Search Geneva County Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records for Geneva County are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Geneva. Felonies get tried at the Circuit Court. The District Court deals with misdemeanors. You can look up records in two ways. Go to the courthouse in person or use Alacourt online. State law says court files are public (that's in § 36-12-40), but some stuff is kept private or sealed by judges. The clerk's office is open on weekdays during normal hours.

Geneva County Circuit Clerk's Office

The Geneva County Circuit Clerk serves as the official record keeper for all felony criminal cases filed in the county. This office sits at the courthouse in Geneva. They have the real case files, all the court papers, docket sheets, judgments. Basically every document that gets filed when someone is charged with a serious crime is there. If a felony case went through the Circuit Court here, the clerk has it on file. These records go back years, and they're stored both on paper and in the court's computer system now.

The office shuts down on state holidays and weekends. Call first before you go. Hours might change, and some old records take time to dig up.

Online Access to Court Records

Alacourt ACCESS V2.0

Geneva County criminal court records can be accessed through the Alacourt system at v2.alacourt.com. The state runs this database through the Administrative Office of Courts. It covers all 67 counties in Alabama, though you can only read the records, not change them. You can search by the defendant's name, case number, business name, or the attorney's name. It's a pretty straightforward system once you get used to it.

Alacourt shows case summaries with the charges, what happened at each court date, how the case ended, the sentence if there was one, and who the lawyers were. Some files even have scanned copies of documents. You need an account to use it. That costs money. It's a paid subscription. Call the AOC at (334) 954-5000 or 1-866-954-9411 to set that up.

How to Request Copies of Court Records

You can get copies of court records two ways. Go to the clerk's office yourself, or send them a letter. Give them as much info as you can so they can find the right file.

Information to Include in Your Request

• Defendant's full name (as it appears in court records)
• Case number (if known)
• Approximate date of filing or conviction
• Type of charge (felony or misdemeanor)
• Specific documents needed

Bring a photo ID if you go in person. The staff can help you find files even if you don't have the case number. But some records are sealed or restricted by law (see Alabama Code § 15-27-1 and § 15-27-2).

Mail Requests

Send your written request to the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Geneva. Put your return address and phone number on it. They'll call you about fees and how to pay once they find what you need. How long it takes depends on how busy they are and how hard the records are to locate.

Fees and Costs

Fees change based on what you want. Call the clerk's office for current prices.

Typical Fee Categories

• Court record copies (per-page fees apply)
• Certified copies (certification fee added)
• Case file searches (may apply for extensive research)
• Mailing fees (if records must be sent by mail)

Most clerk offices take cash, money orders, certified checks, or credit cards. Personal checks might not work for all transactions. Ask when you make your request.

Criminal Background Checks

If you want a full background check, don't go to the county clerk. Go to ALEA (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency) instead. They run the state's Criminal Records Identification Unit. Cost is $25 for a standard check. Visit www.alea.gov or call 1-866-740-4762.

District Court Records

The Geneva County District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases and preliminary hearings in felony cases. State law (Alabama Code § 12-12-32) gives district courts sole control over misdemeanor prosecutions. That means DUIs, third-degree assault, small theft (under $500), public intoxication. All that stuff goes through District Court. Felonies start there too, but just for the preliminary hearing, then they move up to Circuit Court.

District Court keeps its own files, separate from Circuit Court. The District Court Clerk's office is at the courthouse in Geneva. You can get misdemeanor records there or search Alacourt. If someone appeals a misdemeanor conviction, that appeal goes to Circuit Court.

Legal Framework and Statutes

Public Records Access

Alabama Code § 36-12-40 says every Alabama resident can look at and copy public records, unless some other law says otherwise. This is the law that gives you the right to see criminal court records in Geneva County.

Court Jurisdiction

Under Alabama Code § 12-11-30, Circuit Courts handle all felony prosecutions. Serious crimes get tried there. Murder, robbery, burglary, drug trafficking. That's all Circuit Court.

Privacy and Confidentiality

New privacy rules took effect on January 1, 2025. They cover all courts in Alabama. Appellate, circuit, district, juvenile, municipal, probate, all of them. The public can still look at court records, but certain information is now off-limits. The rules list 91 types of protected information.

Expungement Provisions

Alabama Code § 15-27-1 lets people expunge misdemeanor records in some cases. If charges get dismissed with prejudice, if a grand jury no-bills the case, if you're found not guilty, or if charges are dropped and not refiled, you might be able to expunge it. Even if you were convicted of a nonviolent misdemeanor, you might qualify after three years if you finished probation and paid all fines. For felony expungement, look at Alabama Code § 15-27-2.

Expungement Filing Fees

Filing for expungement costs $500 (Alabama Code § 15-27-4). That money gets split up among state agencies like the State Judicial Administrative Fund, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, and the district attorney's office. The court can waive the fee if the arrest had no probable cause.

Local Legal Resources

20th Judicial Circuit (also includes Covington, Dale, and Henry Counties)

Geneva County is in the 20th Judicial Circuit along with Covington, Dale, and Henry Counties. Circuit judges try felony cases and hear appeals from District Court. Judges sometimes rotate between counties in the circuit.

Legal Aid

Legal Services Alabama helps low-income families with civil legal issues. Check them out at legalservicesalabama.org. They don't do criminal defense though. For a lawyer referral, call the Alabama State Bar at 1-800-392-5660.

Public Defender

If you're charged with a felony and can't pay for a lawyer, you might get one appointed. The court decides if you qualify based on your income and assets.

Cities and Towns in Geneva County

Geneva County has several cities and towns. No matter where a crime happens in the county, the case gets filed at the courthouse in Geneva. That's the county seat. None of the cities here are big enough to have their own pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Several other counties border Geneva County. Each one keeps its own court records through its Circuit Court Clerk.

Search Geneva County Criminal Records

Use the search tool below to access criminal court record information.