Find Alabama Inmate Records

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

Typically, the Department of Corrections 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 in prison, 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 is non-detrimental to public safety and individual privacy, 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 that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

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 and 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?

To conduct an inmate search in Alabama, interested parties may use the Alabama Inmate Search tool. 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 the AIS, a unique, six-digit number to each inmate, and this is the quickest way to search. The AIS returns information about inmates with the exact number match. 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 the name match, and there may be several inmates who 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 inmate records requests by telephone or fax. To request physical copies of inmate records, requesting parties must fill 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 of the record in question.

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 in the form of a money order or cashier’s check along with the records request form.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Alabama?

To find an Alabama inmate at no cost, interested parties may search online using the DOC’s Alabama Inmate Search tool or third-party websites and jail rosters. 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 not available on the Alabama Inmate Search website; therefore, interested parties must contact the Department of Corrections to directly retrieve such information. 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 as soon as payment is received. The DOC also informs the requesting party of any additional costs before record production. The records request form highlights all other requirements and information.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Alabama?

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