Clay County Jail Mugshot Search

Clay County jail mugshots are maintained by the Clay County Sheriff's Office in Ashland. The county does not have an online jail roster, so you need to contact the sheriff's office directly for inmate information and booking photos.

Clay County Sheriff Jail Information

The Clay County Sheriff's Office operates the county jail and maintains all booking records. Clay County is a small rural county in east-central Alabama. With limited resources, the county does not have an online system for searching jail inmates.

To request jail mugshots or check on an inmate, call the Clay County Sheriff's Office at (256) 354-2176. The office is located at 86 County Road 4 in Ashland, Alabama 36251. Staff can look up current inmates and provide information about their booking status.

The sheriff's office does not have a website with an online jail roster. This is typical for smaller Alabama counties. However, the records are still public under Alabama law. You can access them by phone or in person during business hours.

Clay County is part of the 40th Judicial Circuit along with Cleburne and Coosa counties. The circuit court handles felony cases while district court manages misdemeanors. Both courts meet in Ashland at the county courthouse.

How to Get Mugshots in Clay County

Getting jail mugshots in Clay County requires contacting the sheriff's office directly. Here are the main ways to access these records.

Phone requests are the quickest option. Call (256) 354-2176 and ask about a specific person. Provide the full name of whoever you are looking for. Staff can tell you if that person is in custody, what charges they face, and whether bond has been set.

In-person visits allow you to see and copy mugshots. Go to the sheriff's office at 86 County Road 4 in Ashland during business hours. Bring identification and tell staff what records you need. They will search their files and provide copies. Standard Alabama copy fees apply.

Written requests work for formal record needs. Send a letter to the Clay County Sheriff's Office with details about the person you want to find. Include full name, date of birth if known, and approximate arrest date. The office will respond with available records.

For statewide criminal history, contact ALEA at 334-676-7897. Their background check covers all 67 Alabama counties and costs $15 online or $25 by mail.

What Clay County Booking Records Include

When deputies book someone into Clay County Jail, they create a full record. This information is public under Alabama law and can be requested.

Clay County booking records typically contain:

• Mugshot photo taken at booking
• Full legal name and known aliases
• Date of birth and current age
• Physical description including height, weight, and identifying marks
• Booking number from the jail
• Date and time of arrest
• All criminal charges filed
• Arresting agency and officer name
• Bond amount when set
• Court date if scheduled

The mugshot is a front-facing photograph taken during the booking process. It helps identify the person throughout their time in custody and becomes part of the permanent record.

Alabama Laws on Jail Records

Alabama state law makes jail mugshots and booking records public. These laws apply to Clay County just like all other Alabama counties.

Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 establishes the right to access public records. This statute says every citizen can inspect and copy public writings. Jail mugshots are public writings under this law. No one needs to explain why they want them.

Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 specifically addresses jail records. The law requires the sheriff to maintain a book of all prisoners. This book must show name, age, sex, race, and distinguishing marks. It must also record charges and dates of commitment and release. The statute requires this to be open for inspection during business hours.

Alabama Code Section 14-6-1 gives the sheriff custody of the jail and prisoners. The Clay County Sheriff is legally responsible for keeping proper records. All jail staff work under the sheriff's authority.

These laws require Clay County to provide public access to jail records. The absence of an online system does not change this obligation.

Clay County Contact Information

Here is the contact information for the Clay County Sheriff's Office.

Clay County Sheriff's Office
Address: 86 County Road 4, Ashland, AL 36251
Phone: (256) 354-2176

Ashland is the county seat of Clay County. The town is located in east-central Alabama. Highway 77 provides access from the north and south.

Regular business hours apply for records requests. The jail operates around the clock, but administrative services follow weekday hours.

State and Federal Resources

Beyond Clay County records, state and federal databases provide additional criminal justice information.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has statewide criminal history. ALEA records cover all 67 counties. Contact them at 334-676-7897 or visit alea.gov. Fees are $15 online or $25 by mail.

The Alabama Department of Corrections tracks state prison inmates. Search free at doc.alabama.gov.

Alacourt provides court records at pa.alacourt.com. This shows case details and outcomes.

The Bureau of Prisons locator covers federal inmates. Federal cases are separate from state cases.

Nearby Counties

Clay County is in east-central Alabama. If you cannot find someone here, check neighboring county jails.

Search Clay County Mugshots

Use our search tool to find jail mugshots and arrest records in Clay County, Alabama.