Houston County Dothan AL Mugshots & Inmate Search (2026)

HOUSTON COUNTY, ALABAMA • DOTHAN ARREST, JAIL & COURT RECORD GUIDE

Houston County Dothan AL Mugshots: Current Inmates, Recent Arrests, Jail Records & Court Follow-Up

Searching for Houston County Dothan AL mugshots is more complicated than opening one generic arrest website because Houston County has two different official paths that serve different purposes. The Houston County Sheriff’s Office provides an inmate listing for jail custody, while the Dothan Police Department independently publishes dated “Mugshots of the Day” posts for arrests it reports.

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Those sources should not be treated as interchangeable. The Sheriff’s inmate listing is the better starting point when you want to know whether someone is in Houston County Jail. Dothan Police’s mugshot archive is useful for recent DPD-related arrests, but it is not a complete historical roster of every person arrested anywhere in Houston County.

Last source review: August 29, 2026 Houston County, Alabama Dothan + county search paths separated Official government sources prioritized

Fastest Official Search for Houston County and Dothan Mugshots

CURRENT COUNTY JAIL
JAIL

Is the person in Houston County Jail?

Start with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Listing. The Sheriff’s site links directly to the county’s booking-search system.

Open official inmate listing →

DOTHAN POLICE ARRESTS
DPD

Looking for recent Dothan Police mugshots?

Dothan Police maintains a dedicated Mugshots category with dated “Mugshots of the Day” posts. Weekend periods may be combined into a multi-day post.

Open Dothan Police mugshot archive →

COURT OUTCOME
CASE

Need to know what happened after the arrest?

Move from the booking record to the Houston County Circuit Clerk and Alabama trial-court system. The Clerk is the official record keeper for Circuit and District Court proceedings.

Open Houston County Court →

STATE PRISON
ADOC

Person no longer in the county jail?

If the person was sentenced to Alabama state-prison custody, use the Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search instead of repeatedly checking the county roster.

Open Alabama DOC search →

Best three-source verification

Houston County inmate listing → Dothan Police mugshot post when DPD made the arrest → Houston County/Alabama court record for what happened after booking.

Houston County Jail Mugshots and Dothan Police Mugshots Are Not the Same Database

This is the most important local distinction on the page.

Official source Best for What it does not necessarily show
Houston County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Listing People appearing in the Houston County jail-booking system; custody-oriented search. It should not be treated as the final court disposition or complete statewide criminal history.
Dothan Police “Mugshots of the Day” Dated mugshot posts published by Dothan Police for recent arrests it reports. It is not a complete countywide jail roster and does not represent every arresting agency.
Houston County Circuit Clerk / Just One Look Following District or Circuit Court case activity after arrest. It is not a live jail-custody roster.
Dothan Municipal Court City ordinance violations and misdemeanor matters within municipal jurisdiction. It does not handle felony prosecutions as a municipal court.
Practical example A person arrested by Dothan Police may appear in a DPD “Mugshots of the Day” post and also enter the Houston County Jail booking system. The two records document different parts of the same event. Later, the criminal case belongs in the appropriate municipal, District or Circuit Court system.

Do Not Confuse Houston County, Alabama With Houston Counties in Other States

Search engines frequently mix Houston County, Alabama with counties of the same name in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee. This page covers Houston County, Alabama, whose county seat is Dothan.

  • houstoncosoal.gov — Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama.
  • dothanpd.org — Dothan Police Department.
  • houston.alacourt.gov — Houston County, 20th Judicial Circuit of Alabama.
  • dothan.org — City of Dothan / Municipal Court.
  • alea.gov — Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
  • doc.alabama.gov — Alabama Department of Corrections.
State check before using a result

If a result shows Crockett, Texas; Warner Robins, Georgia; or Erin, Tennessee, you are looking at the wrong Houston County.

How to Find Recent Dothan AL Mugshots by Date

Dothan Police Department currently publishes a dedicated archive titled Mugshots. Recent posts are generally labeled using the arrest period—for example “Mugshots of the Day” followed by a date.

1

Open the official Dothan Police mugshot archive

Open Dothan Police Mugshots →

2

Find the date you need

Recent entries are displayed in reverse chronological order. DPD sometimes combines several weekend dates into one post instead of creating one page for each day.

3

Open the dated post

The department’s posts identify the people and booking charges it is publishing for that arrest period.

4

Read the presumption-of-innocence notice

Dothan Police expressly states with its mugshot posts that people are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

5

Check the jail listing if you need current custody

A dated police mugshot post is historical arrest information. It does not establish that the person is still incarcerated now.

6

Check court records for later disposition

The booking charge is not necessarily the final conviction, dismissal, plea or amended charge.

Why this source is unusually useful

Many counties provide only an inmate roster. Dothan Police also publishes dated mugshot posts, making it possible to separate “recent Dothan Police arrests” from “who is currently in Houston County Jail.”

How to Search Houston County Mugshots From the Last 3, 7, 15 or 30 Days

Houston County does not publish the same fixed 72-day/90-day search menus used by some other counties, so the best method depends on whether you know the person’s name.

Search period Best method Why
Today / last 24 hours Dothan Police Mugshots + Sheriff inmate listing DPD provides recent dated posts; jail search helps verify custody.
Last 3 days Review the recent DPD mugshot posts and inmate listing Useful when the arrest occurred in Dothan and is very recent.
Last 7 days Use DPD’s mugshot archive by date, then verify through HCSO Weekend dates may appear in one combined DPD post.
Last 15 days DPD archive + jail search + court search Some people will no longer be in jail after two weeks.
Last 30 days Name search + DPD archive + Houston County court records Court records become more useful as custody changes.
Older arrest Houston County court record or investigating-agency record A current jail roster should not be treated as a historical archive.
Search-by-date shortcut On the Dothan Police Mugshots archive, use the dated post titles rather than scrolling through general police-news stories. If you already know the person’s name, search the Houston County inmate listing and then move to the court record.

How to Read a Houston County Booking Correctly

Booking detail Useful meaning What it does not establish
Mugshot Photograph associated with an arrest/booking. Guilt or conviction.
Booking date When the jail processed the booking. The exact incident date in every case.
Charge Offense information attached to the booking stage. The final prosecutorial or court disposition.
Bond Release-related information when displayed. That the amount has not changed since booking.
Hold for another agency May indicate another jurisdiction has an interest in custody. That the listed local charge explains the person’s complete custody situation.
Current jail listing Custody-oriented jail information. A complete lifetime arrest or criminal-history record.

Need a Houston County Arrest Older Than the Recent Mugshot Archive?

Older-record research should move away from the assumption that the jail roster is a permanent archive.

Need the court case?

Use Houston County Circuit Clerk or Alabama’s Just One Look trial-court access.

Need a Sheriff’s report?

Contact Houston County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations / Records at 334-677-4809.

Need a Dothan Police report?

Start with Dothan Police Records at 210 N. Saint Andrews Street or call the department at 334-615-3000.

Need your own Alabama criminal history?

Use ALEA’s fingerprint-based Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information.

No Houston County Jail Result? Use This Troubleshooting Path

The person already bonded out

Move to the Dothan Police archive or court record rather than relying only on current custody.

The arrest was made by Dothan Police

Check the official DPD Mugshots archive for the relevant date.

The person is being held for another agency

Review the booking carefully and contact the jail when custody is unclear.

The arrest is older

Use the Circuit Clerk or investigating agency rather than a live jail roster.

The case is municipal

Dothan Municipal Court handles municipal ordinance and misdemeanor matters within its jurisdiction.

The person entered state prison

Use Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search.

The record may have been expunged

Alabama courts can grant qualifying expungements under state law.

You may have the wrong Houston County

Confirm Alabama and Dothan before relying on the result.

After a Houston County Arrest: Initial Appearance and Bond

Alabama’s Rules of Criminal Procedure provide the statewide framework for what happens after arrest. The details of a particular Houston County case depend on the offense, warrant status, judicial order and applicable release conditions.

Initial appearance

At an initial appearance, Alabama Rule 4.4 provides that the judge addresses matters including the defendant’s identity, the charge, right to counsel, right to remain silent and conditions of release.

For felony complaints, the judge also advises the defendant about the right to demand a preliminary hearing and the procedure for doing so.

Warrantless arrests and the 48-hour probable-cause rule

Alabama Rule 4.3 states that when a person is arrested without a warrant and remains in custody, a judicial probable-cause determination must occur without undue delay and, in any event, no later than 48 hours after arrest.

This is not a promise that every inmate will be released in 48 hours.

The rule contains important conditions, including whether the offense is bailable and whether a lawful probable-cause determination has occurred. Use the jail, court and attorney for case-specific bond status.

How to verify current bond information

  1. Find the booking in the Houston County inmate listing.
  2. Write down the inmate name, inmate number, booking date and charge information.
  3. Call Houston County Jail at 334-712-0762 if the current bond or release status is unclear.
  4. If the bond was modified by a judge, rely on the current court/jail information rather than an old screenshot.

Open Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure →

How to Follow a Houston County Criminal Case After the Mugshot

Houston County is in Alabama’s 20th Judicial Circuit. The Houston County Circuit Clerk is the official record keeper for Circuit and District Court proceedings.

1

Open the Houston County Circuit Clerk website

Open Houston County — 20th Judicial Circuit →

2

Determine whether you need Circuit Criminal or District Criminal

The Clerk lists separate divisions and telephone numbers for criminal matters.

Circuit Criminal

Room 108
Phone: 334-677-4858

District Criminal

Room 109
Phone: 334-677-4869

3

Use Alabama’s Just One Look when online trial-court access is useful

The Houston County Clerk states that most trial-court information may be obtained through Alabama’s Just One Look on-demand system. It is a paid case-access service.

After opening Alabama’s court portal Choose Just One Look → search for the appropriate case → confirm the case number and party before purchasing access to case details or documents.
4

Use the Clerk when you need an official record or clarification

Online search is useful for research, but the Clerk’s Office maintains the court record.

Houston County Courthouse

114 North Oates Street
Dothan, AL 36303

Main: 334-677-4800

Public hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Closed 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. for lunch.

Local office-hour detail

The courthouse remains a normal Monday–Friday operation, but the Clerk specifically publishes a one-hour midday closure. Build that into an in-person records visit.

Dothan Municipal Court vs. Houston County Circuit/District Court

A Dothan arrest does not automatically mean the case belongs in Houston County Circuit Court.

Dothan Municipal Court

The city states that Municipal Court has jurisdiction over municipal ordinance violations and misdemeanors.

210 N. Saint Andrews Street
Dothan, AL 36303

Phone: 334-615-4150

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Houston County District / Circuit Court

State criminal cases move through the appropriate Houston County District or Circuit Court division depending on the charge and procedural stage.

114 N. Oates Street
Dothan, AL 36303

If a Dothan Municipal Court defendant bonded out

The City of Dothan states that an arrested defendant is given a court appearance date when bonding out of jail. If there is a question about that date, the city tells defendants to contact the court before the scheduled appearance.

Municipal-court appointed counsel

Dothan Municipal Court states that an indigent defendant charged with an offense punishable by jail may receive court-appointed counsel. The defendant must complete a sworn Affidavit of Substantial Hardship, and the judge determines indigency.

Open Dothan Municipal Court attorney information →

Houston County Defendants Who Cannot Afford an Attorney

For Alabama state criminal cases, an indigent defendant who is entitled to counsel can receive appointed representation through the court’s indigent-defense process.

The Houston County court site explains that an attorney may be appointed at state expense when a criminal defendant is indigent and unable to pay, although a court can require reimbursement when legally appropriate and the person is able.

What to do If the person is in Houston County Jail, raise appointed-counsel eligibility during the judicial process. If the case is already active, contact the appropriate District or Circuit Criminal division and ask for the current procedure for submitting an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship or seeking appointed counsel.

Need the Arrest or Incident Report? Identify the Arresting Agency First

The Houston County Jail booking is not the same document as the investigating officer’s incident or arrest report.

Houston County Sheriff’s Office arrest
HCSO Criminal Investigations / Records

Phone: 334-677-4809. Start here when the Sheriff’s Office created the record.

Dothan Police arrest
Dothan Police Department

210 N. Saint Andrews Street, Dothan. Main: 334-615-3000.

Another city police agency
Contact that municipality

Do not assume every person booked in Houston County Jail was arrested by HCSO or Dothan Police.

Houston County Sheriff’s records contact

Houston County Sheriff’s Office
411 N. Foster Street
Dothan, AL 36303

Main: 334-677-4882
Communications: 334-677-4808
Criminal Investigations / Records: 334-677-4809
Jail: 334-712-0762

Sheriff’s Office public hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

There is an address inconsistency among local official/public sources.

The current Houston County Sheriff’s Office website lists 411 N. Foster Street as its office address, while Houston County Government still lists the Sheriff Department at 144 N. Oates Street. Because the Sheriff’s own current site is the agency-specific source, use its current contact page and call before making an in-person records trip.

Dothan Police Records Division

Dothan Police identifies its Records Division at the police department building at 210 N. Saint Andrews Street. For example, the department’s current crash-report instructions tell visitors entering the front door that Records is immediately to the left.

When requesting an incident/arrest report, have the Dothan Police case number when possible. A case number is substantially more useful than only a person’s name.

Recommended request information Date or date range → incident location → DPD case/report number if known → involved person’s name → exact record requested. Avoid asking for “everything” unless you actually need every responsive record.

Houston County Sheriff’s Office Address vs. Houston County Jail Address

The Sheriff’s administrative/contact office and the detention facility should not be treated as the same destination.

Sheriff’s Office

411 N. Foster Street
Dothan, AL 36303

Main: 334-677-4882

Houston County Jail

901 East Main Street
Dothan, AL 36301

Jail: 334-712-0762

The jail address is also reflected in Alabama law-enforcement directory information. Always confirm the destination by telephone when dropping off property, visiting, dealing with inmate services or completing another task that has location-specific rules.

Houston County Jail Visitation: Current Published Rules

Houston County Jail currently publishes rules for face-to-face non-contact visitation in addition to paid video visitation.

No walk-in face-to-face visits.

The Sheriff’s Office says face-to-face visits must be scheduled by calling 334-712-0762.

Scheduling deadline

Visits must be scheduled no later than 3:00 p.m. on the Friday before the weekend face-to-face visitation period.

Inmate visitation list

  • The inmate must complete a visitation list within 30 days of booking.
  • The published list is limited to eight names.
  • Visitors must be approved before face-to-face visitation.
  • Children and clergy also must satisfy the list requirements.
  • The jail says lists are updated during designated January/July cycles for February/August use.

Visit length and number of visitors

The Sheriff’s Office says inmates receive one 30-minute face-to-face visit on the designated weekend.

Only two people total, including children, may participate in a face-to-face visit on the visitation day. Split visits are not permitted; the visitors must arrive and leave together.

Identification

  • Visitors age 16 and older must show current government-issued photo identification.
  • Visitors younger than 16 must have a Social Security card or birth certificate under the published rule.
  • Children cannot be left unattended in the jail lobby.

Important restrictions

  • Electronic devices are not permitted in the jail during visitation.
  • Visitors are subject to warrant checks.
  • A visitor with an active warrant can be arrested.
  • Attempting to bring contraband into the jail can lead to arrest and prosecution.
  • Dress-code violations can result in denial of the visit.
  • Violation of visitation rules can produce a minimum 90-day ban from all forms of visitation.

Read current Houston County Jail visitation rules →

Houston County Jail Phone Calls and Commissary Deposits

Inmate telephone provider

The Sheriff’s Office currently identifies ICSolutions as the Houston County Jail inmate telephone provider.

  • Friends and family can establish prepaid accounts through ICSolutions.
  • Published provider assistance: 1-888-506-8407.
  • Inmates receive one free two-minute call at initial booking under the jail’s current published rule.
  • Maximum published call length: 15 minutes.
  • Calls may be monitored and recorded.
  • Call forwarding and three-way calling are prohibited.
Do not use another inmate’s PIN.

The jail’s current instructions tie telephone access to inmate-specific identification and passcode information. Family members do not need an inmate’s private PIN to establish an external prepaid account.

Commissary deposits

Houston County Sheriff’s Office currently directs commissary deposits to Inmate Canteen.

The online deposit requires:

  • Inmate’s name
  • Inmate’s number
  • Location: Houston County Jail
  • Credit or debit card

The Sheriff lists vendor assistance at 1-706-298-4974.

Lobby kiosk

The Sheriff’s Office also says a commissary kiosk is available in the Houston County Jail lobby during normal business hours. Kiosk users must present a valid driver’s license or identification card, and the county warns that a service fee applies to transactions.

Safest payment sequence Find the inmate in the official listing → copy the exact inmate name and number → open the Sheriff’s current Commissary page → follow its vendor link → verify Houston County Jail before submitting payment.

Open current Houston County Commissary instructions →

Houston County Jail Personal Mail Rules Are More Restrictive Than Many Jails

The Sheriff’s Office publishes a very specific format for personal inmate correspondence. Sending an ordinary photo-filled greeting card can result in rejection.

  • Incoming personal mail must use a single sheet of 8½ × 11 card stock folded in half.
  • The folded sheet is taped on both edges and the top under the jail’s published format.
  • Nothing may be inserted inside the folded card stock.
  • Only handwritten-in-ink or typed letters are accepted.
  • No crayon or non-ink writing substances.
  • No photocopies.
  • No photographs of any kind.
  • No hand-delivered mail or packages.
  • Mail can be inspected for contraband and may be read before delivery.
  • Mail with stains, foreign substances, odors or suspected contraband can be refused.
  • The sender’s first and last name and complete address must appear on the envelope.
  • The inmate number and pod location must be included.
  • Nicknames are not accepted in place of the required inmate identification.
Do not copy mail rules from another Alabama jail.

Houston County’s requirement for a single folded card-stock sheet and its no-photograph rule are facility-specific. Always recheck the Sheriff’s current Personal Mail page before mailing correspondence.

Open current Houston County personal-mail rules →

Need to Bring Court Clothes to an Inmate?

Houston County Jail publishes a detailed procedure for court clothing.

A single approved set of court clothes can normally be dropped off during the week before the inmate’s court date, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m..

If clothing must be delivered during the actual week of trial, the Sheriff’s Office says it must be brought by the inmate’s attorney or a representative of the attorney’s office rather than family.

Published approved set

  • 1 suit jacket
  • 1 necktie
  • 1 shirt — no T-shirts
  • 1 pair of pants — no holes or tears
  • 1 pair of low-rise dress shoes — no tennis shoes or boots
  • 1 pair of dress socks
  • 1 belt

The person delivering clothing must show identification and receives a receipt.

Pick the clothes up afterward.

The jail says court clothing must be retrieved within two weeks after completion of the case for the current term of court. Uncollected clothing is subject to disposal.

Read current court-clothing rules →

Need an Alabama State Criminal History Rather Than a Mugshot?

A Houston County mugshot search is not the same thing as an Alabama criminal-history review.

ALEA’s Criminal Records Identification Unit maintains Alabama criminal-history information derived from fingerprints and court dispositions.

Personal/public criminal-history review

ALEA currently instructs applicants seeking their Alabama Criminal History Record Information to submit:

  • The completed ALEA CHRI application.
  • A copy of valid photo identification.
  • A classifiable set of fingerprints taken by an authorized law-enforcement agency.
  • A $25 administrative fee for a personal request.
  • Payment by cashier’s check or money order under ALEA’s published instructions.

ALEA currently lists each additional copy at $5.

Why fingerprints matter A fingerprint-based criminal-history review is much stronger for identity verification than assuming that a person with the same name in a mugshot database is the correct person.

Open ALEA criminal-history instructions →

What If Your Alabama Criminal History Contains an Error?

ALEA provides a separate process to challenge criminal-history information that a person believes is inaccurate.

1

Obtain or identify the ALEA criminal-history record

You need to know exactly which arrest or disposition you are disputing.

2

Complete the ALEA challenge form

The challenge procedure requires identifying the specific charge, arrest date and arresting agency or court involved.

3

Attach supporting records

ALEA recommends including official documentation from the court or arresting agency supporting the requested correction.

4

Send the challenge to ALEA Criminal Records

Follow the mailing and documentation instructions on the current ALEA form.

Correct the source record—not only a search-result page.

If a jail or court record itself contains an error, contact the government agency responsible for that underlying record as well.

If the Person Was Transferred to Alabama State Prison

Houston County Jail is a county detention facility. A person sentenced to Alabama Department of Corrections custody should be searched through ADOC once the state-prison record is available.

After opening ADOC inmate search Enter the identifying information requested by the state system → verify the inmate carefully → review the institution and custody information returned by ADOC.

Open Alabama DOC Inmate Search →

County jail vs. state prison

A missing Houston County inmate result after sentencing can be completely normal if custody has moved into the Alabama Department of Corrections system.

Alabama Victim Notification: When the Offender Reaches ADOC Custody

Alabama operates a statewide Victim Notification System for offenders who have been convicted and sentenced to Alabama Department of Corrections custody.

The system can provide qualifying notifications concerning matters such as:

  • Changes in status or custody
  • Mandatory-supervision release
  • Medical release
  • Furlough, leave or program participation
  • Pardon and parole proceedings/actions
  • End of sentence or death
The state VNS is not for a newly arrested county-jail defendant.

ALEA expressly says the system is for offenders convicted in Alabama and sentenced to ADOC custody. For a pretrial Houston County case, contact the Sheriff, prosecutor or relevant local court/victim-services office.

Open Alabama Victim Notification System →

Can a Houston County or Dothan Arrest Record Be Expunged?

Alabama Code §15-27 allows qualifying criminal records to be expunged in certain circumstances. Eligibility depends on the charge, disposition, conviction status, waiting periods and statutory requirements.

ALEA does not grant the expungement.

ALEA explains that an Alabama court grants qualifying expungements. ALEA maintains the state criminal-history repository and supplies the certified criminal-history record needed for the filing process.

Step 1: Obtain your certified Alabama criminal-history record

ALEA says this should be obtained before filing the expungement petition.

The personal CHRI request currently requires the application, fingerprints, valid ID and the applicable $25 ALEA administrative fee.

Step 2: Obtain certified arrest/disposition records

The current Alabama expungement petition requires certified record information concerning the arrest, disposition or case action summary associated with the matter being expunged.

For a Houston County District or Circuit Court case, contact the Houston County Circuit Clerk’s appropriate Criminal Division.

Step 3: Use the current Alabama CR-65 petition

Alabama’s Administrative Office of Courts currently publishes Form CR-65 — Petition for Expungement of Records.

The form’s instructions state that the petition is filed in the circuit court of the county where the person was charged. That means a qualifying Dothan municipal case is not simply filed at Municipal Court for the expungement proceeding; follow the CR-65 instructions for filing in the appropriate circuit court.

Open Alabama Criminal E-Forms →

Step 4: Prepare for the current $500 filing fee

Current Alabama expungement materials reflect an administrative filing fee of $500 per qualifying filing/arrest as governed by state law and the petition instructions.

An applicant who cannot pay may submit an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship. If indigency is found, the court may establish a payment plan, but the applicable filing obligation must be satisfied before an expungement order is granted under the current statutory framework.

Step 5: Serve the parties required by Alabama law

The expungement process includes notice to the prosecuting authority and other required entities. Do not assume filing the petition at the Clerk’s counter completes every service requirement.

Step 6: Allow time for objections and judicial review

Alabama’s current expungement statute allows the prosecuting authority or victim to object. When an objection is filed, the court schedules a hearing under the statutory procedure.

Expungement eligibility is highly case-specific.

A dismissal, acquittal, nolle prosequi, old arrest or disappearance from a mugshot page does not automatically mean the legal record qualifies for expungement. Review the current Alabama statute and CR-65 instructions or obtain legal advice.

Open ALEA Expungement Resources →

Houston County Community Corrections: Another Post-Court Path

Not every eligible offender remains in county jail or enters state prison. Houston County operates a Community Corrections program designed in part to reduce jail overcrowding and provide qualifying alternatives for certain misdemeanor and felony offenders.

Houston County Community Corrections Center

164 N. Oates Street
Dothan, AL 36303

County Probation: 334-671-8725
State Probation & Parole: 334-793-7079
Federal Probation & Parole: 334-671-0311
Court Referral: 334-677-1156

Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Why this matters in an inmate search

A person can move through the criminal-justice system without remaining continuously in jail. Community supervision, probation, bond and other court-ordered programs are different statuses from county-jail incarceration.

Houston County Dothan Jail, Court and Police Contact Directory

Swipe horizontally on mobile to view all columns.

Office Use it for Contact
Houston County Jail Inmate, custody, visitation and jail questions 901 E. Main St., Dothan
334-712-0762
Houston County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff services / administrative contact 411 N. Foster St., Dothan
334-677-4882
HCSO Criminal Investigations / Records Sheriff criminal-record/report questions 334-677-4809
HCSO Communications Non-emergency agency communication 334-677-4808
Houston County Circuit Clerk Court records / filings 114 N. Oates St.
334-677-4800
Circuit Criminal Circuit-level criminal case Room 108
334-677-4858
District Criminal District-level criminal case Room 109
334-677-4869
Dothan Police Department Dothan Police arrests / reports 210 N. Saint Andrews St.
334-615-3000
Dothan Municipal Court Municipal ordinance and misdemeanor cases 210 N. Saint Andrews St.
334-615-4150
Dothan Magistrate’s Office Municipal warrants / magistrate matters 115 W. Adams St.
334-615-4150
Houston County Community Corrections County probation / court referral 164 N. Oates St.
334-671-8725
ALEA Criminal Records Alabama criminal-history review 334-676-7897

Which Official Source Should You Use?

Your question Best starting source
Is someone in Houston County Jail now?HCSO Inmate Listing
Who did Dothan Police publish in recent mugshots?Dothan Police Mugshots archive
Need a mugshot from a particular recent Dothan date?Dated DPD Mugshots of the Day post
Need current bond information?Houston County Jail / current booking and court information
Need the later state criminal case?Houston County Circuit Clerk / Just One Look
Need a Dothan municipal misdemeanor case?Dothan Municipal Court
Need a Sheriff’s incident report?HCSO Criminal Investigations / Records
Need a Dothan Police report?Dothan Police Records
Need jail visitation?HCSO visitation page + 334-712-0762
Need to fund phone calls?HCSO + ICSolutions
Need commissary deposit?HCSO Commissary + Inmate Canteen
Need inmate mail rules?HCSO Personal Mail page
Person transferred to Alabama state prison?ADOC Inmate Search
Need your own Alabama criminal history?ALEA CHRI review
State criminal-history record is wrong?ALEA challenge process
Possible record expungement?ALEA + Alabama CR-65 + Houston County Circuit Court
Convicted offender now in ADOC custody?Alabama Victim Notification System

Common Houston County and Dothan Mugshot Search Mistakes

Using DPD’s mugshot archive as the whole jail roster

DPD posts are a police publication; HCSO inmate search is the jail-custody source.

Using the jail roster as the final criminal record

Move to court records for later proceedings and disposition.

Confusing Houston County AL with Texas or Georgia

Verify Dothan and the Alabama domains.

Assuming a missing current inmate means no arrest

The person may have been released or transferred.

Mailing ordinary photos to an inmate

Houston County’s current personal-mail rules prohibit photographs.

Showing up for visitation without an appointment

Face-to-face visits require advance scheduling.

Ignoring the visitation-list requirement

The visitor must be on the inmate’s approved list under current rules.

Using the Sheriff’s office address when you actually need the jail

Confirm which destination your task requires.

Sending money without verifying inmate number

Commissary deposits require the inmate’s exact name and number.

Assuming dismissal automatically removes the record

Alabama expungement requires a separate statutory process when eligible.

Responsible Use of Houston County Arrest Information

  • Verify identity before associating a booking with someone who has a common name.
  • Do not describe a person as guilty based only on a mugshot or booking charge.
  • Check the court record before repeating an old allegation as though it remained unresolved.
  • Do not use booking information for harassment, threats, stalking, intimidation or extortion.
  • Do not assume a current jail search is a complete background check.
  • Use legally compliant consumer-report procedures for employment, housing, credit, insurance or other regulated decisions.
  • Recheck older cases for expungement or other changes before publishing or relying on stale information.

How to Correct an Error

Houston County jail record

Contact Houston County Jail or Sheriff’s Office.

HCSO incident report

Contact Criminal Investigations / Records at 334-677-4809.

Dothan Police record

Contact Dothan Police at 334-615-3000.

Houston County court record

Contact the appropriate Circuit or District Criminal division.

Alabama statewide criminal history

Use ALEA’s formal CHRI challenge process.

Information on this guide

Use the site’s contact page to report an outdated link, phone number, address or procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Houston County Dothan AL Mugshots

Where can I find official Houston County Alabama mugshots?

Start with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Listing. The Sheriff’s website links to the jail’s booking-search system and is the appropriate starting source for county-jail custody information.

Where can I find official Dothan AL mugshots?

Dothan Police Department publishes a dedicated Mugshots category with dated “Mugshots of the Day” posts. Use the Houston County jail search afterward if you need current custody information.

Are Dothan Police mugshots the same as the Houston County inmate roster?

No. Dothan Police’s dated mugshot posts are a DPD publication. The Houston County Sheriff’s inmate listing is the county-jail custody search.

How do I find Houston County mugshots from the last 24 hours?

Check the most recent Dothan Police Mugshots of the Day post when the arrest was DPD-related, then search the Houston County Sheriff’s inmate listing for current jail information.

How do I find Houston County or Dothan mugshots from the last 7 days?

Review the dated Dothan Police mugshot posts covering the relevant week, including any combined weekend post, and verify the person through the Sheriff’s inmate listing and court system.

What if someone no longer appears in the Houston County inmate search?

The person may have bonded out, completed a short stay, transferred, been held for another agency or otherwise left active Houston County jail custody. Check Dothan Police’s dated archive and Houston County court records.

Does a Houston County mugshot mean the person was convicted?

No. A booking photograph records an arrest or jail-processing event and does not establish guilt or final case disposition.

What is the Houston County Jail phone number?

The Houston County Sheriff’s Office currently lists the jail telephone number as 334-712-0762.

Where is Houston County Jail in Dothan?

The jail is located at 901 East Main Street, Dothan, Alabama 36301. Confirm the destination with the jail before an in-person visit because administrative Sheriff’s functions use other addresses.

Where is the Houston County Sheriff’s Office?

The Sheriff’s current website lists 411 N. Foster Street, Dothan, Alabama 36303 as its office address.

How do I check a Houston County court case?

Use the Houston County Circuit Clerk website and Alabama’s Just One Look trial-court record system. The Clerk lists separate Circuit Criminal and District Criminal divisions.

What is the Houston County Circuit Criminal phone number?

The Houston County Circuit Clerk lists Circuit Criminal in Room 108 at 334-677-4858.

What is the Houston County District Criminal phone number?

The Clerk lists District Criminal in Room 109 at 334-677-4869.

What hours is the Houston County Circuit Clerk open?

The Houston County court site currently lists public hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the building closed from noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch.

Does Dothan Municipal Court handle felonies?

The City of Dothan states that its Municipal Court has jurisdiction over municipal ordinance violations and misdemeanors. State felony matters are handled through the appropriate state court process.

How do I get an attorney if I cannot afford one?

Alabama courts can appoint counsel to qualifying indigent criminal defendants. Dothan Municipal Court uses an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship for its indigency determination, and state court defendants should ask the appropriate court about appointed-counsel procedures.

How do I request a Houston County Sheriff’s incident report?

The Sheriff’s Office lists Criminal Investigations / Records at 334-677-4809. Have the date, location, person’s name and report or case number when available.

How do I request a Dothan Police report?

Contact Dothan Police at 210 N. Saint Andrews Street or 334-615-3000. Provide the police case number when possible so the Records Division can identify the correct report.

How do I schedule a Houston County Jail visit?

The Sheriff’s Office says face-to-face non-contact visits must be scheduled by calling 334-712-0762. Walk-in face-to-face visits are not accepted.

When must a Houston County jail visit be scheduled?

The current published rule says face-to-face visits must be scheduled no later than 3:00 p.m. on the Friday before the weekend visit.

How long is a Houston County Jail face-to-face visit?

The Sheriff’s current rule provides one 30-minute face-to-face visit on the designated weekend.

How many people can visit a Houston County inmate?

The published rule allows two people total, including children, during a face-to-face visitation day.

Who provides Houston County Jail inmate phone service?

The Sheriff’s Office currently identifies ICSolutions as the inmate telephone provider and lists 1-888-506-8407 for service assistance.

How long can Houston County inmate phone calls last?

The Sheriff’s current telephone instructions state that calls are limited to a maximum of 15 minutes.

How do I add money to a Houston County inmate commissary account?

The Sheriff’s Office currently directs users to Inmate Canteen. You need the inmate’s name, inmate number, Houston County Jail as the location and a credit or debit card. A lobby kiosk is another published option.

Can I send photographs to a Houston County Jail inmate?

No. The Sheriff’s current Personal Mail rules state that photographs of any kind are not accepted in incoming personal inmate mail.

Can I bring court clothes to a Houston County Jail inmate?

Yes, subject to the jail’s current rules. An approved set can normally be dropped off during the week before court, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Different restrictions apply during the actual trial week.

How do I search someone after transfer to Alabama state prison?

Use the Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search rather than the Houston County jail listing.

How do I obtain my Alabama criminal-history record?

ALEA currently requires a completed CHRI application, valid photo ID, fingerprints and a $25 administrative fee for a personal criminal-history review.

What should I do if my Alabama criminal history contains an error?

Use ALEA’s formal criminal-history challenge procedure and identify each disputed arrest or disposition with supporting agency or court documentation.

Can a Houston County or Dothan arrest be expunged?

Some Alabama criminal records qualify for expungement under Code of Alabama §15-27. Eligibility depends on the specific offense, disposition, conviction status and statutory requirements.

What is the current Alabama expungement filing fee?

The current Alabama CR-65 petition and state court guidance reflect a $500 administrative filing fee, subject to the state’s indigency/payment-plan provisions.

Where is a Houston County expungement petition filed?

The current CR-65 instructions state that an expungement petition is filed in the circuit court of the county where the petitioner was charged. For a qualifying Houston County or Dothan matter, follow the Alabama form’s Houston County filing instructions.

Does Alabama’s Victim Notification System track someone who was only recently arrested?

No. ALEA states that the current statewide Victim Notification System is for offenders who have been convicted in Alabama and sentenced to ADOC custody. Pretrial cases should be followed through local agencies and courts.

Primary Official Sources Used for This Houston County Dothan Guide

This guide summarizes the procedures so users can understand what to do before opening several government portals. Use the official source itself for live searches, payments, filings and time-sensitive decisions.

Jail vendors, visitation rules, court procedures, office locations and fees can change. Time-sensitive information in this guide was checked against current official sources on August 29, 2026. Confirm the linked government page before paying money, visiting a facility, mailing inmate correspondence or filing court paperwork.

Bottom Line

For Houston County Dothan AL mugshots, do not rely on one generic search page. Use the Houston County Sheriff’s inmate listing when you need county-jail custody information and use the Dothan Police Mugshots of the Day archive when you need recent mugshots published by DPD.

Then continue beyond the photograph. Use Houston County Circuit Clerk or Dothan Municipal Court for the actual criminal case, the arresting law-enforcement agency for the incident report, Alabama DOC after transfer to state prison, ALEA for statewide criminal-history review, and Alabama’s CR-65 process when an eligible record may qualify for expungement.

The useful distinction is: the police mugshot documents a reported arrest, the jail record documents detention, and the court record shows what ultimately happened to the case.

About the Research: This article was written by a real person, not an AI. To ensure this guide is helpful, I personally tested the official search portals mentioned above. The screenshots you see are from my actual search session. My goal is to save you time by filtering out broken links and confusing menus, pointing you directly to the official government sources that actually work.

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