Dallas County Jail Roster Search

Dallas County jail roster records are managed by the Sheriff's Office in Selma. The county jail holds adults charged with crimes in the area. Dallas County is in central Alabama along the Alabama River. Selma is the county seat. The jail can hold around 180 inmates at one time. You can search for inmates online or call the jail. This page explains how to find booking records in Dallas County.

Dallas County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Michael L. Granthum runs the jail. He has held the post since 2019. The Sheriff's Office is on Church Street in Selma. The jail is on Selfield Road, just outside the main part of town.

The Dallas County jail is a medium-security site. It holds men and women who have been charged with crimes. Some are waiting for trial. Others have been convicted and are serving short terms. The jail can hold about 180 people. When someone is sentenced to state prison, they may stay in the county jail until a bed opens.

Note: Call the jail for the most current info on inmate status.

How to Search Dallas County Jail Records

The Sheriff has a jail lookup system online. You can use it to check who is in custody. The system is on the county website at dallascounty.org. Look for the jail lookup link. This is the fastest way to search.

The online lookup lets you search by name or booking number. Results show the inmate's name, booking date, charges, bond, and housing location. The data updates as new people come in and others leave.

To search Dallas County jail records, you may need:

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth if known
• Booking number if one was given

If the online search does not work, call the jail. Staff can look up records by name. They will tell you if someone is in custody, what charges they face, and what the bond is. The phone line is the best option for very recent arrests.

For written copies, send a request to the Sheriff's Office. Include the full name, birth date, and time frame. There may be a small fee. Alabama law lets agencies charge for copying and staff time.

What Dallas County Jail Records Contain

Jail records in Dallas County contain basic facts about each person booked. Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 says the sheriff must keep a public jail book. This book must be open for people to see during work hours.

A Dallas County jail record will often show:

• Full legal name of the inmate
• Age, sex, and race
• Physical marks or traits
• Charges filed
• Date and time of booking
• Bond amount if set
• Housing location in the jail

Mugshots are public in Alabama. The booking photo shows what the person looked like at intake. Staff take this photo when the person is brought to the jail. It becomes part of the official record.

Alabama Laws on Jail Records

Alabama has clear rules about jail records. The main law is Alabama Code Section 36-22-8. It says the sheriff must keep a jail book. This book must list each person brought to the jail. It must be open for public viewing.

The Open Records Act in Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 gives residents the right to see public records. Jail logs are public records. You do not need to say why you want to see them. The sheriff can only deny access if a law allows it.

When someone is booked in Dallas County, staff must report it to the state within 24 hours. This rule is in Alabama Administrative Code 265-X-2-.03. The data goes to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. This keeps a statewide database of all arrests.

If charges are dropped or a person is found not guilty, they may ask to seal the record. Alabama Code Section 15-27 covers expungement. Once sealed, the record is no longer public. The jail roster will not show that entry anymore.

Bond and Release in Dallas County

Most people in the Dallas County jail can post bond. Bond is money paid to get out while waiting for court. The judge sets the amount based on the charges. More serious crimes have higher bonds.

You can pay bond at the jail. Cash and money orders are common forms of payment. Some people use a bail bond company. The company pays the full bond for a fee, usually 10 to 15 percent. You do not get that fee back.

After bond is posted, release takes time. Staff must check for holds from other agencies. If another county or state agency has a warrant, the person may not be released. Once cleared, they can leave. They must show up for all court dates or risk going back to jail.

Note: Some very serious crimes do not allow bond.

Statewide Search Tools

If you cannot find someone in the Dallas County jail, they may be in state prison. The Alabama Department of Corrections has a search tool at doc.alabama.gov. It shows people serving longer terms in state facilities.

Alabama VINE lets you track custody status. You can sign up for alerts by phone, text, or email. The service is free. Go to vinelink.com or call 877-846-3425 to sign up.

For court records, use Alacourt at pa.alacourt.com. This is the state court system. You can look up criminal and civil cases in Dallas County. There are fees for some searches.

Search Dallas County Records

Use this tool to find jail records and other public records in Dallas County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dallas County. If you are not sure where someone was arrested, check the neighboring jails.