Find Alabama Inmate Records

In Alabama, inmate records contain information about inmates in the state’s correctional facilities. Such records may include personal details such as names, fingerprints, photographs, criminal history, incarceration dates, etc. Inmate records provide up-to-date information about an inmate’s location and release date.

The Department of Corrections typically maintains information about inmates in all state facilities, including community work centers and private or out-of-state facilities. Sheriffs and local law enforcement maintain information about county jails and other local correctional facilities. When the court sentences offenders to more than one year, such persons are incarcerated in state facilities. Offenders sentenced to no more than one year serve a sentence in county jails and other local facilities.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Alabama?

Yes, incarceration records are public information in Alabama. To the extent that it is non-detrimental to public safety and individual privacy, the Alabama Public Records Act permits citizens to inspect and copy public records. The Department of Corrections (DOC) makes incarceration information available on a public website. Citizens and any member of the public can search inmate records on the website. It is worth noting that the DOC’s inmate search tool does not contain information about youthful offenders.

Records classified as public may also be obtainable through certain third-party websites. These platforms often provide broader search capabilities, as they are not restricted to a single jurisdiction, and their search functions can be helpful when attempting to locate one or multiple records. To initiate a search through either a government database or a third-party service, requesters are generally required to provide basic identifying details, such as:

• The name of the individual connected to the record, except in cases involving juveniles.
• The location associated with the record or the individual may include the city, county, or state of residence, or the jurisdiction where the alleged offense occurred.

It is important to note that third-party websites operate independently of government agencies and are not officially endorsed or maintained by them. Consequently, the availability, scope, and accuracy of records on these platforms may differ from those accessible through official government sources.

What Information is Contained in an Alabama Inmate Record?

When a person is convicted of a crime and sentenced to imprisonment, the person must submit some information at the incarceration facility’s registration point. Some of the information that the inmate offers is present in the person’s inmate record. The registering facility may obtain other records from the courts or the convict’s court records. Alabama inmate records contain:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Race and ethnicity
• Gender
• Nationality
• Offense
• Arrest information
• Sentence and possible release date
• Alabama Institutional Serial Number

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Alabama?

Interested parties may look up Alabama inmates through the Alabama Inmates Search tool. The Department of Corrections maintains the website and provides information about incarcerated persons in the state. The website contains over 25,000 persons incarcerated in state facilities, including community facilities, work centers, and private or out-of-town facilities. However, the website does not contain historical or old inmate records or information about persons adjudicated and sentenced as youthful offenders.

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Alabama?

Interested parties may use the Alabama Inmate Search tool to conduct an inmate search in Alabama. The Department of Corrections provides information about currently incarcerated inmates through the website. Requesting parties may conduct searches using the inmates:

• Alabama Institutional Serial number (AIS)
• First and last name

The Department of Corrections assigns each inmate a unique, six-digit number, which is the quickest way to search. The AIS returns information about inmates with an exact number that matches. Requesting parties may conduct name searches with the inmate’s first and last names separately or combined. Name searches return information for all inmates with a name match, and several inmates may share the same name. Requesting parties may need to filter name searches with other criteria to get exact matches.

Interested parties may request physical copies of inmate records from the Department of Corrections through mail or email. The DOC does not accept requests for inmate records by telephone or fax. To request physical copies of inmate records, requesting parties must fill out and submit the Public Records Request form that the DOC provides. In the form, the requesting party must specify the proposed use of the requested record and include a detailed description.

The requesting party may submit filled forms by email to public.records@doc.alabama.gov. Alternatively, requesting parties may mail the records request form to:

Alabama Department of Corrections
Research & Planning Division
P.O. Box 301501
Montgomery, Alabama 36130–1501

The requesting party may also deliver the form by hand to:

Alabama Department of Corrections Central Office
Research & Planning Division
301 S. Ripley Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104

The Department of Corrections charges a non-refundable minimum $25 fee to produce copies of inmate records. Requesting parties must send payment through a money order or cashier’s check along with the records request form.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Alabama?

Interested parties may search online using the DOC’s Alabama Inmate Search tool or third-party websites and jail rosters to find an Alabama inmate at no cost. To locate persons incarcerated in county jails and other local correctional facilities at no cost, interested parties may contact the county Sheriff or local law enforcement agency for records inspection.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Alabama

Old or historical inmate records are unavailable on the Alabama Inmate Search website; therefore, interested parties must contact the Department of Corrections to retrieve such information directly. Requesting parties may submit a records request form with detailed descriptions of the old inmate record to public.records@doc.alabama.gov. Alternatively, requesting parties may mail the records request form to the DOC. The DOC charges a minimum, non-refundable fee of $25 payable by money order or cashier’s check. The DOC provides receipts to the requesting party once payment is received. The DOC informs the requesting party of additional costs before record production. The records request form highlights all other requirements and information.

Inmate Release Date Lookup In Alabama

In Alabama, inmate release dates are overseen by the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC), which maintains records on individuals in state correctional facilities. Members of the public may conduct a search using the ADOC Inmate Search portal, an online database that allows searches by the inmate’s name or Alabama Institutional Serial (AIS) number. The database typically includes the inmate’s current location, sentencing information, custody status, and, when available, the projected release or parole eligibility date. This information helps families, legal representatives, and other interested parties remain informed about the inmate’s status within the correctional system.

For individuals in county jails rather than state prisons, release information is not included in the ADOC database. Each county sheriff’s office maintains its own jail roster or inmate lookup system, and many provide online access to daily bookings and releases. In cases where online resources are unavailable, direct contact with the county jail or sheriff’s office may be required. Additionally, information about federal inmates in Alabama must be obtained through the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator, since the ADOC system does not include federal prisoners.

Certain facilities or cases may also provide release information through written requests. Individuals may contact the Alabama Department of Corrections central office in Montgomery for assistance or official records copies. Some requests may require proof of identity, particularly when seeking information not published online. The DOC also works with the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, which manages parole eligibility hearings and projected release considerations, meaning release dates can change depending on parole board decisions.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Alabama?

The Alabama Department of Corrections provides information about inmates on the death row and execution list through the Alabama Inmate Search tool. Interested parties may search the specified pages for details about executed inmates and inmates on death row in Alabama. Requesting parties may also send inquiries about inmate death records to public.records@doc.alabama.gov.

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) provides information about federal inmates through the BOP website’s inmate locator tool. Users can conduct inmate searches using the following criteria:

• BOP register number
• Inmate Name (first, middle, and last names)
• Race
• Sex
• Age

The search returns information such as the inmate’s release date, location, name, BOP register number, age, and other personally identifying information.

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate’s Information to Be Published in Alabama Inmate Locator?

The DOC generally updates the Inmate Locator tool daily. However, due to varying inmate registration and release processing times at different Alabama facilities, it may take up to 24 or 48 hours for inmate information or status updates to be published on the DOC website.

Why Is An Inmate Not Showing Up In Search?

There are multiple reasons why an inmate may not appear in Alabama’s official inmate search. One common explanation is that the individual is not under state DOC custody but is confined in a county jail, municipal holding facility, or federal prison, all of which maintain separate databases. In such cases, searches must be redirected to the relevant county sheriff’s office or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Another possibility is that the inmate has been recently booked or transferred, and their records have not yet been updated in the online system. The ADOC database is not always instantaneous; new entries or transfers may take time before becoming visible. In some situations, inmate records may be restricted or withheld for security or privacy reasons, particularly if the inmate is involved in sensitive cases or if the individual is a juvenile offender, since juvenile records are generally confidential under Alabama law.

Technical issues can also lead to search difficulties. Misspellings of names, incomplete identifying details, or incorrect AIS numbers may result in “no match” results.