Search Montgomery Jail Records
Montgomery jail roster records are kept by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. This is the state capital of Alabama with close to 196,000 people. The county runs the Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility, which holds most inmates from the city. Montgomery also has a municipal jail for short term holds. The county jail roster is public and free to search online. This page explains how to find Montgomery jail records and what facts they include.
Montgomery Quick Facts
Where Montgomery Arrests Go
People arrested in Montgomery go to the county detention facility. The Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility is the main jail. It can hold up to 1,290 inmates.
The Montgomery Police Department runs a municipal jail. This is at 6001 Troy Highway. The city jail is for short stays. Most inmates move to the county jail within a day or so. Once at the county, their data shows on the public jail roster.
The county jail holds people from minimum to medium security levels. It houses those waiting for trial, those serving short terms, and those awaiting transfer to state prison.
| Facility | Mac Sim Butler Detention Facility |
|---|---|
| Address | 225 South McDonough Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 |
| Capacity | 1,290 inmates |
| Sheriff's Office | (334) 832-4980 |
| Website | montgomerysheriff.com |
The Montgomery County Sheriff runs the detention facility. The sheriff is elected by county voters. Jail staff handle all bookings, housing, and releases.
How to Search Montgomery Jail Records
The Montgomery County Sheriff has an online inmate search. Go to mcsojail.countygovservices.com to search. This is free and works any time.
The search shows all current inmates at the detention facility. You can search by name. The results show booking photo, charges, arresting agency, and bond amount. Warrant info is also listed if there is one.
There is also a public query system at mcso.mc-ala.org/pubquery. This gives more detail on each case. You can look up court dates and case status.
To find someone on the Montgomery jail roster, you need the following:
- First or last name of the person
- Date of birth if you have it
- Booking number if known
The search is simple. Type in what you know and click search. If no results come up, the person may have been released or never booked at this jail.
What Montgomery Jail Records Show
Jail roster records in Montgomery contain key facts about each inmate. Alabama law makes this data public.
Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 requires sheriffs to keep a public jail book. Montgomery County follows this law. The online database is the modern version of the jail book.
The Montgomery jail roster shows the following for each inmate:
- Complete name and booking photo
- Age, gender, and race
- Arresting agency
- All charges filed
- Any active warrants
- Bond amount set by the court
- Booking date and time
Some facts are private. Medical records do not show up. Juvenile cases are sealed under Alabama Code Section 12-15-133. Mental health details stay out of the public roster.
Note: If an arrest was expunged, it will not show on the jail roster.
Montgomery Municipal Jail
The city of Montgomery runs its own jail. It is under the police department. This is a short term holding facility.
People arrested by Montgomery Police may start at the city jail. They are held there for a short time. Most then go to the county detention facility. City jail inmates do not always show on the county roster right away.
| Facility | Montgomery Municipal Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 6001 Troy Highway, Montgomery, AL |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box-Drawer 159, Montgomery, AL 36101 |
| Security Level | Minimum to Medium |
The city jail is run by the Montgomery Police Department. For questions about someone at the city jail, call the police department. They can tell you if a person is there or has been moved.
Montgomery Police Department
The Montgomery Police Department handles law enforcement in the city. They make arrests and process them through the city jail. Officers work around the clock.
Chief James N. Graboys leads the department. The main office is at 320 North Ripley Street. For records requests, contact the department during business hours.
| Department | Montgomery Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 320 North Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 |
| Main Phone | (334) 625-2532 |
| Chief's Office | (334) 625-2807 |
| Dispatch | (334) 625-2651 |
| Website | montgomeryal.gov |
The police department has several divisions. Contact the Public Information Office for press inquiries. Community Policing can be reached at (334) 625-4800.
Are Montgomery Jail Records Public
Yes. Jail records in Montgomery are public. Alabama law gives everyone the right to view them.
Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 is the state open records law. It says residents can inspect and copy public records. You do not need a reason. The sheriff must allow access.
Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 requires a jail book. This book must be open for public viewing during office hours. The online search meets this rule. Anyone can use it to look up Montgomery jail records.
Under Alabama Administrative Code 265-X-2-.03, jails must report arrests to the state within 24 hours. This keeps state criminal records current. The data goes to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center.
Some limits apply. Juvenile records stay sealed. Medical details are private. Data that could harm security may be held back. But basic booking info in Montgomery is always public.
Montgomery Inmate Notification
You can get alerts when an inmate's status changes. VINE is a free service that sends you a message when someone is released or moved.
To sign up, go to vinelink.com and select Alabama. Search for the person by name. Then register for alerts. Pick how you want to hear: call, text, or email.
AlaVINE is the Alabama version. You can also call 1-877-846-3425 any time. The line is open 24 hours. This is useful if you want to know when someone gets out of the Montgomery jail.
Crime victims often use VINE. Family members use it too. The service is free and private.
Fees for Montgomery Jail Records
Online searches are free. You pay nothing to look up inmates on the county website. This is the fastest way to check if someone is in custody.
Fees apply for paper copies. The sheriff's office charges for copies of jail records. Rates are usually around one dollar per page. Certified copies cost more.
For full background checks, ALEA charges $25. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency does criminal history checks that go beyond jail records. These take several weeks and require fingerprints.
Note: Most people only need the free online search unless they need records for court or a job.
Montgomery as State Capital
Montgomery is the state capital of Alabama. This means many state offices are here. The Alabama Department of Corrections is based in Montgomery. So is the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
If you need state level records, Montgomery is the place. ALEA handles criminal background checks. ADOC keeps records on state prison inmates. These are separate from county jail records.
The Montgomery County jail only holds local and county inmates. State prisoners are at ADOC facilities. Use the ADOC inmate search at doc.alabama.gov for state inmates.
Find Montgomery Jail Records
Use our search tool to find inmates in Montgomery. Search by name to get booking info, charges, and mugshots.
Montgomery County Jail Roster
Montgomery is in Montgomery County. All county jail records are kept by the sheriff. For more details on the county jail, visitation, and contact info, visit the Montgomery County page.
Other Alabama Cities
Looking for jail roster records in other Alabama cities? These major cities have dedicated pages.