Search Huntsville Criminal Court Records

Court files for folks in this town live at the county level, not with the city. Big crimes go through the top court. Small crimes go through the lower one. The city court only deals with local rule breaks and tickets. It can't touch real state law violations at all. Every sheet you might want, from the day you got charged to the day the judge made a call, sits at 100 Northside Square with the county court clerks. You can walk in during the week and ask for what you need, or in some cases you can pull it up on your own through their web portal if they put it online.

County Jurisdiction for Huntsville Criminal Cases

This city sits in Madison County, so the county runs the show when it comes to court work. If you live here and got charged with a crime, doesn't matter if it's a big one or a small one, the county court is where your case will land. The main building where all this happens is right downtown at 100 Northside Square. That's where the clerks keep the files, where the judges sit, and where you show up if you have a court date or need to pull a record.

Under Alabama Code § 12-11-30, the Circuit Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over all felony prosecutions. The District Court handles misdemeanor prosecutions pursuant to Alabama Code § 12-12-32. Criminal case records are maintained by the Madison County Circuit Clerk's office.

Madison County Circuit Court (Felony Criminal Cases)

Madison County District Court (Misdemeanor Criminal Cases)

Huntsville Municipal Court

The city court here is pretty narrow in what it can do. It takes care of tickets. It takes care of local rule breaks. That's about it. Don't expect this court to handle a DUI or a drug charge or anything like that. Those are state crimes and they go to county court, not city court. What lands here are the violations of rules the City Council made up, like parking laws or noise complaints or stuff along those lines.

Real crimes go to the county. DUIs, drug busts, fights, thefts. All that stuff ends up in county court. The city court can't touch those cases. So if you're looking for a record on a serious charge, don't waste your time at the Municipal Court building. Go straight to the county courthouse instead.

Huntsville Municipal Court website

How to Search Huntsville Criminal Court Records

You got more than one way to track down court files if you live here. The county keeps the old paper stacks at the courthouse itself. They also put a lot of stuff on the web now, which saves you a trip downtown. So you can either drive in and ask for a file in person, or you can sit at home and search through what they posted online. Both ways work. Just depends on what you need and how fast you need it.

Online Search Options

The Madison County court system provides online access to criminal court records through the Alabama judicial system website at madison.alacourt.gov. This portal allows searches by case number, party name, or citation number.

The statewide Alacourt system also provides access to Madison County criminal cases through the official Alabama court records portal. Users can search for cases filed in Circuit Court and District Court.

In-Person Record Requests

Interested parties can request criminal court records in person at the Madison County Courthouse. The Circuit Clerk's office is located at 100 Northside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801. Office hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Requests for certified copies of court documents can be made at the Clerk's counter.

What Information You Need

To search for criminal court records, you should provide as much identifying information as possible, including the defendant's full name, date of birth, case number (if known), and approximate date of offense or arrest. The more specific the information, the faster the search can be completed.

Huntsville Police Department Records

Cop files are kept at the cop shop, not the court. If you want an arrest sheet or a police report, you need to go to HPD Records Division. They run that side of things. The court won't have those papers because the police keep their own set of records in their own building with their own staff managing the whole pile.

Huntsville Police Department Records Division

What the cops write down stays at the station. Arrest forms, crime scene notes, crash reports. All of it lives with the PD. Court clerks don't have that stuff. If you show up at the courthouse asking for a police report, they'll just send you back out the door and tell you to go to the police station instead. So save yourself the extra trip and start at the PD if that's what you're after.

Fees for Criminal Court Records

If you want an official stamped copy of a court record, the county will charge you for it. The price tag changes based on what you ask for and how many pages it runs. A one-page sheet costs less than a thick file full of motions and orders. So the thicker the stack, the more you'll pay. Ask at the clerk window what your bill will be before they start making copies so you know what to expect.

Typical fees include charges for document retrieval, copying, and certification. Cash, check, and credit cards are generally accepted for payment. Some records searches may be available at no charge, while certified copies require payment of applicable fees.

Persons seeking to waive fees due to financial hardship should inquire with the Circuit Clerk's office about indigency procedures.

Federal Criminal Cases in Huntsville

Federal criminal cases involving Huntsville residents are handled by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. The Huntsville division opened a new federal courthouse in 2024.

Federal cases include offenses prosecuted under federal law, including drug trafficking, firearms offenses, fraud, immigration violations, and other federal crimes. Federal court records can be accessed through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at pacer.uscourts.gov.

Legal Framework for Criminal Court Records

Access to criminal court records in Alabama is governed by state statutes and court rules. Alabama Code § 36-12-40 establishes the general right of citizens to inspect and copy public writings, including criminal court records.

The Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy and Confidentiality, which became effective January 1, 2025, establish procedures for balancing public access with privacy interests. These rules apply to all Alabama courts, including Madison County courts.

Expungement of criminal records is available under certain circumstances. Alabama Code § 15-27-1 governs expungement of misdemeanor records, while Alabama Code § 15-27-2 addresses felony record expungement. The administrative filing fee for expungement petitions is $500.

Juvenile records are governed by separate statutes, including Alabama Code § 12-15-103, which provides for sealing of juvenile delinquency records under specified conditions.

Legal Aid and Resources in Huntsville

Several organizations provide free or low-cost legal assistance to Huntsville residents with criminal court matters.

Legal Services Alabama - Huntsville Office

Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program

Additional Resources

• Alabama Free Legal Answers (online Q&A with lawyers)
• Alabama Legal Help website (self-help forms and information)
• Madison County Law Library (located at courthouse)
• Huntsville Bar Association

Note that most legal aid organizations focus on civil legal matters. Criminal defendants are entitled to court-appointed counsel if they cannot afford an attorney, as provided by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Other Major Alabama Cities