Tuscaloosa Jail Roster Lookup
Tuscaloosa jail roster records are held by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office. The county jail is the main place for inmates in the area. Tuscaloosa is home to the University of Alabama and has over 114,000 residents. When someone is arrested in Tuscaloosa, they go to the county jail for booking. The jail roster is public and can be searched online at no cost. This guide shows how to find Tuscaloosa jail records and what facts they contain.
Tuscaloosa Quick Facts
Where Tuscaloosa Arrests Go
People arrested in Tuscaloosa go to the Tuscaloosa County Jail. The county jail is the main detention facility. It holds people of all security levels.
The Tuscaloosa Police Department has a short term holding area at their headquarters. This is at 3801 Trevor S. Phillips Ave. But this is not a full jail. Most people are moved to the county jail right away for booking and housing.
The county jail is at 1600 26th Ave in Tuscaloosa. The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff runs the facility. They keep all records and handle the public jail roster.
| Facility | Tuscaloosa County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 1600 26th Ave., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 |
| Phone | (205) 349-4511 |
| Website | tcsoal.org |
The jail is open all day for bookings. Staff work around the clock. Family can call the jail phone line any time to check if someone is in custody.
How to Search Tuscaloosa Jail Records
The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff has an online inmate roster. You can search it for free from any computer or phone. The roster updates when new people are booked or released.
Go to the sheriff's website at tcsoal.org and look for the jail or inmate section. The database shows current inmates. You can search by name to find someone.
Each listing shows the following:
- Booking photo of the inmate
- Full name
- Booking date
- Arresting agency
- Charges at booking
To find someone on the Tuscaloosa jail roster, you need basic info. Enter the first name or last name. If you have the booking date, that helps narrow results. The search is simple and free.
The Tuscaloosa Police Department website also links to the county jail lookup. Go to their Resources page to find the link. All searches lead to the same county database.
What Tuscaloosa Jail Records Show
Jail roster records in Tuscaloosa contain key facts about each inmate. Alabama law requires this data to be public.
Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 requires sheriffs to keep a jail book. The book must list each inmate with their name, age, sex, race, charges, and dates. The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff follows this law.
A Tuscaloosa jail roster entry typically includes the following details:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Age, gender, and race
- Booking photo taken at intake
- All charges filed against the person
- Arresting agency
- Booking date and time
- Bond amount if set
Some facts are kept private. Medical records do not show on the jail roster. Juvenile cases stay sealed under Alabama Code Section 12-15-133. Mental health info is not public.
Note: Records that have been expunged will not appear in the jail roster.
Tuscaloosa Police Department
The Tuscaloosa Police Department handles law enforcement in the city. They make arrests and conduct investigations. When police arrest someone, the person goes to the county jail.
For questions about an arrest made by city police, contact the department. The duty desk can help with bond and custody questions. The number is (205) 248-4840.
| Department | Tuscaloosa Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 3801 Trevor S. Phillips Ave., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 |
| Non-Emergency | (205) 349-2121 |
| Duty Desk | (205) 248-4840 |
The police department does not run the jail. They only have a short term holding facility. For jail records and inmate info, you need to contact the county sheriff's office.
Are Tuscaloosa Jail Records Public
Yes. Jail records in Tuscaloosa are public. Alabama law gives everyone the right to see them.
Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 is the state open records act. It says residents can inspect and copy public records. You do not need to give a reason. The sheriff must allow access.
Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 adds more rules for jails. It requires the sheriff to keep a jail book. This book must be open for public view during office hours. The online roster is the modern form of this book.
Under Alabama Administrative Code 265-X-2-.03, jails must report arrest data to the state within 24 hours. This keeps state records current. The data goes to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center.
There are limits on what is public. Juvenile records are sealed. Medical details are private under HIPAA. Info that could harm jail security may be kept back. But basic booking facts are always public in Tuscaloosa.
Visiting Inmates at Tuscaloosa County Jail
Tuscaloosa County Jail offers video visitation. You can visit on site or remotely. The jail has visits seven days a week.
Visitation hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. You must schedule your visit in advance. Call between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM the day before to set up a time. Walk in visits are not allowed.
The video system lets family and friends talk to inmates on a screen. On site visits happen at the jail. Remote visits can be done from home if you have the right setup.
Note: Rules for visitation change from time to time. Call ahead to check current hours and rules.
Tuscaloosa Inmate Notification
You can sign up to get alerts about an inmate. VINE is a free service that sends messages when custody status changes. If someone is released or moved, you will know right away.
To use VINE for Tuscaloosa jail records, go to vinelink.com and select Alabama. Search for the inmate by name. Then make a free account and register for alerts. Pick how you want to hear: phone, text, or email.
You can also call AlaVINE at 1-877-846-3425. The line is open all day and night. This is a good choice if you need updates fast.
VINE is often used by crime victims. Family members also use it to track when someone will be released from the Tuscaloosa jail.
Fees for Tuscaloosa Jail Records
Searching the Tuscaloosa jail roster online is free. You pay nothing to look up inmates or view their data. This is the quickest way to find out if someone is in custody.
Fees apply if you want copies of records. The sheriff's office can charge for paper copies. Rates are usually around one dollar per page. Certified copies cost extra.
For full background checks, you may need to go through ALEA. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency charges $25 for a criminal history check. This takes several weeks and requires fingerprints.
Most people just need the free online search. Paper copies are usually for court, legal, or job reasons.
Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa is home to the University of Alabama. The school brings thousands of students to the area. On game days, the city population swells.
Arrests at UA events or on campus may go through the University Police first. But most still end up at the county jail. The Tuscaloosa jail roster will show these bookings once they are processed.
The county jail handles all adult arrests from the Tuscaloosa area. This includes the city, the university, and unincorporated parts of the county. All show up on the same jail roster.
Find Tuscaloosa Jail Records
Use our search tool to look up inmates in Tuscaloosa. Search by name to find booking data, charges, and mugshots.
Tuscaloosa County Jail Roster
Tuscaloosa is in Tuscaloosa County. All jail records for the city are kept by the county sheriff. For more details on the county jail, visitation rules, and contact info, visit the Tuscaloosa County page.
Nearby Alabama Cities
Looking for jail roster records in other Alabama cities? These major cities have their own pages.