence. The county jail holds people awaiting court and those serving short sentences. Lauderdale County does not have a public online roster at this time. You need to contact the jail by phone for inmate info. Florence serves as the county seat and is part of the Shoals region in northwest Alabama. About 93,000 people live in Lauderdale County.

Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office

The Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office operates the county jail and handles law enforcement across the county. Sheriff Rick Singleton leads the department. The office employs deputies for patrol and corrections officers for jail operations. Florence is the main hub, but deputies serve all parts of Lauderdale County from small towns to rural areas.

The jail sits near the courthouse in Florence. It holds inmates waiting for trial and those serving sentences of one year or less. Staff process new arrivals at all hours. The booking process includes mugshots, fingerprints, and a health screening. Inmates then wait for a bond hearing or their court date in Lauderdale County.

You can reach the sheriff's office by phone during business hours. The jail operates around the clock for questions about inmates. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody and what their bond is. For records copies or detailed questions, call or visit during regular hours in Lauderdale County.

How to Find Lauderdale County Inmates

Lauderdale County does not publish an online jail roster. The sheriff's website has general info but no live inmate search. To find out if someone is in custody, you must call the jail directly. This takes more effort than an online search, but it gets you current data from staff who can answer follow-up questions in Lauderdale County.

Call the jail at (256) 760-5757 to ask about inmates. Give the staff the person's name. They will check the system and tell you if that person is held there. You can ask about charges and bond amount. For detailed records, you may need to visit in person during office hours in Lauderdale County.

To check on a Lauderdale County inmate, have this info ready:

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth if available
• Date or approximate time of arrest

Staff may need a few minutes to search if you only have a name. Common names require more digging. The more detail you provide, the faster they can help. Be patient during busy times. The jail handles many calls each day in Lauderdale County.

For people serving state prison time from Lauderdale County, use the ADOC Inmate Search. This free tool covers inmates with sentences over one year. ADOC gives each person a six-digit AIS number. The county jail only holds people for shorter stays or those awaiting trial in Lauderdale County.

Lauderdale County Inmate Record Fees

Phone calls to check on inmates are free. You can call the jail and ask basic questions at no charge. Fees apply when you request printed records or certified copies. The sheriff's office sets rates for documents in Lauderdale County.

Bond amounts vary based on charges. The court sets bond at the first hearing. You can pay cash bond at the jail. A bondsman charges about 10% and covers the rest. The bond filing fee is $35 in Alabama. This goes to the Circuit Clerk when paperwork is filed in Lauderdale County.

Court records are available through Alacourt ACCESS. This state system costs $9.99 per name search. You get case info, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. This works when you need more than basic jail data. Alacourt covers all courts in Lauderdale County.

ADOC charges $25 minimum for historical records. This covers searches for people sent to state prison from Lauderdale County. The fee is not refundable. Send ADOC Form 23-A with a money order to Montgomery. Allow two to four weeks for a response.

How to Request Records in Lauderdale County

You can request inmate records by phone, in person, or by mail in Lauderdale County. Each method works for different needs. Phone is fastest for simple questions. In-person visits let you get copies on the spot. Mail creates a formal record of your request.

To request in person, visit the sheriff's office during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID. Tell the staff what records you need. They can search and print copies while you wait. Some archived records take longer to retrieve. Be ready to pay fees at the time of your visit in Lauderdale County.

For mail requests, write a letter with the inmate's full name, date of birth if known, and what records you seek. Include your contact details and a check or money order for fees. Mail it to Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, 200 South Court Street, Florence, AL 35630. Expect a reply in two to three weeks.

Under Code of Alabama Section 36-12-40, Alabama residents can inspect public records. The sheriff must respond within 15 business days. If they deny your request, they must state why. You can appeal through the court system if needed in Lauderdale County.

Lauderdale County and the Shoals Region

Lauderdale County is part of the Shoals area in northwest Alabama. The Shoals includes Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. These cities sit along the Tennessee River. About 150,000 people live in the combined metro area. Lauderdale County holds the eastern part of this region with Florence as its largest city.

The music heritage of the Shoals is famous worldwide. FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios recorded many hit records here. This draws visitors and creates a tourism economy. The area also has manufacturing plants and the University of North Alabama. These factors create a mix of residents, students, and visitors in Lauderdale County.

The jail handles arrests from across this active region. Florence police bring in city arrests. The sheriff covers unincorporated areas. Highway patrol stops on Interstate 65 and US-72 also lead to bookings. Some inmates have ties to Tennessee just across the river. The jail may hold people on out-of-state warrants while waiting for transfer.

Lauderdale County shares the 39th Judicial Circuit with Colbert County across the river. Circuit court handles felonies from both counties. District court in Florence takes misdemeanors and lesser charges. Track cases through Alacourt if you need court records beyond what the jail provides in Lauderdale County.

Alabama Inmate Records Laws

Alabama law grants residents access to public records including jail data. Several statutes control how records work in Lauderdale County. Knowing these rules helps when you make requests or want to understand what is public.

Code of Alabama Section 36-12-40 provides the right to inspect public records. This covers jail rosters, booking logs, and most inmate files. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The law applies to all public agencies in Lauderdale County. Under Section 36-12-41, agencies must provide copies when asked and paid a reasonable fee.

Certain records stay private. Youthful offender records are sealed per Section 15-19-7. Expunged records are hidden under Sections 15-27-1 through 15-27-21. Medical info stays private under HIPAA. Security details about jail operations may be withheld in Lauderdale County.

Only Alabama residents can file formal records requests. You must show proof like a license or voter card. Out-of-state requests may be denied. Since there is no online roster, non-residents should call the jail directly for info about someone in Lauderdale County.

Cities in Lauderdale County

Lauderdale County has several cities. Florence is the largest with about 40,000 people. This is below the 50,000 threshold for a city page. All inmates from Lauderdale County cities go to the county jail. There are no separate city jail facilities in the county.

Florence is the county seat and main city. Other communities include Rogersville, Killen, Lexington, St. Florian, and Anderson. Florence has its own police department. The sheriff covers the smaller towns and rural areas. All arrests end up at the county jail in Florence.

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

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lauderdale County. If you cannot find someone locally, check nearby jails. Inmates sometimes transfer between counties. Each county runs its own jail and records system.