Winston County Jail Criminal Court Process

Winston County courthouse and town courts

Every Winston state case runs through the Blake Drive courthouse.

County courts

• Circuit Court (felonies, jury trials, appeals), 10 Blake Dr., Double Springs, (205) 489-5533
• District Court (misdemeanors, traffic, juvenile and preliminary hearings), same Blake Drive courthouse

Municipal courts

• Haleyville, Double Springs, Addison and Arley: phone the arresting town, or the Circuit Clerk to learn which court has the file

Towns whose cases go to District Court

• Lynn and Natural Bridge: ask the Circuit Clerk, (205) 489-5533, for court dates.

Without a public defender office, 25th Circuit judges name state-paid private counsel for eligible people, including in town court when jail is possible. Ask the jail at (205) 489-5205 where a city or county bond is posted.

↑ Back to the Double Springs court list

Winston County misdemeanors: petty theft, paraphernalia, domestic violence, resisting arrest

After booking at the Winston County Jail, a person charged with a Winston County misdemeanor may leave by posting the set bail in cash, with Alabama land or through a licensed bondsman. A person not released goes before a judge or magistrate inside 72 hours.

Steps in Double Springs or a town court

• A first setting, where the Winston County judge explains the charge and counsel can be requested.
• A plea, diversion where offered, or a trial with the judge deciding.
• An appeal to Circuit Court within 14 days after a conviction.

What a Winston County misdemeanor can cost

• Class A (fourth-degree theft, third-degree domestic violence, drug paraphernalia possession): up to one year and a $6,000 fine.
• Class B (resisting arrest): six months and $3,000. Class C: three months and $500. Violations: 30 days and $200.
• First-offense DUI: up to a year in jail, $600 to $2,100 and a license suspension.

Facing jail without money for counsel? Tell the Winston judge, who can appoint one.

↑ Back to the Double Springs court list

Winston County felonies: drug possession, theft, burglary, felony DUI

A Winston County felony defendant stays at the Winston County Jail until bond is posted. A judge reviews a warrantless arrest within 48 hours, and a warrant arrest within 72 hours, and decides about appointed counsel.

From arrest to resolution

1. District Court preliminary hearing, if requested within 30 days and before an indictment.
2. The Winston County grand jury; an indictment moves the case to Circuit Court, followed by arraignment.
3. A plea or a jury trial at the Double Springs courthouse.

Felony classes

• Class B (second-degree burglary): from 2 up to 20 years, fine as high as $30,000.
• Class C (felony DUI, a fourth within ten years): a year and a day to 10 years and up to $15,000, plus at least 10 days in jail.
• Class D (drug possession, third-degree theft): a year and a day to 5 years and up to $7,500.

Alabama's presumptive standards point many nonviolent Winston County Class C and D cases toward supervision outside prison, and prior felonies can raise the range. Anyone under 21 on the offense date can apply for youthful offender treatment, which keeps the file closed and caps the sentence at three years.

↑ Back to the Double Springs court list

Winston County violent felonies: assault, kidnapping, murder, arson

Defendants on violent Winston County charges are held at the Winston County Jail. Under Aniah's Law, the 25th Circuit District Attorney may seek a no-bail order, decided at a hearing, for murder, first-degree kidnapping and similar listed charges. Amendment 1, which Alabama voters approved on May 19, 2026, made attempted murder, plus shooting at an occupied dwelling or vehicle, eligible too.

Sentences in serious cases

• First-degree assault: Class B, 2 to 20 years, with a 10-year minimum when a deadly weapon was used.
• Murder, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree arson: Class A, 10 to 99 years or life.
• Capital murder: death or life without parole.

Winston judges name counsel for those who cannot afford it. Inmate phone lines are monitored; avoid discussing the case.

↑ Back to the Double Springs court list

Winston County youths under 18

A District Judge sits as juvenile court in Double Springs, and a juvenile probation officer reviews each complaint and chooses release, informal handling or a petition. Winston County has no youth detention center; ask the Circuit Clerk at (205) 489-5533 about a youth's placement. Youths never post bail, and one kept in detention is heard inside 72 hours.

Results in juvenile court

• Informal adjustment.
• Probation supervised by Winston County juvenile officers.
• Commitment to the Alabama Department of Youth Services for serious cases.

Adult court for teens

Under §12-15-204, a Winston County 16- or 17-year-old charged with a capital crime, a Class A felony, drug trafficking or a felony with a deadly weapon, death or serious injury goes to adult court and can be held at the Winston County Jail. For a child 14 or older, the prosecutor can request a transfer review (§12-15-203). The court names a lawyer when the family cannot pay.

↑ Back to the Double Springs court list

Winston County federal cases

Winston County federal cases belong to the Western Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, which holds court in Tuscaloosa at 2005 University Blvd., (205) 561-1670.

• U.S. Marshals Service, Northern District of Alabama: (205) 829-6611

Federal steps

A Winston County federal defendant first sees a magistrate judge. Federal court uses no bail chart. Under the Bail Reform Act, release terms or detention follow a hearing, and the U.S. Marshals assign the jail. Once sentenced, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

↑ Back to the Double Springs court list

Double Springs court contacts for Winston County

Winston County state cases are filed on Blake Drive:

• Circuit Clerk: 10 Blake Drive, Double Springs, 205-489-5533
• District Attorney, 25th Judicial Circuit: Hamilton office, 205-921-7403
• Sheriff's Office: 11 Blake Drive, Room 6, 205-489-8765
• Jail: 205-489-5205
• Town courts: phone the arresting town

Our Winston 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.

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Winston County federal cases

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama hears Winston County federal cases in Tuscaloosa:

• Clerk: 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

A magistrate decides pretrial release, and the Marshals pick where people stay.

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Searching for a Winston County inmate

• Double Springs jail: Winston 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, 205-829-6611
• VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Pick Alabama, open the Winston County record and enroll.

Our Winston County inmate page has more links.

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Winston County ICE detainers

An ICE detainer lets the Winston jail hold a person briefly past release, two business days at most.

• 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/)

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Winston County case and warrant lookups

• Alacourt: Alacourt Access public search (https://pa.alacourt.com/); a Winston name search is $9.99 per case.
• Clerk site: winston.alacourt.gov
• Town cases: the arresting town's office.

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