Prince Arnold Detention Center Criminal Court Process
Criminal Court Process for Wilcox County Alabama
Wilcox County criminal cases are heard in Camden, the county seat, where Circuit Court tries felonies and District Court takes misdemeanors and early felony steps at the Water Street courthouse. Camden and Pine Hill hold town courts for some town charges. The 4th Judicial Circuit District Attorney, based in Selma, prosecutes state cases. Sheriff Larry Colston runs the Wilcox County jail on Highway 265 South, holding adults until bail is met or a Wilcox judge releases them.
- Wilcox County Circuit Clerk (Circuit and District Court), 12 Water Street, Suite 304, Camden, AL 36726, (334) 682-4126
- District Attorney, 4th Judicial Circuit, Selma office, (334) 874-2540
- Wilcox County Sheriff's Office, 12 Water Street, Camden, AL 36726, (334) 682-4715; Sheriff Larry Colston
- Wilcox County jail, 240 Highway 265 South, Camden, AL 36726, (334) 682-4715
- Appointed lawyers: ask the judge or the Circuit Clerk, (334) 682-4126
- Camden and Pine Hill police: town charges may go to that town's court; call the town hall
- Juvenile probation: 12 Water Street, Suite 220, Camden, (334) 682-4998
Which Wilcox County court takes the charge. When Camden or Pine Hill police charge an ordinance violation or misdemeanor inside town limits, the case may go to that town's court. Charges from deputies, state troopers or conservation officers go to Wilcox County District Court. Felonies start in District Court and move to Circuit Court after a grand jury indicts. Town and District Court judges decide cases with no jury, and a convicted person has 14 days to appeal to Circuit Court for a jury trial.
Where Wilcox County defendants are held. The Wilcox County jail on Highway 265 South serves as the lone Wilcox adult lockup for people arrested by deputies and town police. Call (334) 682-4715 to check custody and holds.
- Wilcox County courthouse and town courts
- Wilcox County misdemeanors: hunting without a license, mischief, resisting arrest, DUI
- Wilcox County felonies: marijuana for sale, burglary, vehicle theft
- Wilcox County violent felonies: robbery, strangulation, murder
- Wilcox County youths under 18
- Wilcox County federal cases
- Camden court contacts for Wilcox County
- Wilcox County federal cases
- Searching for a Wilcox County inmate
- Wilcox County ICE detainers
- Wilcox County case and warrant lookups
Wilcox County courthouse and town courts
State cases from all of Wilcox County are heard at the Water Street courthouse in Camden.
County courts in Camden
- Wilcox County Circuit Court, 12 Water Street, Camden, (334) 682-4126
- Wilcox County District Court, same Water Street courthouse and clerk
Town courts
- Camden and Pine Hill: call the town hall, or ask the Circuit Clerk which court has the case
- Oak Hill and Yellow Bluff: ask the Circuit Clerk where a charge was filed
Large parts of Wilcox County, such as Gees Bend (Boykin), Alberta, Catherine and Pine Apple, have no town government, and arrests there go to District Court in Camden.
Wilcox County misdemeanors: hunting without a license, mischief, resisting arrest, DUI
A person booked on a Wilcox County misdemeanor at the Wilcox County jail may walk out after posting the scheduled bail with cash, Alabama land or a licensed bondsman. A Wilcox defendant who stays in sees a judge or magistrate inside 72 hours.
At the first setting in a town court or District Court, the defendant enters a plea and may ask for an appointed lawyer. Results can include fines, probation, restitution, classes or a suspended sentence.
Maximum punishments in Wilcox County misdemeanor cases
- Class A (for example, first-offense DUI): up to 1 year and $6,000
- Class B (for example, resisting arrest): up to 6 months and $3,000
- Class C: up to 3 months and $500
- Violations: up to 30 days and $200; game-law offenses can carry their own fines
A Wilcox County defendant found guilty in a town court or District Court has 14 days to appeal, and Circuit Court then tries the charge again.
Wilcox County felonies: marijuana for sale, burglary, vehicle theft
A Wilcox County felony starts with booking at the Wilcox County jail and a first appearance before a judge, who reviews bail and appointed counsel. Arrests without a warrant get judicial review inside 48 hours.
From charge to verdict
- Preliminary hearing in District Court, if the defense demands one within 30 days of the arrest
- A grand jury in Camden, with the 4th Circuit DA presenting, unless the defense waives indictment
- Arraignment and motions in Wilcox County Circuit Court
- Plea bargain, jury trial or dismissal, and sentencing after any conviction
First-degree marijuana possession (possession for other than personal use) and third-degree burglary are Class C felonies, with more than a year up to 10 years. Theft of a motor vehicle is first-degree theft, a Class B felony with 2 to 20 years. Many nonviolent Wilcox Class C and D cases are steered to probation by state presumptive standards, and defendants younger than 21 on the offense date can seek youthful offender treatment.
Wilcox County violent felonies: robbery, strangulation, murder
Under Aniah's Law, the 4th Circuit DA can ask a Wilcox County judge to hold a defendant with no bail on murder and other grave listed counts. Amendment 1, which Alabama voters approved on May 19, 2026, brought attempted murder and gunfire at a Wilcox home or car with people inside under that law. Defendants on these charges are held at the Wilcox County jail.
Robbery in the second degree, and choking a partner, are Class B felonies, 2 to 20 years. Murder is a Class A felony, 10 to 99 years or life, with a 20-year minimum when a gun was used. For capital murder, a Wilcox jury weighs death against life with no chance of parole. Wilcox judges name counsel for defendants without funds.
Wilcox County youths under 18
A judge sitting as juvenile court hears Wilcox County delinquency cases in Camden. Probation staff may resolve minor first cases informally.
Camden has no youth lockup. Call juvenile probation at (334) 682-4998 to learn where a held child was placed. Wilcox youths post no bail; a held youth gets a hearing inside 72 hours.
A Wilcox County juvenile judge can choose informal adjustment, probation, treatment or a Department of Youth Services commitment. Wilcox teens aged 16 or 17 are tried as adults for capital crimes, Class A felonies, trafficking, or felonies involving a deadly weapon, death or grave injury, and may be jailed at the Wilcox County jail. The DA may also seek adult court for a youth 14 or older through a transfer hearing.
Wilcox County federal cases
Wilcox County lies in the Northern Division of the Southern District of Alabama, which holds court at 908 Alabama Avenue in Selma. Clerk work is handled in Mobile, 155 St. Joseph Street, (251) 690-2371.
A magistrate judge holds the first appearance and sets release terms or, when the government asks for custody, a detention hearing under the Bail Reform Act. Federal court has no bail schedule. Before trial, the U.S. Marshals decide where a Wilcox federal defendant is housed, and after sentencing the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator shows where the person is.
- U.S. Marshals Service, Southern District of Alabama, 155 St. Joseph Street, Mobile, (251) 499-6620
Camden court contacts for Wilcox County
Wilcox County state cases are filed at the Camden courthouse:
- Circuit Clerk: 12 Water Street, Suite 304, Camden, AL 36726, 334-682-4126
- District Attorney, 4th Judicial Circuit: Selma office, 334-874-2540
- Sheriff's Office: 12 Water Street, Camden, 334-682-4715
- Juvenile probation: 12 Water Street, Suite 220, 334-682-4998
- Town courts: call Camden or Pine Hill town hall
Our Wilcox County bail guide covers posting, and the Alabama Rule 7.2 bail schedule (https://judicial.alabama.gov/docs/library/rules/cr7_2.pdf) sets out each range.
Wilcox County federal cases
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama hears Wilcox County federal cases in Selma:
- Clerk: the federal courthouse in Selma, 908 Alabama Avenue, Selma, AL 36701 (clerk work is in Mobile), 251-690-2371
- U.S. Marshals: U.S. Marshals Service, 155 St. Joseph Street, Suite 201, Mobile, AL 36602, 251-499-6620
Release before trial is the magistrate's call; housing is up to the Marshals.
Searching for a Wilcox County inmate
- Camden jail: Wilcox County Inmate Search
- ADOC: Alabama Department of Corrections Inmate Search (https://www.doc.alabama.gov/inmate/inmate-search/)
- BOP: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/); before sentencing, 251-499-6620
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Pick Alabama, open the Wilcox County record and enroll.
Our Wilcox County inmate page has more links.
Wilcox County ICE detainers
An ICE detainer allows the Camden jail two extra business days, at most, after Wilcox County release.
- Field office: ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360
- Short-stay Alabama jails: Etowah County Jail in Gadsden, Pickens County Detention Center in Carrollton and Baldwin County Correctional Center in Bay Minette
- Locator: ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/)
Wilcox County case and warrant lookups
- Alacourt: Alacourt Access public search (https://pa.alacourt.com/); a Wilcox name search is $9.99 per case.
- Clerk site: wilcox.alacourt.gov
- Town cases: Camden or Pine Hill town hall.
This Wilcox County summary is a plain guide, not legal advice, and details change. An Alabama defense lawyer can weigh in on a case. The Circuit Clerk, (334) 682-4126, explains the steps to request appointed counsel, and custody questions go to (334) 682-4715.
Wilcox County hearings can be reset, so call the Circuit Clerk at 334-682-4126 before driving to Camden, and call 334-682-4715 to check that the person has not been released.
