Search Lee County Inmate Records

Lee County inmate records are managed by the sheriff's office in Opelika. The Lee County Detention Center holds people awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. The county does not publish a public online roster at this time. You must contact the jail by phone for current inmate info. Lee County is home to Auburn University and has about 174,000 residents. Auburn is the largest city in the county.

Lee County Sheriff's Office

The Lee County Sheriff's Office operates the Lee County Detention Center. Sheriff Jay Jones leads the department with a team of deputies and corrections officers. The office handles patrol, investigations, and jail operations. Deputies serve the entire county while city police cover Auburn and Opelika. All arrests from Lee County end up at the detention center.

The Lee County Detention Center is a modern jail facility in Opelika. It serves the county's growing population. Staff process inmates around the clock. The booking process includes mugshots, fingerprints, and a health screening. Auburn University's presence creates a unique inmate population that includes students and visitors during football season in Lee County.

You can reach the sheriff's office by phone or visit during business hours. The jail line is available 24 hours a day for questions about inmates. Staff can confirm if someone is in custody and provide bond information. For formal records requests, contact the office during regular hours in Lee County.

How to Find Lee County Inmates

Lee County does not have a public online jail roster. The sheriff's website shows a corrections division page with jail info, but no live inmate list. To find out if someone is in custody, call the jail directly. Staff can search the system and give you current information. This takes more effort than an online search but gets you accurate data in Lee County.

Call the detention center at (334) 749-5651 to ask about inmates. Give the staff the person's full name. They will check if that person is held there. You can ask about charges and bond amount. For detailed records or copies, you may need to visit in person during office hours in Lee County.

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

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth if available
• Approximate date of arrest

Common names may take longer to search. The more details you provide, the faster staff can help. Auburn University has many students with similar names. Be specific when asking about someone arrested near campus in Lee County.

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

Lee 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 document rates for Lee County.

Bond amounts depend on charges. The court sets bond at the initial hearing. Cash bond requires the full amount. A licensed bondsman charges about 10% and covers the rest. The bond filing fee is $35 in most Alabama courts. This goes to the Circuit Clerk with the bond paperwork in Lee County.

For court records, try Alacourt ACCESS. This statewide system costs $9.99 per name search. You get case info, charges, and court dates. This works when you need more than basic jail data. Alacourt covers all courts in Lee County.

ADOC historical records cost $25 minimum. This covers searches for people sent to state prison from Lee County. The fee is not refundable even if no records exist. Send Form 23-A with a money order to ADOC in Montgomery. Response time is two to four weeks.

How to Request Records in Lee County

You can request inmate records by phone, in person, or by mail in Lee County. Pick the method that fits your needs. Phone handles quick questions. In-person visits get you copies the same day. Mail works for formal requests.

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

For mail requests, write a letter with the inmate's full name, date of birth if known, and what records you need. Include your contact info and payment for fees. Mail to Lee County Sheriff's Office, 1900 Frederick Road, Opelika, AL 36801. Allow two to three weeks for a reply.

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

Lee County and Auburn University

Lee County is home to Auburn University. This shapes the county in many ways, including jail operations. Auburn has over 30,000 students plus staff and visitors. The university brings young people from across the country. Some end up in the Lee County Detention Center after arrests.

Football weekends create huge spikes in activity. Auburn plays home games at Jordan-Hare Stadium with over 87,000 fans. Traffic, crowds, and alcohol increase the chance of arrests. DUI, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct charges rise during game weekends. The jail sees more bookings during football season in Lee County.

Student arrests create unique issues. Many students are first-time offenders from out of state. Parents often call looking for their child. The lack of an online roster means all inquiries go through the jail phone line. Staff handle a high volume of calls, especially after big games in Lee County.

Auburn City operates short-term holding cells but uses the county jail for all inmates beyond initial detention. The Auburn Police Department makes many arrests that end up at the Lee County Detention Center. If you are looking for someone arrested in Auburn, search the county system rather than looking for a city jail in Lee County.

Alabama Inmate Records Laws

Alabama law gives residents access to public records including jail data. Several statutes control how records work in Lee County. Understanding these 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 covers jail rosters, booking logs, and most inmate files. You do not need to state why you want records. The law applies to all agencies in Lee County. Under Section 36-12-41, agencies must provide copies for a fair fee.

Some records stay private. Youthful offender files 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 federal HIPAA rules. Jail security plans may also be withheld in Lee County.

Only Alabama residents can file formal records requests. You must show a license or voter card. Out-of-state requests may be turned down. But parents of students often can get info by phone even without being Alabama residents. Call the jail if you have questions about someone in Lee County.

Cities in Lee County

Lee County has several cities. Auburn is the largest with over 83,000 people. This is the only city in the county that meets the 50,000 threshold for a separate page. Opelika is the county seat with about 30,000 residents. Both cities use the Lee County Detention Center for inmates.

Auburn City Police handle arrests within city limits. Opelika has its own police force too. Smaller towns like Phenix City are in neighboring Russell County. All Lee County arrests go to the detention center in Opelika. The sheriff provides backup and covers unincorporated areas.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lee County. If you cannot find someone in the Lee County system, check nearby jails. Inmates sometimes transfer between counties. Each county maintains its own records.