Alabama Mugshot, County Jail and Criminal History Lookup
Trying to find a recent Alabama arrest, confirm where someone is held or review your own state criminal history? Use the county sheriff for fresh jail custody, Alabama trial-court access for case records, ADOC for current state inmates and ALEA for an official fingerprint-based criminal-history review.
This guide puts the urgent actions first, then explains bail, court-appointed counsel, visitation, inmate calls, mail, money, victim alerts and record correction.
Choose the Correct Alabama Search Before Entering a Name
Alabama does not have one public portal that combines every city arrest, county jail, court case and state-prison record. The correct source depends on what happened and where the person is held.
Start with the arresting county sheriff or jail. A person may remain in intake before appearing online.
Use Just One Look through Alabama Court Access or contact the Circuit Clerk for the county handling the case.
Use ADOC. Its public locator contains current inmates and does not provide complete historical custody data.
ALEA’s fingerprint-based review currently costs $25, with additional copies listed at $5 each.
What Do You Need to Find Right Now?
Select the task. This tool shows the most useful first route and does not collect names, birth dates, case numbers or other personal information.
Which Alabama Record System Answers Which Question?
Use the table before opening a portal. It avoids the common mistake of using ADOC for a county detainee or treating a private booking page as an official statewide criminal-history report.
What you need | Best starting source | Information to prepare | What to do next |
|---|---|---|---|
Possible mugshot or booking clue | Name, county, age or likely arrest date | Record the county, booking date, agency, charge and booking number, then verify officially. | |
Current county-jail custody | Arrest county, legal name and booking date | Open the county sheriff site and look for Inmate Roster, Jail, Current Inmates or 24-Hour Booking. | |
Current Alabama state inmate | AIS number or first and last name | Confirm the AIS number, institution and current information. County inmates do not appear. | |
Trial-court criminal case | County, legal name or case number | Review current access pricing before purchase, or contact the county Circuit Clerk for inspection or copies. | |
Personal Alabama criminal-history review | Fingerprints, current photo ID, application and required payment | Submit in person or by mail and retain the response for review, correction or expungement preparation. | |
Parole or pardon information | Name and AIS number when available | Use the correct offender, hearing, supervision or victim-services route. | |
Victim or concerned-citizen notifications | Offender information and preferred notification method | Create an account, locate the offender and select available notifications. | |
Federal prison custody | Full name or federal register number | Use the federal result instead of expecting the person in ADOC or a county roster. |
How to Search Alabama Arrest Records by Name
Use a private booking search only to locate a possible record. The county jail and court record are still needed to confirm custody, bail and outcome.
How an Alabama Arrest Moves Through Different Record Systems
The booking record is only one stage. Information may later move into the trial court, county release system, ADOC, community supervision or an expungement process.
Someone Was Arrested in Alabama Today—What Should You Do?
A same-day arrest may not appear online immediately. Start with the arresting agency and county instead of calling statewide offices at random.
How to Find an Alabama County Jail Inmate
Alabama has 67 county sheriffs, and each county chooses its own jail software, update schedule, visitation process and deposit provider. There is no single public statewide county-jail roster.
County | Official inmate route | What the portal offers | If no record appears |
|---|---|---|---|
Mobile County | Recent bookings and current jail routing. Sheriff’s office phone: 251-574-2423. | Try current custody and 24-hour booking separately, then call the official office. | |
Madison County | Current inmates, recent bookings and individual profile details. Jail phone: 256-519-4800. | Search surname only or call if the booking happened very recently. | |
Shelby County | Alphabetical or surname search with photographs, charges and bond information. | Use the main inmate-information page or call 205-670-6000. | |
Baldwin County | Current inmates and 24-hour bookings, with filters for names, charges and dates. | Try the last 24 hours, last seven days or surname-only search; non-emergency phone 251-937-0202. | |
All other counties | County-by-county sheriff routing for all 67 counties. | Search the official county website for Jail, Corrections, Inmate Roster or Current Inmates. |
How to Search Alabama Criminal Court Records
Alabama’s Administrative Office of Courts directs the public to Just One Look for on-demand state trial-court access. A county Circuit Clerk can also explain local inspection, copy and certification procedures.
Term | What it generally indicates | Do not assume | What to check next |
|---|---|---|---|
Pending | The case remains open or unresolved. | The original arrest charge will be the final charge. | Review the latest events and next court setting. |
Dismissed | A court ended a charge or case without a conviction on that matter. | Every private mugshot page has already updated. | Obtain the certified disposition from the clerk when needed. |
Nolle prosequi | The prosecution elected not to continue the charge at that time. | The booking record disappears automatically. | Ask counsel whether the disposition may qualify for expungement. |
Guilty plea | The defendant entered a plea accepted by the court. | A short docket summary contains every condition. | Review the sentence, costs, probation and compliance terms. |
Failure to appear | The record may show a missed appearance or court requirement. | A private website proves that a warrant remains active. | Contact counsel or the handling court safely. |
How to Use the Alabama DOC Inmate Search
ADOC’s public search is for people currently incarcerated in the Alabama state-prison system. It does not provide complete historical data and does not include every county-jail detainee.
How Alabama Bail Information and Release Processing Work
At the initial appearance, the court explains the charge and rights and addresses whether bail should be set, remain the same, be changed or whether another release arrangement is appropriate. Guilt is not decided at that hearing.
How to Find an Alabama Criminal Lawyer or Court-Appointed Counsel
Legal help should be tied to the county and court handling the charge. Civil legal-aid programs generally do not replace a criminal defense lawyer.
- Identify the county, court and case number.
- Contact the court clerk or ask at the initial appearance.
- Request the current indigency or substantial-hardship form.
- Complete the financial information truthfully.
- Confirm whether the judge approved appointed representation.
- Use the Alabama State Bar legal-help page.
- Call 1-800-392-5660 for a lawyer referral.
- Telephone hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 1:30–4:30 p.m.
- The online referral form is available at any time.
- Ask for a written agreement before work beyond the initial consultation.
ADOC Visitation Approval and Arrival Checklist
These points apply to Alabama state prisons. County jails use separate schedules, applications, visitor limits and video providers.
ADOC Phone Calls, Digital Messages, Mail and Money
Use these routes only for people in Alabama state prisons. County jails may use different vendors, rates and mailing addresses.
Published ADOC communication pricing
Service | Published rate | Important note |
|---|---|---|
Domestic phone call | $0.08 per minute | Verify the current vendor price before funding an account. |
Remote video visitation | $0.16 per minute | Availability depends on institution rules and approval. |
Email or text message | $0.15 per message | Messages are monitored and subject to policy. |
Inbound photo | $0.30 per photo | Content restrictions and review apply. |
Voice message | $0.25 per message | Check the approved provider for current availability. |
Current personal-mail format
Inmate Name – Inmate AIS Number
P.O. Box 17339
San Antonio, TX 78217
The sender’s full name and physical mailing address must appear clearly in the upper-left corner. Packages and legal mail continue to use the local facility route rather than the personal-mail processing center.
How to send money safely
How to Review Your Alabama Criminal History Through ALEA
ALEA maintains Alabama Criminal History Record Information. The public personal-review process is fingerprint based and is different from a name search on a private website.
1-866-740-4762 or 334-676-7897
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Central Time
Alabama Victim Notification and Parole Information
Victims and other concerned citizens can register with Alabama’s Victim Notification System and choose how they want to receive available future notifications.
Warrants and the Alabama Sex Offender Registry
A criminal-history report, inmate search and warrant check are not interchangeable. Alabama does not provide one universal public warrant-search portal covering every county and municipality.
Correct, Expunge or Request Removal of an Alabama Record
Correcting an inaccurate government record, obtaining a court expungement and requesting a private-site update are three different steps.
Why an Alabama Arrest or Inmate Search Shows No Result
Common Alabama Arrest-Record Problems and Next Actions
Alabama Criminal-Record Phone Numbers, Addresses and Hours
State agencies cannot answer every county-jail or court question. Use the office that owns the exact record or service.
Montgomery, AL 36104
Adams Avenue side
Phone: 1-866-740-4762 or 334-676-7897
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Central Time
Use for: Criminal-history review, application and challenge questions.
P.O. Box 301501
Montgomery, AL 36130
Toll-free: 1-855-937-2362
Main: 334-353-3883
Central Records: 334-353-9738
Use for: State-inmate, institution and records routing.
Phone: 1-800-392-5660
Telephone hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Online referrals: Available 24 hours
Use for: Finding a participating private Alabama lawyer.
Montgomery, AL
Phone: 334-242-8700
Email: questions@paroles.alabama.gov
Use for: Parole, pardon, supervision and victim-service routing.
ALEA Criminal History Office Map
The map shows the Montgomery location used for in-person Alabama criminal-history review submissions. Call first to confirm current access, required documents and holiday closures.
Verified Alabama Arrest and Criminal-Record Links
Continue With a Related Arrest-Record Guide
Alabama Arrest Records FAQs
Where can I search Alabama arrest records by name?
Use Alabama Arrests.org as a private discovery tool, then verify a possible match through the arresting county sheriff or jail. Confirm the legal name, county, booking date, agency and booking number before relying on the result.
Is there one statewide Alabama county-jail search?
No. Alabama county jails are operated locally, and each sheriff may use a different roster or booking system. Use the Alabama Sheriffs Directory to identify the correct county site and look for Inmate Roster, Jail, Current Inmates or 24-Hour Booking.
Are Alabama arrest records the same as criminal records?
No. An arrest record documents an accusation or custody event. A court record shows filed charges and disposition, while ALEA’s fingerprint-based process provides an official review of Alabama Criminal History Record Information.
How much does an ALEA criminal-history review cost?
ALEA currently lists a $25 fee for the fingerprint-based personal criminal-history review and $5 for each additional copy. The application also requires fingerprints, current photo identification and the accepted payment method.
How do I check an Alabama criminal court case?
Use Just One Look through Alabama Court Access for on-demand state trial-court records, or contact the Circuit Clerk in the county handling the case. Search with the case number when available and review the charges, events, bail entries and disposition.
Why is a county inmate missing from the ADOC search?
ADOC’s locator contains people currently incarcerated in Alabama state prisons. A person held in a county jail, federal facility, another state, Youthful Offender system or released custody may not appear.
How can I check bail after an Alabama arrest?
Contact the holding jail and handling court, then review the court record when available. Confirm the current bail type, amount, authorised payment location, accepted method and whether another hold or detainer prevents release.
How do I arrange an Alabama state-prison visit?
Confirm the inmate’s AIS number and institution, complete the ADOC visitor-approval process and pre-schedule the visit. Bring government-issued photo identification and verify the facility’s current schedule and restrictions before travelling.
How can I find an Alabama criminal lawyer or public defender?
Ask the handling court about appointed counsel and the current indigency form if the defendant cannot afford a lawyer. For private counsel, call the Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-392-5660 or use its online referral form.
Can an Alabama arrest record or mugshot be expunged or removed?
First obtain the official court disposition and ALEA criminal-history record, then review eligibility and file the current CR-65 expungement petition when appropriate. After an official correction or court order, send redacted proof and the exact URL to any private publisher that still displays outdated information.
Official-resource review completed August 3, 2026. ALEA criminal-history fees, phone numbers, hours and submission instructions; Alabama court-access routes; ADOC inmate, visitation, communication, mail and deposit information; sheriff links; State Bar referral details; victim notification and expungement resources were checked against current official or officially linked sources.
Independent-site notice: Arrests-Org.us is not affiliated with Arrests.org, ALEA, ADOC, the Alabama Unified Judicial System, a county sheriff, a jail, a court, the Alabama State Bar, a law firm or a consumer reporting agency.
Responsible use: An arrest is not a conviction. Do not use a private arrest or mugshot page for employment, housing, credit, insurance or another decision requiring a legally compliant consumer report.