Search Alabama Jail Rosters
Alabama jail rosters list people held in county jails. These are public records. Anyone can view them. Each of the 67 county sheriffs keeps a jail roster for their county. You can search most of them online at no cost. County sheriff websites show current inmates with booking dates, charges, and bond info. State prisons are separate. This guide shows how to find Alabama jail roster records and what they contain.
What Is an Alabama Jail Roster
A jail roster is a list of inmates. It shows who is in jail right now. Alabama law says each sheriff must keep this list open for public view. The roster gets updated when new people are booked in or let out.
Alabama jail rosters have key facts about each inmate. You can find names and booking dates. Charges are listed too. Most rosters show mugshots. Bond amounts tell you how much it costs to get out of jail. Some county jail rosters in Alabama also show the court date if one has been set by the judge. The amount of detail varies from county to county, but all rosters must include the basic facts that state law requires sheriffs to track and make public.
County jails hold people before trial. They also hold those with short sentences. State prisons are different.
The Alabama Department of Corrections runs state prisons for longer terms. People with sentences over one year go to state prison. The ADOC has its own inmate search tool that is separate from county jail rosters in Alabama. If you need to find someone in state prison, you must use the ADOC database at doc.alabama.gov instead of a county jail roster.
Note: County jail rosters show local inmates only, not state prison inmates.
How to Search Alabama Jail Rosters
You can search jail rosters online. Most Alabama counties have websites. Look for links that say Jail Roster, Inmates, or Detention. Each sheriff runs their own site.
To find an inmate, you need some basic facts. The full name works best. Date of birth helps too. Many Alabama counties also let you search by booking date, which is useful if you know roughly when the arrest happened but are not sure of the exact spelling of the name or if the person uses aliases.
Here is what you can search by on most Alabama jail rosters:
- First and last name of the inmate
- Booking date or date range
- Booking number if you have it
- Age or date of birth
The Alabama VINE system is another way to search. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. You can find inmates and sign up for alerts. When an inmate gets out, VINE sends a call, text, or email. The service is free.
For state prison inmates, use the ADOC search. Go to doc.alabama.gov. Enter the name or AIS number. The AIS is a six digit code. County jail rosters do not use AIS numbers.
What Alabama Jail Rosters Show
Alabama jail rosters show key facts. Each entry has data about one inmate. The law says what must be tracked.
Each entry on an Alabama jail roster must include the following:
- Full legal name of the inmate
- Age and date of birth
- Gender and race
- Charges the person faces
- Date of booking into jail
- Date of release if applicable
Most Alabama counties show more than required. Mugshots are common. Bond amounts help family know what to pay. Some jail rosters list the court type and case number. A few show which cell block holds the inmate. The level of detail varies by county, but the basic facts are always there because state law requires sheriffs to track and display this information to the public during normal business hours.
Jail rosters are public records. Anyone can view them. You need no reason. The sheriff must let you see the jail book during office hours.
Note: Medical details and juvenile records are not public and will not appear on jail rosters.
How Alabama Jails Work
Alabama has 67 county jails. The sheriff runs each one. The sheriff is elected. Jails hold people after arrest.
When police arrest someone, they take them to the county jail. Booking starts right away. Staff take photos and fingerprints. They get personal details. Charges go into the system. All of this ends up on the jail roster, which is why you can search for someone shortly after they are booked into the facility and find their information online in counties that have web based jail roster systems.
Alabama law sets rules for jails. The sheriff has legal charge of the jail and all inmates inside. Staff can be hired for daily tasks. But the sheriff is responsible for what happens.
Some big cities have jails too. Birmingham has one. So do Montgomery and Mobile. City jails hold people for a short time. Most end up at the county jail after a few days. City jail inmates then show up on the county roster.
State prisons are different. The Alabama Department of Corrections runs 28 state facilities across Alabama for people serving longer sentences. Only people with terms over one year go to state prison. County jails handle shorter terms. They also hold people waiting for trial. The ADOC has its own inmate search tool that is totally separate from county jail rosters, so if you are looking for someone who was sentenced to more than a year, you need to check the state system instead.
Which Counties Have Online Rosters
Most Alabama counties post jail rosters online. Not all do. Rural counties may only offer phone or in person access. Urban areas tend to have full online systems with search features.
Here are some Alabama counties with online jail roster access:
- Jefferson County uses a Tyler Technologies system
- Madison County posts rosters at the sheriff website
- Mobile County has a Who's In Jail search
- Montgomery County shows current inmates online
- Shelby County runs a dedicated inmate listing site
- Morgan County updates its roster in real time
No online roster? Call the sheriff. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody. You can also visit in person. Alabama law gives you the right to view the jail book during work hours.
The Alabama Sheriffs Association keeps a list of all 67 sheriffs. Their site has contact info for each county jail in Alabama, including phone numbers, addresses, and website links, which makes it a good starting point if you are not sure which county handles a particular area or need to look up contact details for a jail that does not have its own website with roster information available to the public.
Alabama Jail Roster Laws
Alabama law makes jail rosters public. Two main statutes control access to these records in Alabama.
Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 requires each sheriff to keep a jail book. The book must list every person in jail. It must show names, ages, charges, and dates. The sheriff must make this book open for public inspection during office hours.
Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 is the state open records act. It says every resident can inspect and copy public records. Jail rosters are public records under this law. You do not need to explain why you want to see them.
There are some limits on what is public. Juvenile records stay sealed. Medical and mental health facts are private. Details that could harm jail security may be held back. But basic booking info on Alabama jail rosters is always public.
Arrest data must go to the state within 24 hours. Alabama Administrative Code 265-X-2-.03 sets this rule. Local jails report to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. This helps keep state crime records current.
Jail Roster Fees in Alabama
Viewing jail rosters is free. Online access costs nothing. Going to the sheriff's office to see the jail book is free too.
Fees apply when you want copies. Rates vary by county. Most charge 50 cents to one dollar per page. Certified copies cost more. The exact fee depends on which county you are dealing with, so it is a good idea to call ahead and ask about pricing before you request copies of jail records, especially if you need certified copies for court purposes or legal matters that require official documentation with seals and signatures.
ADOC charges for detailed records. You pay at least 25 dollars for copies of inmate files. Each extra copy costs 5 dollars. Payment must be by money order or cashier's check.
ALEA charges for background checks too. A criminal history check costs 25 dollars. This requires fingerprints. It takes several weeks.
Note: Many Alabama counties provide free online jail rosters, so check the sheriff's website first.
Victim Notification in Alabama
Alabama offers a way to track inmates. The VINE system sends alerts. If an inmate gets out, you will know.
AlaVINE is the Alabama version of the nationwide VINE network. You can search for any offender. Register for alerts. Pick how you want to hear: phone, text, or email. The service is free and runs all day, every day, which means you can register at any time and start getting notifications right away without having to wait for business hours or fill out paper forms at a government office.
To use VINE for Alabama jail rosters and state inmates, follow these steps:
- Visit vinelink.com and select Alabama
- Enter the offender name or ID number
- Create a free account if you want alerts
- Choose your notification method
The Attorney General's Office helps victims too. They track sex offender releases. The toll free line is 1-800-626-7676. You can register at victims.alabama.gov.
The Bureau of Pardons and Paroles lets victims attend hearings. If an inmate seeks early release, you can speak. Contact the Victim Services Division at 334-353-1143.
Find Alabama Jail Records
Use our search tool to look up inmates. Search by name. Find booking records, mugshots, and charges.
Alabama Jail Rosters by County
Each county in Alabama has its own jail roster. Select a county below to find local contact info and links to online inmate searches.
Jail Rosters in Major Alabama Cities
Residents of major cities are booked into county jails. Click a city below to find jail roster info for that area.