Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
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Find a Jefferson County Inmate and Check the Current Jail Roster
If you are trying to find someone who was arrested in Jefferson County, start with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Inquiry. The same official search covers the county jail facilities in both Birmingham and Bessemer, so you normally do not need to search two separate county rosters.
The public lookup can be searched by name, subject number, booking number, booking-date range and housing facility. Use the In Custody option when you only want people who are currently shown as jailed.
Information reviewed October 27, 2026. Custody, release, bond and visitation details can change after booking or court action, so use the live Sheriff record for the final status check.
How to Search the Jefferson County Jail Roster
- Open the official inmate inquiry. Go to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Inmate Search.
- Start with the legal name. Enter the person’s name as it is likely to have been recorded during booking. If a full-name search gives no useful match, try the surname or a shorter version of the name.
- Use an ID when you have one. A subject number or booking number is usually more precise than a common name.
- Choose “In Custody” for active inmates. This removes many records that are not currently marked as jailed.
- Filter by facility if known. The Housing Facility menu includes Jefferson County Jail – Birmingham and Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer.
- Use the booking-date range for a recent arrest. This is useful when a name produces many matches or when you know approximately when the booking occurred.
- Open the correct result and verify it. Compare the available birth date, subject number, physical description and housing facility instead of relying on the name alone.
- Save the subject or booking number. Keep it available when calling the jail or asking about bond, visitation or other inmate services.
If you are unsure whether you should be searching a county jail, city jail, state prison or another custody system, see our county jail inmate search guide.
What Information Can Appear in the Official Inmate Search?
The public Jefferson County inquiry currently exposes more identifying information than a basic name-only roster. The search form itself includes fields for name, subject number, booking number, custody status, booking dates and housing facility.
| Roster information | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Photo, when available | Helps distinguish people with similar names. |
| Name and subject number | The subject number is a useful identifier when speaking with jail staff. |
| In-custody status | Shows whether the public record currently marks the person as in custody. |
| Scheduled release date, when shown | A projected date may appear, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed release time. |
| Date of birth and physical description | Useful for confirming that you found the correct person. |
| Multiple-booking indicator | Warns that the person may have more than one booking record to review. |
| Housing facility | Shows whether the record is associated with the Birmingham or Bessemer jail. |
A jail record answers a custody and booking question. It is not proof of guilt and should not be treated as the final outcome of a criminal case. Charges, bond conditions and case status can change in court.
Jefferson County Jail Locations: Birmingham and Bessemer
Birmingham Jail
Jefferson County Jail
809 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N
Birmingham, AL 35203-0122
Main: 205-325-5670
Administrative: 205-325-5772
Pre-Trial Release: 205-325-5716
Bessemer Jail
Jefferson County Jail
1822 2nd Ave. N
Bessemer, AL 35020
Main: 205-481-4160
Administrative: 205-481-8502
Pre-Trial Release: 205-481-8529
The Sheriff’s Corrections Division states that both facilities have on-site medical services. It also lists law-library and adult-education services at the Birmingham facility.
The main Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is at 2200 Rev Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203, phone 205-325-5700. The Sheriff also lists a Records Unit at 205-325-5900.
If the Inmate Does Not Appear
A missing result does not automatically mean the person was never arrested. Check the situation in this order:
- Retry the name. Check spelling, hyphens, suffixes, former surnames and whether a middle name was used.
- Remove unnecessary filters. Search broadly first, then narrow by facility or date.
- Allow for booking time. A recent arrest may still be moving through intake and data entry.
- Check both county facilities. Leave Housing Facility blank if you are unsure whether Birmingham or Bessemer is holding the person.
- Consider Birmingham City Jail. A Birmingham police arrest can involve the separate city jail system rather than immediate county-jail custody.
- Check whether the person was released or transferred. A current-custody filter can stop showing someone after a release or transfer.
- Call the jail. Birmingham: 205-325-5670. Bessemer: 205-481-4160.
The City of Birmingham operates its own jail at 425 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205. The city lists 205-254-6369 and 205-254-6370 for custody questions.
Check Birmingham City Jail information or read our city jail inmate search guide if you are unsure which local system to use.
Bond and Pre-Trial Release
Jefferson County says jail personnel can answer questions about an inmate’s charges, bond amount and how to arrange bond. The Sheriff’s Corrections Division also operates a Pre-Trial Release Office at both county facilities.
| Division | Jail | Pre-Trial Release |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 205-325-5670 | 205-325-5716 |
| Bessemer | 205-481-4160 | 205-481-8529 |
Before paying anyone, first confirm the correct inmate, current charge, current bond status and facility. A displayed amount does not always mean immediate release is possible; another case, hold, warrant or court order can affect the release process.
How to Check Court Dates and Criminal Case Information
The county jail page specifically notes that jail personnel do not maintain individual court-date information. Use the appropriate Jefferson County court division for hearings and case activity.
| Case location | Official contact |
|---|---|
| Birmingham District Court | 205-325-5309 |
| Birmingham Circuit Court | 205-325-5285 |
| Bessemer District Court | 205-497-8520 |
| Bessemer Circuit Court | 205-497-8510 |
The Jefferson County Circuit Clerk, Birmingham Division is the official record keeper for District and Circuit Court proceedings in that division. Alabama’s court system also provides Alacourt resources, including paid on-demand trial-court record access.
Use the jail roster to identify the booking first. Use the court system when you need filed charges, hearings, later orders or the eventual case disposition.
Jefferson County Jail Visitation
The Jefferson County government currently publishes the following schedules for its two county jail facilities.
Birmingham visitation schedule
| Day | Inmate last name | Published time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | A–C | 6:00–7:50 p.m. |
| Tuesday | D–G | 6:00–7:50 p.m. |
| Wednesday | H–L | 6:00–7:50 p.m. |
| Thursday | M–Q | 6:00–7:50 p.m. |
| Friday | R–T | 6:00–7:50 p.m. |
| Saturday | U–Z | 6:00–7:50 p.m. |
Bessemer visitation schedule
| Day | Group | Published time |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | A–G | 8:00–11:00 a.m. |
| Saturday | H–Q | 1:00–5:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | R–Z | 1:00–4:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | Protective Custody | 8:00–10:00 a.m. |
| Odd Saturday | Max 1 | 8:00–10:00 a.m. |
| Even Sunday | Max 2 | 8:00–10:00 a.m. |
Published visitor rules
- Visitors must be at least 17 and have a valid state ID or driver’s license.
- The inmate schedules a 45-minute visit one day in advance.
- An inmate may have up to two visits per week under the published rules.
- The Sheriff lists a maximum of two adults and two children over age three per visit.
- Children age 16 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- Visitors must dress appropriately and comply with security screening.
- Cell phones, electronic devices, purses, packages, food and drinks are prohibited inside the facility under the posted rules.
Review the Sheriff’s current Corrections page immediately before a planned visit.
Mail, Commissary, Money and Inmate Phone Calls
The official adult Jefferson County jail pages reviewed for this guide do not currently publish a complete, clearly identified set of county-jail personal-mail, commissary-deposit and inmate-phone vendor instructions for both Birmingham and Bessemer.
That matters because third-party jail directories often publish vendor names, deposit sites or mailing addresses that may be outdated. Before sending money, mail or a package, first locate the inmate and then call the facility.
| What you need | Ask the jail to confirm |
|---|---|
| Personal mail | Current mailing address, required inmate/subject number and prohibited enclosures. |
| Legal mail | Correct privileged-mail address and identification requirements. |
| Commissary deposit | Approved provider, inmate identifier, deposit limit, fees and accepted payment methods. |
| Phone calls | Current phone provider, account setup and applicable rates. |
| Packages or property | Whether the item is permitted and how it must be delivered. |
Birmingham Jail: 205-325-5670 · Bessemer Jail: 205-481-4160
Do not use Birmingham City Jail mail instructions for a person housed in Jefferson County Jail; they are separate facilities with separate rules.
If the Person Was Transferred to State or Federal Custody
Jefferson County’s Corrections Division houses people awaiting trial and people awaiting transfer, so a person can later move out of the county roster.
| Situation | Where to search |
|---|---|
| Currently held in Jefferson County Jail | Jefferson County Sheriff Inmate Inquiry |
| Birmingham municipal custody | Birmingham City Jail |
| Transferred into Alabama state-prison custody | Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search |
| Federal incarceration | Federal Bureau of Prisons locator |
| Need the criminal court case | Jefferson County courts / Alacourt |
The Alabama Department of Corrections Inmate Search searches current ADOC inmates by AIS number or name. ADOC notes that its online database contains currently incarcerated inmates and does not include Youthful Offender Act inmates.
If federal custody is possible, use our federal jail inmate search guide to distinguish BOP custody from recent U.S. Marshals detention.
Fastest Route for Common Jefferson County Jail Questions
| Your question | Best next step |
|---|---|
| Is this person in Jefferson County Jail now? | Search the Sheriff’s Inmate Inquiry and select In Custody. |
| Which jail is holding them? | Check the Housing Facility field for Birmingham or Bessemer. |
| What is the bond? | Review the booking information, then confirm it with the jail or Pre-Trial Release Office. |
| When is court? | Use the appropriate Birmingham or Bessemer District/Circuit Court contact. |
| Can I visit? | Check the published last-name schedule and call the jail before traveling. |
| How do I send money or mail? | Confirm the current provider/address directly with the facility before sending anything. |
| Why is the inmate missing? | Check booking delay, city custody, release, transfer, ADOC or federal custody. |
Jefferson County Jail Inmate Search FAQs
1. What is the official Jefferson County, Alabama inmate search?
The official public lookup is the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Inmate Inquiry at sheriff.jccal.org. It searches the county correctional facilities and provides filters for name, subject number, booking number, custody status, booking dates and housing facility.
2. Does one roster cover both Birmingham and Bessemer jails?
Yes. The Sheriff’s inmate search includes Jefferson County Jail – Birmingham and Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer as housing-facility options, so you can search both from the same portal.
3. Can I search by booking number or subject number?
Yes. The official form includes separate fields for Subject Number and Booking Number. These identifiers are especially helpful when a common name returns many results.
4. Why can’t I find someone who was just arrested?
The booking may still be processing, the name may be recorded differently, the person may be in a municipal jail such as Birmingham City Jail, or they may already have been released or transferred. Retry the search without restrictive filters and call the appropriate jail if needed.
5. How do I know whether an inmate is in Birmingham or Bessemer?
Open the matching roster result and check the Housing Facility field. Active records can identify Jefferson County Jail – Birmingham or Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer.
6. Where do I check a Jefferson County inmate’s court date?
The jail does not maintain individual court-date information. For Birmingham cases, the county lists District Court at 205-325-5309 and Circuit Court at 205-325-5285. For Bessemer, it lists District Court at 205-497-8520 and Circuit Court at 205-497-8510.
7. How do I ask about bond or pretrial release?
Call the jail holding the inmate or its Pre-Trial Release Office. Birmingham Pre-Trial Release is 205-325-5716 and Bessemer Pre-Trial Release is 205-481-8529. Verify the current bond and any holds before paying money.
8. What are Jefferson County Jail visitation hours?
Jefferson County publishes last-name-based schedules for Birmingham and weekend schedules for Bessemer. Because official Birmingham pages currently conflict about Monday and Friday visitation, call 205-325-5670 before traveling.
9. How do I send mail, money or set up inmate phone calls?
Locate the inmate and current facility first, then call Birmingham Jail at 205-325-5670 or Bessemer Jail at 205-481-4160 to confirm the current mailing address, approved deposit provider, inmate identifier and phone-service instructions.
10. Where should I search if the person left Jefferson County Jail?
Check the Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search if the person may have entered state-prison custody. For federal incarceration use the Federal Bureau of Prisons system. If the arrest involved Birmingham municipal custody, also check Birmingham City Jail.
Official Resources Used for Final Verification
- Jefferson County Sheriff — Inmate Inquiry
- Jefferson County — County Jail
- Jefferson County Sheriff — Corrections Division
- Jefferson County Sheriff — Contact Directory
- City of Birmingham — Custody Services / City Jail
- Jefferson County Circuit Clerk — Birmingham Division
- Alabama Administrative Office of Courts
- Alabama Department of Corrections — Inmate Search
CountyJailInmateSearch.org is an independent informational resource and is not the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County government, City of Birmingham, Alabama Department of Corrections or a court. A booking, arrest or criminal charge does not establish guilt. Use the official live record before making a financial, travel or legal decision.