Fayette County Jail Criminal Court Process

Local courts in Fayette County (Temple Avenue courthouse, Fayette and Berry)

County courts

• Circuit Court (felonies, jury trials, appeals from lower courts), 113 Temple Ave. N., Fayette, (205) 932-4617
• District Court (misdemeanors, traffic, juvenile matters, preliminary hearings), same courthouse and clerk

Municipal courts

• Fayette Municipal Court (city magistrate), City Hall, 203 Temple Ave. N., Fayette, (205) 932-5367 ext. 4
• Berry Municipal Court, 30 School Ave., Berry, (205) 689-4562

Places without a court of their own

• Belk and unincorporated Fayette County: charges go to Fayette County District Court.
• The Fayette County portions of Winfield and Glen Allen: Winfield officers use Winfield's court in Marion County; Glen Allen arrests go to District Court.

With no public defender in the 24th Circuit, Fayette judges assign state-paid private lawyers to qualifying defendants who face jail. Every bail for a state charge is handled at the Fayette County Jail.

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Fayette misdemeanors (criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, harassment, petty theft)

After booking at the Fayette County Jail, a misdemeanor defendant normally gets out the same day on the scheduled bail, covered by cash, a property pledge or a licensed bonding agent. Domestic violence cases carry a hold: the person sees a judge or magistrate first, and gains the right to bond if 24 hours pass without that happening.

Path through District or city court

• Arraignment, when you can ask for appointed counsel.
• Plea bargaining or a trial before the judge.
• Most Fayette County cases resolve in two to four months.

Fayette County misdemeanor punishment

• Class A (fourth-degree theft, second-degree criminal mischief): as long as 12 months behind bars and as much as $6,000.
• Class B: up to six months and $3,000; Class C, including disorderly conduct, harassment and third-degree criminal mischief: up to three months and $500.
• First DUI in Fayette: as much as a year, a $600 to $2,100 fine and 90 days without a license.

A Fayette judge appoints counsel when a jail term is possible and the defendant lacks funds.

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Fayette felonies (drug sales, gun theft, burglary, fleeing police)

People charged with felonies remain at the Fayette County Jail until bond is posted. In Fayette, a warrantless arrest gets a probable cause review inside 48 hours, and a warrant arrest goes before a judge inside 72.

Felony stages

1. Preliminary hearing in District Court on demand within 30 days, unless an indictment comes first.
2. Fayette County grand jury; indictment transfers the case to Circuit Court, though it can be waived for an early plea.
3. Plea agreement or jury trial after Circuit Court arraignment, typically within a year.

Penalty ranges for Fayette County felonies

• Class B (drug distribution): 2 to 20 years and up to $30,000.
• Class C (gun theft, third-degree burglary, risky fleeing): 366 days to 10 years and up to $15,000.
• Class D (theft of $500 to $1,500): 366 days to 5 years and up to $7,500.

Presumptive sentencing standards usually point nonviolent Class C and D offenders without serious records toward probation or community corrections, though repeat felons face enhanced terms. A Fayette defendant younger than 21 at the offense may apply for youthful offender status; the file is then sealed and the term limited to three years.

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Fayette violent felonies (murder, assault, robbery, attempted murder)

Violent felony defendants are confined at the Fayette County Jail. Through Aniah's Law, the 24th Circuit District Attorney may seek a hearing at which a judge can refuse bail for murder, first-degree robbery and other grave offenses; Amendment 1, from May 19, 2026, put attempted murder and Fayette shootings into lived-in homes or occupied cars on that list.

What these charges carry

• First-degree assault: Class B, 2 to 20 years, with 10 years minimum for a deadly weapon.
• Murder, attempted murder and first-degree robbery: Class A, 10 to 99 years or life, at least 20 when a gun is used.
• Capital murder: a Fayette jury may weigh death or life without parole.

Defendants without funds get appointed lawyers who meet serious-felony standards; calls from the Fayette jail are recorded.

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Juveniles (under 18) arrested in Fayette County

Fayette County's District Judge sits as juvenile court, and the Juvenile Probation Office, (205) 932-3417, reviews each referral and decides on release, an informal adjustment or a petition. Fayette lacks a youth detention center, so probation intake knows where any held child went. Youth are not released on bail; any child held must have a hearing within 72 hours.

Ways a case can end

• Informal adjustment or diversion.
• Probation with the Fayette County juvenile office.
• Commitment to the Alabama Department of Youth Services for serious offenses.

Adult charges for older teens

Automatic adult jurisdiction under §12-15-204 covers 16- and 17-year-olds accused of capital offenses, Class A felonies, trafficking, or felonies involving a deadly weapon, death or serious injury; they may be held at the Fayette County Jail. Other children 14 or older can be transferred after a hearing under §12-15-203. A lawyer is supplied when a Fayette family has no money for one.

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Federal cases (U.S. District Court) from Fayette County

Fayette County federal cases are heard in the Western Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, at the federal courthouse at 2005 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa, (205) 561-1670. Felon-with-a-gun, large drug conspiracy and benefits-fraud cases are typical federal charges.

Federal case basics

The first hearing is before a magistrate judge. Instead of money bail, federal judges apply the Bail Reform Act and either set release conditions or order detention after a hearing. People detained are usually held in Marshals-contract jails such as the Pickens County Detention Facility, and may appear on that jail's roster. Indictment is due within 30 days and trial within 70 days, minus excludable time. Federal guideline sentences have no parole, so about 85 percent is spent inside before supervised release. Sentenced people appear on the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. The Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta hears appeals from Tuscaloosa.

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Fayette courts, jail and contacts

Fayette County's state courts work out of the courthouse on Temple Avenue:

• Circuit Clerk (Circuit and District Court): 113 Temple Avenue North, Fayette, AL 35555, 205-932-4617; weekdays 8 to 5
• District Attorney, 24th Judicial Circuit: Carrollton main office 205-367-9915; Fayette office 205-932-6349
• Fayette Municipal Court: City Hall, 203 Temple Avenue North, 205-932-5367 ext. 4
• Berry Municipal Court: 30 School Avenue, Berry, 205-689-4562
• County jail and Sheriff's Office: 113 1st Avenue NW, Fayette, 205-932-3205
• Juvenile Probation Office: 205-932-3417

Read our Fayette bail guide for bond steps, and the Alabama Rule 7.2 bail schedule (https://judicial.alabama.gov/docs/library/rules/cr7_2.pdf) for state ranges.

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Federal court for Fayette County

Fayette County cases belong to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama:

• Courthouse: the federal courthouse in Tuscaloosa, 2005 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, 205-561-1670
• U.S. Marshals: U.S. Marshals Service, 1729 5th Avenue North, Room 240, Birmingham, AL 35203, 205-829-6611

Whether a Fayette defendant stays locked up is a magistrate's decision; the Marshals then arrange a jail.

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Searching for a Fayette County inmate

• Fayette jail roster: Fayette County Inmate Search
• State prison lookup: Alabama Department of Corrections Inmate Search (https://www.doc.alabama.gov/inmate/inmate-search/)
• Federal prison lookup: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/); while a case is open, 205-829-6611
• VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Pick Alabama, find the record, and sign up for notices.

There is more on our Fayette inmate page.

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ICE detainers in Fayette County

Fayette deputies can be asked, through an ICE detainer, to extend custody by no more than two business days.

• Field office: ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360
• Alabama short-stay jails: Baldwin County Correctional Center in Bay Minette, Etowah County Jail in Gadsden and Pickens County Detention Center in Carrollton
• Locator: ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/)

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Fayette warrant and docket searches

• Alacourt: Alacourt Access public search (https://pa.alacourt.com/); Fayette name searches cost $9.99 and include one case.
• Clerk site: fayette.alacourt.gov
• Sheriff: 205-932-3205 on warrants.

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