Alabama Inmate Search

The Alabama Department of Corrections is the largest law enforcement agency in the state, with over 28 correctional facilities holding around 26,598 inmates. Alabama also has 132 jails in 67 counties. As of 2019, there were over 16,520 inmates in county jails in the state. With about 3,327, 2,684, and 1,669 inmates, Jefferson, Mobile, and Madison Counties, respectively, have the highest number of inmates in Alabama.

Per the Alabama Public Records Act, citizens can access inmate records, and it is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies, including the Alabama Department of Corrections, to make these records available. In compliance, law enforcement agencies in the state provide inmate search tools that allow users to access detailed information about whether an individual is in custody in the state. The inmate search tool also reveals the correctional facility where an inmate is housed and potential court dates.

What is Alabama Inmate Lookup?

Inmate lookup in Alabama involves searching for information about individuals in the state's correctional facilities. Interested individuals can use the statewide inmate search tool to find information about incarcerated persons. This tool allows searches using the inmate's unique six-digit Alabama Institutional Serial Number or the inmate's first and last name. However, it only provides information about inmates in correctional facilities under the jurisdiction of the Alabama Department of Corrections. For county jails, separate inmate search tools are typically available to access information about incarcerated people.

Inmate lookup services enhance transparency in the administration of correctional facilities. Through an inmate lookup, citizens can access details such as the inmate's name, custody status, the reason for their incarceration, and the facility where they are being held. Additionally, inmate lookups may provide information about upcoming court events involving an inmate. They may also include details on contacting or visiting the correctional facility, allowing friends and family to constantly communicate with their loved ones in prison.

What Information Can You Find in an Alabama Inmate Search?

Individuals who conduct inmate searches in Alabama will typically find the following information:

• Inmate's full name
• Date of birth
• Mugshot
• Alabama Institutional Serial Number
• Correctional facility of incarceration
• Gender
• Reason for being incarcerated
• Admission date
• Minimum release date

How Are Inmate Records In Alabama Created and Stored?

Creating and updating inmate records in Alabama involves various local law enforcement agencies, including police departments, Sheriff's Offices, and correctional institutions. When an individual is arrested by law enforcement, they must complete a Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP) sheet. The RAP sheet gathers critical information about the individual, including their full name, current address, date of birth, physical description, and specific details related to the alleged crime, including the arrest's date and circumstances. This information is regularly updated as individuals move through the justice system, whether they are detained in jail, transferred to a correctional facility, or appear in court. Changes to an inmate's status, such as new charges, changes in sentence length, and disciplinary actions, are documented to reflect their circumstances accurately.

The Alabama Department of Corrections is pivotal in maintaining these inmate records. It oversees a comprehensive database that allows for the efficient management of inmate information. To facilitate public access, the Department offers a statewide inmate search tool.

What Does the Alabama Prison System Look Like?

Alabama's state prison system comprises 14 major correctional facilities, 12 community-based facilities, one out-of-state facility, and the Alabama Correctional Academy. These facilities are distributed across 17 counties in the state and are designed to hold a maximum of 13,318 inmates. However, the Alabama Department of Corrections currently houses 26,598 inmates, which means the occupancy rate exceeds 100%.

Alabama state-run correctional facilities offer custody services, care, and rehabilitation of incarcerated persons under the supervision of the Alabama Department of Corrections. At least 2,000 employees work in the various state-run correctional facilities in Alabama.

State-run correctional facilities in Alabama are categorized into minimum, medium, close, and maximum prisons. The minimum-security prisons house inmates who committed less serious crimes. On the other hand, the medium-security jails in the state hold inmates who pose security risks despite showing readiness to adhere to institutional rules. Maximum-security prisons hold inmates who pose serious risks to security. In contrast, close-security prisons hold inmates who are escape risks, have a long assault history, or are deemed dangerous to other inmates.

Types of Correctional Facilities in Alabama

There are 28 state-run correctional facilities in Alabama. Each facility houses a different demographic and has specific custody levels. The state's Department of Corrections oversees each facility and the re-entry program and services. The Alabama Department of Youth Services (DYS) is responsible for the custody and rehabilitation of youth committed by the state's juvenile courts. It is independent and separate from adult corrections in Alabama.

Alabama State Prisons

The state of Alabama has 14 major correctional facilities. Each serves a different demographic and has various custody levels. Below is the list of major correctional facilities in Alabama:

• Bibb correctional facility
• Bullock correctional facility
• William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility
• Easterling correctional facility
• Elmore correctional facility
• G.K. Fountain Correctional Facility
• Hamilton correctional facility
• William C.Holman Correctional Facility
• Kilby correctional facility
• Limestone correctional facility
• St. Clair correctional facility
• Staton correctional facility
• Julia Tutwiler Correctional Facility
• Ventress correctional facility

Alabama County Jails

Alabama has 132 county jails, and these jails are operated and managed by local county Sheriff's Offices. Local jails hold pretrial detainees and inmates who have been sentenced to short-term stays for their punishment. Many of the local Sheriff's Offices and police stations have jail inmate search portals where members of the public may look up individuals incarcerated in county jails. Below are some of the county jails in Alabama:

• Covington County Jail
• Shelby County Jail
• Mobile County Jail
• Jefferson County Jail
• Morgan County Jail
• Marion County Jail
• St. Clair County Jail
• Pickens County Jail

Alabama Juvenile Detention Centers

The Alabama Department of Youth Services (DYS) is the primary agency tasked with managing juvenile justice within the state. It is responsible for overseeing a network of youth detention centers that serve young individuals, specifically those aged 12 to 21, who have been officially recognized as youthful offenders or delinquents. These facilities also accommodate youths who are placed in DYS detention programs while they await upcoming court hearings. In addition to providing secure housing for these youths, the detention centers in Alabama focus on several essential services aimed at fostering rehabilitation and personal development. These services include educational programs designed to help young individuals continue their schooling, as well as skill-building activities to promote personal growth and accountability. The juvenile detention facilities in Alabama include the following:

• Baldwin County Regional Juvenile Detention Center
• Coosa Valley Regional Juvenile Detention Center
• Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center
• James T. Strickland Youth Center
• Ross-Bell County Youth Detention Center
• Lee County Youth Development Center
• Montgomery County Youth Facility
• Neaves-Davis Center for Children
• Shelby County Regional Juvenile Detention Facility
• Tennessee Valley Juvenile Detention Center
• Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Detention Center

Alabama Community Correctional Facilities

There are 12 community-based correctional facilities under the supervision of the Alabama Department of Corrections. These facilities operate under the state's community correctional program, which identifies certain felony offenders who can be punished safely by utilizing sentencing options ranging from deferred sentences to incarceration. Different requirements qualify an offender for this program, including felony charges, youthful offender status, prison bound, probation revocation, and safety punishable within the community. Listed below are the community-based correctional facilities under the supervision of the Alabama Department of Corrections:

• Alex City Community Correctional Facility
• Birmingham Community Correctional Facility
• Camden Community Correctional Facility
• Childersburg Community Correctional Facility
• Elba Community Correctional Facility
• Frank Lee Community Correctional Facility
• Hamilton Community Correctional Facility
• Loxley Community Correctional Facility
• Mobile Community Correctional Facility
• Montgomery Community Correctional Facility
• North Alabama Community Correctional Facility
• Red Eagle Community Correctional Facility

Why are People Incarcerated in Alabama?

Per Alabama criminal law, a person is incarcerated if they commit a criminal offense. This is generally classified either as a felony or misdemeanor. A person who commits a felony may be jailed for one to 99 years, depending on the weight of the crime, while a person who commits a misdemeanor may be imprisoned for not less than 30 days and more than one year, depending on the nature of the offense.

Offenses that may lead to incarceration in Alabama include offenses against a person, offenses involving damage to an intrusion upon a property, offenses involving theft and fraudulent practices, offenses against public administration, offenses against family, and offenses against public safety and security.

Offenses against a person typically include homicide, assaults, kidnapping, rape, sexual harassment, stalking, human trafficking, and domestic violence. On the other hand, offenses involving damage to or intrusion upon a property include burglary, criminal trespass, arson, and looting.

Offenses involving fraudulent practices include forgery, business fraud, charitable fraud, illegal possession of food stamps, home repair fraud, and residential mortgage fraud, while offenses against family include non-support, abandonment of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child. The statewide inmate search tool allows anyone interested in conducting an inmate search to find out why a person is being incarcerated in a state-run correctional facility in Alabama.

Alabama's Incarceration Rate and Statistics

Alabama has an incarceration rate of 390 per 100,000, meaning that it locks up a relatively higher percentage of its people than most states in the country. There are currently 26,598 persons under the supervision of the Alabama Department of Corrections.

The table below shows Alabama's year-end incarceration rate over a 7-year period.

Life After Incarceration in Alabama

Inmates released from Alabama prisons and jails generally go home to family and friends. The state has a healthy parole and probation program alongside re-entry and pre-release programs for inmates who are about to leave incarceration facilities. The state's re-entry program ensures ex-offenders can access opportunities through referral linkages. It also reduces social disparities within the offender populations and decreases the overall prison recidivism rates and overcrowding. In addition to the re-entry program, Alabama pre-release programs provide individuals who are about to leave prison with access to addiction and recovery treatment, job and communication skills, character-building training, health education screening and referrals, and family reintegration plans. Despite these efforts, the state ranks 29th in recidivism rate. At least 31.5% of inmates released from the state correctional facilities commit a repeat offense, and many of them return to prison.

How Does Parole Work in Alabama?

Alabama Bureau of Pardon and Parole (ABPP) investigates persons who have offended in the past and decides if they meet the qualifications to be released back into the general population under careful supervision. The ABPP calculates an inmate's eligibility according to Ala.Code §15-22-28(e). Once an inmate is eligible and their eligibility date has been calculated per Alabama law, the inmate will receive a letter with their parole consideration date. After that, the inmate is given a list of stipulations they must comply with upon release. If the inmate does not check in regularly with their parole officer, they will return to prison. As of December 2022, Alabama's parole population stood at 7,400.

Alabama Parole Population in 2022

How Does Someone Get Probation in Alabama?

Probation is a supervisory program where an Alabama judge can order probation instead of prison. This privilege is most often given to first-time or low-risk offenders. Again, these individuals do have to comply with a list of court-ordered rules. If they fail to meet with the probation officer or complete any of the revoked, they will immediately go to prison. About 42,260 individuals were on probation in Alabama as of year-end 2022.

Alabama Probation Population in 2022