Independent public-record guide: USA-Arrests.org is not the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility, Montgomery Police Department, City of Montgomery Municipal Jail, Montgomery County Circuit Clerk, Alabama Department of Corrections or Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
An arrest entry, warrant result, booking row, inmate listing, charge or mugshot is not proof of guilt or conviction. Custody, bond and charges can change after booking. Use the court record when you need case status or final disposition.
Montgomery County, Alabama • arrest and jail record navigation
Montgomery Recent Arrests: Start With the Official 96-Hour Sheriff Search
For a recent Montgomery County arrest, the fastest official starting point is the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Recent Arrests search. It covers arrests within the last 96 hours. Use Current Inmates when your real question is whether the person is still in county custody, and use Montgomery County court records when you need to know what happened legally after the arrest.
Quick answer
Which Montgomery Arrest Source Should You Use?
The most useful source depends on the question. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office separates recent arrests, current inmates and outstanding warrants into different searches. The city jail, county detention facility, police department, state courts, ADOC and ALEA also serve different purposes.
MCSO Recent Arrests
Use this when you want newly recorded Montgomery County arrests. The Sheriff’s search states that this section covers arrests within the last 96 hours.
Search recent arrestsMCSO Current Inmates
Use the current-inmate search when you need active Montgomery County custody rather than the historical fact that a booking recently occurred.
Search current inmatesMCSO Outstanding Warrants
Use the Sheriff’s warrant search for the county warrant route. A possible warrant should be verified through official Sheriff and court channels before taking action.
Search warrantsMontgomery County Circuit Clerk
Use court records for a case number, hearing, docket event, amended charge, disposition, fine or certified court information.
Open Montgomery courtsMontgomery Police Department
Use MPD for Montgomery city incident reports, accident reports and police-record questions—not the county Sheriff’s inmate search.
Open police recordsADOC or ALEA
ADOC is for current state-prison incarceration. ALEA handles Alabama criminal-history and official background-record procedures.
Open ALEA criminal recordsA person can appear on the 96-hour arrest page and later be released, transferred or otherwise no longer be in county custody. Check Current Inmates if you need present custody information.
Official Sheriff workflow
How To Check Montgomery Recent Arrests Step by Step
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1
Open the Montgomery County Sheriff’s official search
Start at the Sheriff’s Inmate and Warrant Search. You should see separate options for Current Inmates, Recent Arrests and Outstanding Warrants.
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Choose Recent Arrests when the event is fresh
Open Recent Arrests. The Sheriff’s page defines this as arrests occurring within the last 96 hours.
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3
Match the person carefully
Compare the legal name and any available booking details rather than relying on the photograph alone. Common names, similar names and older reposted mugshots can lead to a wrong-person match.
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Switch to Current Inmates for present custody
If you need to know whether the person remains confined, open Current Inmates. Recent arrest and current custody are two different questions.
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Save useful identifiers before moving to court records
Note the full legal name, booking date, displayed charge wording, bond information and booking number if shown. These details can help you match the correct court case or prepare a jail inquiry.
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Check the court record for what happened next
Use the Montgomery County Fifteenth Judicial Circuit and Alabama trial-court record route when the outcome, court date or disposition matters.
Recent Arrests → Current Inmates → Court Record. The first shows fresh arrest activity, the second answers active county custody, and the third answers the legal case.
Local source boundaries
Montgomery County Jail, City Jail, Police and Court Are Separate Systems
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Use the Sheriff for county recent-arrest, current-inmate and outstanding-warrant searches. The Sheriff’s Office also operates the Mac Sim Butler Montgomery County Detention Facility.
Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility
This is the county detention facility at 225 S. McDonough Street. Use its pages for county jail visitation, inmate mail and facility-related questions.
Montgomery Police Department
MPD handles City of Montgomery police activity and police reports. Its Records Bureau is at 320 North Ripley Street.
City of Montgomery Municipal Jail
The Municipal Jail is separate from the county detention facility and publishes its own inmate-mail and visitation rules.
Montgomery County Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk is the official record keeper for Montgomery County District and Circuit Court proceedings and maintains criminal court records.
ADOC / ALEA
ADOC concerns current Alabama state-prison custody. ALEA maintains criminal-history services and fingerprint-based Alabama criminal record procedures.
A person arrested by city police can move through a municipal or county detention process and later have a case handled in District or Circuit Court. Searching only one database can therefore answer the wrong question.
Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility
County Jail Visitation, Mail and Family Contact
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office identifies the Mac Sim Butler Montgomery County Detention Facility as the county jail and says it is designed to hold up to 1,200 inmates per day. The Sheriff’s jail page states that inmate-list information can include the complete name, booking date, bond amount and charges.
Saturday and Sunday
The Sheriff’s current jail page lists on-site video visitation:
- 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
- 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visits must be registered and scheduled at least one day ahead but no more than one week ahead.
Check official visitationAvailable seven days a week
The Sheriff’s page lists fee-based remote visitation during:
- 8:00 a.m.–12:30 a.m.
- 2:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Visitors must use the approved video-visitation platform and test the supported device/app before scheduling.
Read inmate contact rulesOnly approved visitors may participate, and the Sheriff’s current rules limit the number of visitors. Facility schedules can also change for security or operational reasons. Recheck the official page before leaving home.
How to address county inmate mail correctly
The Sheriff’s inmate-contact instructions require the sender’s full return address and the inmate’s full name and booking number. Mail that is not correctly labeled may be returned, and mail without a return address may be destroyed.
Verify the current mailing instructions before sending anything, especially publications or legal material.
The Sheriff says mail received after an inmate has left the facility is marked for return to sender. If a person was recently released, verify custody before mailing.
Family help beyond the roster
Montgomery County Detention Facility Family Support Unit
The detention facility also maintains a Family Support Unit for families of incarcerated people. The unit describes its role as connecting families with referral resources and support during incarceration.
334-832-2506
Use this route for family-support resources connected with incarceration at the Montgomery County Detention Facility.
Call Family Support4familysupportmcsodf@mc-ala.org
Use email for non-emergency Family Support Unit communication.
Email Family Support334-832-1386
Use for questions about inmate contact, mail or visitation instructions.
Call for assistanceCity custody is different
City of Montgomery Municipal Jail Rules
The City of Montgomery Municipal Jail is not the Mac Sim Butler county facility. The city jail publishes separate rules for inmate mail and visiting days.
City of Montgomery Municipal Jail
- Location
- 103 North Perry St., Montgomery, AL 36104
- Phone
- 334-625-4636
- P.O. Box-Drawer 159, Montgomery, AL 36101
- ID
- Visitors must present valid photo identification.
What can be mailed?
The city jail says packages are not accepted through inmate mail. U.S. Postal Service money orders are accepted by mail when made out in the inmate’s name.
The city jail and Mac Sim Butler use different inmate-mail addresses and procedures.
| Inmate Category | Day | Listed Times |
|---|---|---|
| Federal inmates and city prisoners with court dates | Saturday | 8:00–10:30 a.m. and noon–4:00 p.m. |
| City convicts serving time | Sunday | 8:00–10:30 a.m. and noon–3:00 p.m. |
| Female inmates | Sunday | 3:00–5:00 p.m. |
| Attorney visitation | Check facility | 8:00–11:00 a.m. and 2:30–4:00 p.m. |
Bring valid photo ID and leave cell phones and packages outside the jail. Check the city page before traveling because jail operations and visit availability can change.
Outstanding warrant search
How To Check a Montgomery County Warrant Safely
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1
Open the Sheriff’s warrant search directly
Use the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Outstanding Warrants route rather than an anonymous warrant-search advertisement.
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Compare the legal identity carefully
Do not assume a same-name warrant belongs to the person you are researching. Use identifying details supplied by the official system and contact the responsible agency when the match is uncertain.
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Use the court when the issue concerns a case or failure to appear
A warrant can be tied to an existing criminal case. For case-status questions, contact the Montgomery County Circuit Clerk at 334-832-1260.
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Do not pay a random caller to “clear” a warrant
If someone demands gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, prepaid cards or an app payment to make a warrant disappear, end the contact and independently call the official agency.
If you believe the warrant may concern you personally, consider obtaining legal advice before appearing at an agency or courthouse. This article is an information guide and cannot advise you how to respond to an active warrant.
After booking
How To Check Montgomery County Criminal Court Records
The Montgomery County Circuit Clerk serves as the official court record keeper for District and Circuit Court proceedings. The clerk’s divisions include District Criminal and Circuit Criminal, which handle different stages and categories of criminal matters.
Montgomery County Circuit Clerk
- Office
- Phelps-Price Justice Center
- Address
- 251 S. Lawrence St., Montgomery, AL 36104
- Phone
- 334-832-1260
- Hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
District Criminal
Montgomery County says District Criminal handles misdemeanor cases occurring outside Montgomery city limits, DUI matters and the beginning stage of felony cases before grand-jury disposition.
Open District CriminalCircuit Criminal
Circuit Criminal handles felony criminal matters and misdemeanor appeals from Montgomery County District Court and the City of Montgomery Municipal Court.
Open Circuit CriminalAlacourt / Just One Look
Alabama’s court system provides paid online access to state trial-court records. The system supports searches by name and case number and can display case details, court settings and case-action information.
Open Alacourt Access-
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Take the full legal name from the booking record
Use the booking result to avoid searching a nickname or incomplete name.
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Use a case number when you have it
A case number is more precise than a name, especially for people with common names.
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Look for docket activity rather than the original arrest label alone
Court records can show whether charges moved forward, changed, were dismissed or reached another disposition.
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Call the Clerk when online information is not enough
For official court-office assistance, call 334-832-1260. The Clerk cannot give legal advice.
An arrest listing is created early in the process. Prosecutorial review, grand-jury action and court proceedings can change which charge ultimately appears in the court case.
Incident and accident records
How To Get a Montgomery Police Report
If you need the actual City of Montgomery police report rather than a jail listing, use the Montgomery Police Department Records Bureau.
320 N. Ripley St.
Montgomery, AL 36104. The city lists Records Bureau hours as Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Open MPD records334-625-2532
Use the main MPD contact route to reach an officer, detective or other department personnel.
Call MPD334-625-2651
The city lists this number for non-emergency matters such as suspicious activity, accidents or break-ins.
Call non-emergency-
1
Decide whether you need an incident report or accident report
The Police Records Bureau handles both, but the city provides a separate online route for completed collision/accident reports.
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Have identifying details ready
Prepare the incident date, location, involved person’s name, report number if known and the type of record you need.
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Use the public-record request route for broader city records
The City of Montgomery also maintains a formal Public Records Request process.
A police report is not the same thing as the Sheriff’s jail booking record. If you need the narrative of the incident, ask for the police record. If you need current custody, use the inmate search.
State-level follow-up
ADOC Inmate Search vs. ALEA Criminal History
| Source | Use It For | Do Not Use It For |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County Recent Arrests | Local arrests within the Sheriff’s 96-hour window. | Final court outcome or statewide criminal history. |
| MCSO Current Inmates | Active county custody. | Released people or state-prison incarceration. |
| ADOC Inmate Search | People currently incarcerated in Alabama Department of Corrections custody. | Fresh county-jail bookings or historical ADOC data. |
| ALEA Criminal History | Official Alabama criminal-history procedures and qualifying background checks. | A quick 96-hour Montgomery arrest browse. |
Current state-prison inmates
ADOC’s online search accepts an AIS number or name. ADOC states that the database contains currently incarcerated inmates and that historical data is not available online.
Open ADOC inmate searchCriminal history review
ALEA’s public criminal-history review process requires fingerprints, photo ID, the CHRI application and the required fee. The current public-review page lists a $25 base fee, with additional copies costing extra.
Open ALEA background checkThe Alabama Background Check System is designed for qualifying employers and warns that misuse can carry criminal penalties. Use the public CHRI review procedure when that is the service that fits your situation.
No-result troubleshooting
Why Someone May Not Appear in Montgomery Recent Arrests
| Possible Reason | What It Means | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest is older than 96 hours | It falls outside the Sheriff’s Recent Arrests window. | Try Current Inmates and court records. |
| Person was released | A recent arrest does not guarantee ongoing custody. | Search court records for the case. |
| Different spelling | The record may use the full legal or alternate surname. | Retry the legal name and likely variants. |
| City jail rather than county jail | Municipal custody follows a separate city-jail route. | Check the Montgomery Municipal Jail information. |
| Transferred to state custody | A sentenced person may later enter ADOC custody. | Use ADOC inmate search. |
| Record is restricted | Juvenile, sealed, expunged or otherwise protected information may not be publicly displayed. | Use lawful court or agency procedures; do not attempt to bypass restrictions. |
- Start with the 96-hour limit. If the arrest is older, Recent Arrests may simply be the wrong tool.
- Check Current Inmates. Use it for active county custody.
- Try the legal name. Nicknames and social-media names can produce no match.
- Check the city jail route. City custody and county jail custody are not interchangeable.
- Search the court case. A case can remain active after custody ends.
- Use ADOC only when state incarceration makes sense. Do not expect the ADOC database to replace a county-jail lookup.
Phone numbers and locations
Montgomery Jail, Sheriff, Police and Court Contacts
334-832-4980
115 South Perry St., Montgomery, AL 36104.
Call Sheriff’s Office334-832-4980
225 S. McDonough St., Montgomery, AL 36104.
Open county jail334-832-1386
Use for inmate mail and visitation assistance.
Call inmate contact334-625-2532
320 North Ripley St., Montgomery, AL 36104.
Call MPD334-625-2651
Use for qualifying non-emergency police matters.
Call non-emergency334-625-4636
103 North Perry St., Montgomery, AL 36104.
Call municipal jail334-832-1260
251 S. Lawrence St., Montgomery, AL 36104.
Call Circuit Clerk334-676-7897
Use for Alabama criminal-history questions and public CHRI procedures.
Call ALEA334-353-3883
Use for Alabama Department of Corrections questions.
Call ADOCMac Sim Butler Montgomery County Detention Facility
- Address
- 225 S. McDonough Street, Montgomery, AL 36104
- Use for
- County detention, visitation and inmate contact.
Phelps-Price Justice Center
- Address
- 251 S. Lawrence St., Montgomery, AL 36104
- Phone
- 334-832-1260
- Hours
- 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
Avoid wrong conclusions
Common Montgomery Arrest Search Mistakes
- Treating a 96-hour arrest result as current custody. Use Current Inmates to answer whether the person remains in county jail.
- Assuming a mugshot proves guilt. The court record, not the booking image, tells you how the case proceeded.
- Mixing Mac Sim Butler with the Municipal Jail. They have separate addresses, visitation rules and inmate-mail procedures.
- Calling MPD for a Sheriff’s jail question. Police incident records and county detention records are different services.
- Sending jail mail without the booking number. The Sheriff’s county-jail instructions require the inmate’s full name and booking number.
- Showing up for video visitation without scheduling. County jail visits must be registered and scheduled in advance.
- Using ADOC to find an ordinary fresh county arrest. ADOC is for currently incarcerated state prisoners.
- Using a mugshot page as a background check. For official Alabama criminal-history procedures, use ALEA and the legally appropriate process.
- Paying a caller claiming a warrant can be cleared immediately. Verify through the Sheriff’s warrant search and official court contacts before paying anything.
- Making an employment or housing decision from an arrest screenshot. Regulated screening can involve federal and state legal requirements and should use appropriate compliant records and disposition review.
Montgomery, Alabama questions
Montgomery Recent Arrests FAQs
Where do I check Montgomery recent arrests?
Use the Montgomery County Sheriff’s official Recent Arrests search. The Sheriff states that this section displays arrests occurring within the last 96 hours.
How do I know if someone is still in Montgomery County jail?
Use the Sheriff’s Current Inmates search rather than the 96-hour Recent Arrests page. A recently arrested person may later be released or transferred.
Where do I search Montgomery County outstanding warrants?
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Inmate and Warrant Search has a dedicated Outstanding Warrants section. For a warrant tied to an existing criminal case, also verify the court record.
Is Mac Sim Butler the Montgomery city jail?
No. Mac Sim Butler is the Montgomery County detention facility operated by the Sheriff’s Office at 225 S. McDonough Street. The City of Montgomery Municipal Jail is a separate facility with its own mail and visitation rules.
How do I visit someone at Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility?
The county jail uses video visitation. Visits must be registered and scheduled at least one day in advance but no more than one week ahead. The Sheriff’s current page lists on-site visitation on Saturdays and Sundays and remote visitation seven days a week.
How do I mail a letter to a Montgomery County inmate?
The Sheriff’s instructions require your full return address and the inmate’s full name and booking number. The published county-jail example uses MCDF, P.O. Box 4599, Montgomery, AL 36103. Verify the official page before mailing.
How do I find a Montgomery arrest court date or case outcome?
Use the Montgomery County Fifteenth Judicial Circuit and the Circuit Clerk’s office. The Clerk is located at the Phelps-Price Justice Center, 251 S. Lawrence St., and can be reached at 334-832-1260.
Where do I get a Montgomery Police Department incident report?
The MPD Records Bureau is at 320 North Ripley Street. The city lists Records Bureau hours as Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., and provides official police-report and public-record request routes online.
When should I use Alabama DOC instead of Montgomery County inmate search?
Use ADOC when the person may be currently incarcerated in Alabama state-prison custody. ADOC says its online database contains current inmates and does not provide historical inmate data online.
Does a Montgomery arrest or mugshot mean the person was convicted?
No. An arrest, booking entry, mugshot or charge is not a conviction. Use the Montgomery County court record or Alabama trial-court record system to check case status and disposition.
Official verification
Montgomery and Alabama Official Resources
Montgomery County recent arrests, present jail custody, city-jail custody, police reports, criminal court records, state-prison custody and statewide criminal history are deliberately kept separate because each source answers a different question.