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County Sheriff Records

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is the documented county route for detention and booking records. Its public-records policy says requests should be submitted in writing on the county form. The policy names Ashlynn Quintero, or a successor custodian, and says phone requests are not accepted under that procedure.

No separate booking-records desk hours or public roster hours were published in the research. Confirm current details before visiting. The policy says a typical acknowledgment takes two business days and a simple request normally receives follow-up within five business days, but complex requests can take longer.

Which Office Has the Record?

Choose the agency based on the record, not only the place where the person was booked. A town police department may hold the incident report while the sheriff holds the county detention booking. The clerk and court hold later case events.

• For county detention booking records or a booking photo, use the sheriff’s written request route.
• For a Mars Hill incident, call Mars Hill Police at 828-689-2301. Its page lists 280 North Main Street and the town contact page lists PO Box 368 and general town hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• For a Marshall police record, call 828-649-2111 or the department cell at 828-380-2921. The town pages list PO Box 548 and conflicting physical locations, so confirm before visiting.
• For a Hot Springs police record, call 828-622-3214. The town page listed temporary administrative inquiries at the Hot Springs Community Center, 43 N Andrews Avenue, at the time of research.
• For the case after booking, use the Madison County court page and ask the clerk about available public records.

Where to Look for a Record

The right contact depends on the custody state and the question being asked. A live county custody question is not the same as an old booking-photo request or a state-prison search.

1. For a current county custody question, ask the sheriff which current channel is available. No verified public roster was found in the official pages reviewed.
2. For a past county booking, send a narrow written request to the sheriff’s records custodian and ask for the booking record and photo separately.
3. For a case number, hearing, or disposition, use the Madison County court page or the clerk’s public access route.
4. For state custody or supervision, use the NC DAC offender search. It does not include county-jail information.
5. For federal or immigration custody, use the BOP locator or ICE locator, each with its stated limits.

The county booking page gives the full distinction between just booked, in custody, released, state custody, and federal custody. A charge in any source is an accusation, not proof of guilt.

What to Include in a Request

Use a defined date range and the most useful identifier available. The sheriff’s policy asks for the request date, requester name, full mailing address, daytime phone, email, description of the record, known title, date or location, and a choice between inspection and copies. Requests become public records and may be posted with the response.

For a county booking, identify the person, approximate booking date, booking number, arresting agency, and whether a photograph is requested. Ask whether the record is maintained and releasable. The policy lists paper-copy fees, a no-cost email attachment or link up to 10 MB, possible special-service labor, and a possible 75 percent deposit when the estimate exceeds $50. Read the current policy before sending payment.

For a town police request, ask that department for its current form, fee, delivery route, and response expectation. The reviewed Mars Hill and Hot Springs pages did not publish a dedicated public request form or fee table. Marshall published police forms and an Activity Log link, but not a clearly labeled public mugshot request process.

Official Contact Boundaries

Do not send a private message to a town or county employee through an unverified social account when a current official page gives a phone, email, or form. Do not put unnecessary personal information in a public-record request. For an emergency, call 911. For a tip about someone believed to be wanted, follow the sheriff’s instructions and do not approach the person.

The North Carolina court Portal is a convenience view and is not the official court record. The NC DAC search is a state custody tool, not a Madison County booking roster. The BOP and ICE locators have separate federal coverage. Clear labels help prevent a search for one record from being mistaken for another.