Houston County Recent Bookings

Houston County recent bookings are handled by the sheriff's office in Dothan. The county sits in southeast Alabama near Florida and Georgia. About 108,000 people live here. This makes it one of the larger counties in south Alabama. The sheriff runs the county jail and maintains all booking records. Houston County has a free online booking search. You can look up inmates any time. This guide shows how to find booking records in Houston County.

Houston County Sheriff's Office

The Houston County Sheriff's Office runs the jail and maintains all booking records. Sheriff Donald Valenza leads the department. The main office sits in Dothan near the downtown area. Staff process bookings around the clock.

Houston County is the major hub for southeast Alabama. Dothan serves a tri-state region. People come from Florida, Georgia, and Alabama for shopping and services. The area has grown steadily over the years. Law enforcement handles urban and rural issues.

How to Search Houston County Bookings Online

Houston County uses Southern Software for jail management. This system has a public booking search. You can look up inmates online for free. The search shows recent bookings and current inmates.

Go to the booking search page. Enter a first and last name. You can also search by date range. Results show mugshots and charges. Bond amounts appear too. The booking date and time are listed on each record.

To search Houston County recent bookings, you need:

• First and last name of the person
• Date range to narrow results
• The search allows partial names

Direct link to search: Houston County Booking Search

The Southern Software system is reliable. It updates frequently. New bookings appear within hours. The search works on phones and computers.

Houston County Booking Record Fees

The online booking search is free. Anyone can use it. View mugshots and charges at no cost. Most people find what they need online.

Paper copies have fees. Here are the typical costs:

• Online booking search: Free
• Copy of booking record: $1.00 per page
• Background check via ALEA: $25.00
• Court record search: $9.99 via Alacourt

Call (334) 677-4722 to ask about current fees. Cash is best for in person requests.

How to Request Records in Houston County

Houston County offers several ways to get booking records. Online is the easiest for most people.

Online is the fastest method. Use the Southern Software booking search. View current inmates and recent bookings. Take screenshots if needed. The system is free and always available.

In person works for complex requests. Go to 462 N Oates Street in Dothan. Bring valid ID with you. Staff can search records and make copies. The office is open weekdays until 4:30 PM.

By phone, call (334) 677-4752 for the jail. Ask if someone is in custody. Get charges and bond amounts. Staff can confirm booking dates. Have the full name ready.

By mail, write to the sheriff at the address above. Include the full name and date of birth. State what records you need. Send payment for copies. Include a return envelope with postage. Allow one to two weeks for reply.

Dothan and the Peanut Capital

Houston County is home to Dothan. This city calls itself the Peanut Capital of the World. The area grows more peanuts than anywhere else. Giant peanut statues dot the city. The National Peanut Festival happens here each fall.

Dothan is a regional center. It serves southeast Alabama, southwest Georgia, and northwest Florida. Shopping draws people from hours away. The regional medical center is important. Jobs bring commuters from surrounding counties.

The city has its own jail. Dothan City Jail is separate from the county jail. The city jail holds people on city charges. The county jail handles county cases. Check both if you are unsure where someone is held.

Fort Novosel is not far away. The Army base in Dale County impacts this area. Many military families live in Dothan. Some crimes involve service members. The sheriff works with military police when needed.

The area borders two other states. Florida is just south. Georgia is just east. Crimes can cross state lines. The sheriff coordinates with agencies in both states. This makes law enforcement more complex here.

Note: Dothan has its own city jail at 210 N. St Andrews St. Check both the city and county systems if searching for someone.

Alabama Booking Records Laws

Alabama law makes jail records public. Code of Alabama Section 36-22-8 requires sheriffs to keep a prisoner record book. This must be open for public inspection.

Section 36-22-13 says viewing is free. No reason is needed to look. Anyone can see jail logs during office hours.

The Alabama Open Records Act gives you the right to copies. Put requests in writing. The sheriff must respond timely. Houston County follows all state laws.

Search Houston County Jail Records

Use the search tool below to find recent bookings and inmate info in Houston County.

Cities in Houston County

Houston County has several cities. Dothan has its own city jail. Other city arrests go to the county jail.

Other cities in Houston County include Ashford, Cottonwood, Cowarts, Taylor, Madrid, and Webb. Arrests in these cities go to the Houston County Jail. Dothan has both a city jail and uses the county jail for some cases.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Houston County. Check the correct county if near a border.