Criminal Statistics
According to the annual Uniform Crime Reporting Data of 2017 published by the Criminal Justice Division of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, Morgan County recorded a total of 335 violent crimes, which included nine murders, 280 aggravated assaults, and 46 robberies. The county also recorded a total of 2,964 property crimes. Included in this figure are 651 burglaries, 2090 larceny thefts, and 223 motor vehicle thefts. These statistics represent a 3.72% increase in violent crimes and a 2.1% decrease in property crimes when compared with figures from 2016.
What are Morgan County Public Records?
As defined by Alabama statutes, Houston County public records refer to non-confidential records maintained by state and local government agencies. Every citizen has the right to access public records except those exempted by the statute. Public records concerning an individual may contain personal details like the subject's name, location, date of birth, and possible convictions. Examples of public records may include:
- Criminal Records
- Vital Statistics
- Court Records
- Voting Records
- Government financial records, and many more
In addition to government agencies, some public records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Criminal Records
The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency maintains a statewide criminal background check for Morgan County and all other counties in the state. To obtain records in this regard, visit the office in person or send a mail-in request. By mail, download, complete and print the criminal records information application form and send it along with a copy of a fingerprint card, proof of identification, and a money order or cashier's check of $25 for the first certified copy (plus an extra $5 for each additional copy) to the following address:
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Criminal Records and Identification Unit
ATTN: Background Checks
P.O. Box 1511
Montgomery, AL 36102-1511
To submit an in-person request, visit the office at 301 South Ripley Street Montgomery, AL 36104. Also, call (334) 353-4340 for inquiries.
How to Obtain Morgan County Police Reports?
The Morgan County Sheriff's Office maintains police records for the county. To access these records, visit the online portal maintained by this office to view and obtain copies of incident and crash reports. Contact the Sheriff at (256) 351-4800 for further inquiries or stop by the office located at 119 Lee Street, Decatur, AL 35601.
How to Obtain Morgan County Sex Offender Information?
The Morgan County Sheriff's Office also maintains a free online sex offender search portal for easy access by members of the public. Residents and non-residents may use the search tool to find sex offenders and predators in the county and view information about them. The database provides support for searches conducted with a known first and last name. Results can also be filtered to reveal published offenders by the city of residence. In addition, local residents can conduct geo-specific searches to find all offenders listed within a specific radius of a school, home, or address.
How to Find Morgan County Jail and Inmate Information?
The Morgan County jail is a detention facility located at:
119 Lee Street NE
Decatur, AL 35601
Phone: (256) 351-4825
The Sheriff's Office runs this facility and maintains an online inmate search tool to help citizens find individuals incarcerated in this facility. Also, friends and family can send money to the inmate's commissary accounts by visiting the jail lobby kiosk. The kiosk is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Note that convenience fee charges may apply.
Court Records
Morgan County, Alabama has a circuit, district, probate, and five municipal courts. The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. The Morgan County Circuit Clerk is responsible for maintaining all court records for the county. To access these records, visit or contact the Clerk during normal business hours at the following address:
Morgan County Circuit Court Clerk
302 Lee Street NE
4th Floor
Decatur, AL 35601
Phone: (256) 351-4790
Copies of records between 1-20 pages cost $25, with a 50 cents charge for each additional page. Certified copies cost $5 each. There is also a non-refundable $25 search fee for paper records, closed cases, registries, and any other archived records.
In addition to this, interested parties can also access court records through an online portal provided by the Alabama Unified Judicial System's Administrative Office of Courts. To access this portal, a sign-up is required, and a fee is attached to each search.
Location and Contact Addresses of the Morgan County Courts
Morgan County Circuit Court
Morgan County Courthouse
302 Lee Street NE
P.O. Box 668
Decatur, AL 35602
Phone: (256) 351-4643
Morgan County District Court
Morgan County Courthouse
302 Lee Street NE
P.O. Box 668
Decatur, AL 35602
Phone: (256) 351-4644
Morgan County Probate Court
Morgan County Courthouse
302 Lee Street NE
P.O. Box 848
Decatur, AL 35602
Phone: (256) 351-4676
Fax: (256) 351-4884
Decatur Municipal Court
Decatur City Hall
402 Lee Street NE
P.O. Box 488
Decatur, AL 35602
Phone: (256) 341-4676
Fax: (256) 341-4677
Falkville Municipal Court
21 North 1st Avenue
P.O. Box 407
Falkville, AL 35622
Phone: (256) 784-5922
Fax: (256) 784-9510
Hartselle Municipal Court
200 North Sparkman Street
Hartselle, AL 35640
Phone: (256) 773-2703
Fax: (256) 773-2257
Priceville Municipal Court
242 Marco Drive
Priceville, AL 35603
Phone: (256) 355-5476
Fax: (256) 351-0563
Somerville Municipal Court
24 Courthouse Square
P.O. Box 153
Somerville, AL 35670
Phone: (256) 778-8282
Trinity Municipal Court
35 Preston Drive
Trinity, AL 35673
Phone: (256) 353-4940
What are Morgan Vital Records?
The Alabama Center for Health Statistics records and maintains vital statistics for all counties in the state. Some examples of vital records include birth records, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce decrees. In some cases, applicants are required to have a valid government-issued I.D. before they can obtain copies of vital records. To obtain records in this regard, residents will need to visit or contact the Alabama State or local Morgan County Health Department at:
Alabama Department of Health
201 Monroe Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: (334) 206-5300
Morgan County Health Department
Vital Statistics Division
3821 Highway, 31 South
Decatur, Alabama 35603
Phone: (256) 560-6592
Where and How to Get Morgan County Divorce Records?
Divorce certificates for divorces that occurred from 1950 to the present can be obtained at the Morgan County Health Department in person or by mailing a completed application form to:
Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
Certified copies of divorce certificates cost $15 for the first copy and $6 per additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. If requesting by mail, include a check or money order with the appropriate fees made payable to the "State Board of Health".
To obtain copies of divorce records from before 1950, contact the Morgan County Circuit Clerk via the contact information listed in the court records section above.
Where and How to Get Morgan County Marriage Records?
As with divorce records, marriage records for marriages that occurred from August 1936 to the present can be obtained from the Morgan County Health Department in person or by mailing a completed application form to:
Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
Certified copies cost $15 each and an additional $6 for each additional record ordered at the same time. If requesting by mail, include a check or money order with the appropriate fees made payable to the "State Board of Health". Contact the Morgan County Probate Office if requesting marriage records for marriages that occurred before August 1936.
Where and How to Get Morgan County Birth Records?
Qualified applicants can obtain copies of birth records in person at the Morgan County Health Department or by mailing a completed birth application form to:
Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
Birth certificates cost $15 each for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Applicants who mail in a request are required to include a check or money order with the appropriate fees made payable to "State Board of Health". In addition, there is also an extra $15 fee for expedited requests for birth certificates.
Note: Only records from 1908 to the present are available. Copies of birth certificates 125 years after the date of birth
Where and How to Get Morgan County Death Records?
The Alabama Public Health department maintains records of persons who died in Morgan County and other parts of the state from 1908. The majority of Morgan county death records are open to the public. However, by state law, death certificates remain restricted to the public until 25 years after the date. Upon expiration of this date, anyone may obtain a copy of the record by paying the specified. Death certificates less than 25 years may only be issued to authorized persons, namely:
- Child of the person named on the certificate
- A grandchild of the person named on the certificate
- Parents of the person named on the certificate
- Partner of the person named on the certificate
- Any legal representative of the family or estate
- Sibling of the person named on the certificate
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
