The Alabama State Prison System

The Alabama Department of Corrections oversees incarceration centers within the state’s jurisdiction. The ADC has a headquarters in Montgomery and operates a system that combines penal justice and reformation. The prison system’s primary objectives are to serve justice, safeguard the community, and reform individuals found guilty of criminal activity. These objectives form the basis for sentences, levels of security, parole, probation, community service, and so on.

What is the Difference Between Jail and Prison in Alabama?

The terms ‘jail’ and ‘prison’ are used interchangeably in everyday language, but they mean different things. In Alabama, a jail is a confinement facility that houses persons serving short sentences and those in temporary custody. Prisons house criminals who have been given lengthy sentences of usually more than a year. Additionally, county governments manage jails in Alabama—however, federal prisons and county jails typically operate independently of each other. In summary, prisons serve individuals who have received sentences based on convictions in the court of law, and jails serve to house persons convicted of misdemeanors or guilty of violating probation. They also help to hold persons awaiting trial.

How Many Prisons Are in Alabama?

Currently, there are 14 major prison facilities and 12 Community work centers in Alabama:

Bibb

Bullock

William.  E. Donaldson

Easterling

Elmore

G. K. Fountain

Hamilton

William C. Holman

Kilby

Limestone

St. Clair

Staton

Julia Tutwiler

Ventress

Below is the list of community work centers in the states:

Alex City

Birmingham

Camden

Childersburg

Elba

Frank Lee

Hamilton

Loxley

Mobile

Montgomery

North Alabama

Red Eagle

There is one Alabama Therapeutic Education Facility, an out-of-state facility located at:

102 industrial Parkway
Columbiana, AL 35051
Telephone: (205) 669–1187

How Do I Search for an Inmate in Alabama State Prison?

The Alabama Department of Corrections maintains a physical and an online register of inmates. The information in this database is limited to persons currently serving time in the system. When a convict gets admitted into the Alabama prison system, the administration assigns a unique six-digit number known as the Alabama institutional serial. This number represents the fastest way to locate an inmate. When an inquirer enters this number, one record may be returned. If this number is not available, parties can use first and last names as search terms. Records of inmates bearing the name typically return as search results. Usually, only 50 matching records are displayed at a time.

Another option is to contact the agency office for information about an inmate at:

Alabama Department of Corrections
301 S. Ripley Street
P. O. Box 301501
Montgomery, AL 36130–1501
Alternatively, send an email

Are Incarceration Records Public in Alabama?

Under the Alabama Public Records Law, incarceration records are public information in Alabama. Incarceration records encompass arrests and custody, pretrial confinements, and prison/ jail sentences. Citizens of the state have a right to access these records either in person or online. However, there are certain records that are exempt from public access—medical records, DNA samples, and victim information. Prison records under a seal may not be visible to the public except to a few eligible people. Incarceration records of juveniles are also inaccessible to the public.

Records of the Alabama criminal justice system and other public documents may also be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites may help expedite the search process, as they are not limited by geographic location and can simultaneously process search requests for single or multiple records. To use these aggregate sites, interested parties are typically required to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the court record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record of the person involved

Third-party sites are operated independently of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability, accessibility, and validity may not be guaranteed.

How to Look Up Jail Records in Alabama?

Interested parties can access jail history, arrest records, and criminal history information by contacting the primary custodian agency for these records. Essentially, the agency responsible for the documentation also has primary custody of the document in question. For example, jail records are available at the county sheriff departments in charge of the jail facility of interest. Arrest records are official accounts of arrests made by law enforcement agencies in the state. Either visit the facility in person or request the records through mail. Some county websites maintain a register of inmates within the jail facility. While jail records may be free to view, expect to pay a service fee for copying them. The records officer may redact some parts of the record that are considered confidential. Criminal history information is accessible on request both at county law enforcement agencies and centrally at the state repository- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency of criminal history information. Call 1–866–740–4762 or 334–353–4340 for more information or visit any of the field offices. Otherwise, send a mail inquiry to:

State Bureau of Investigation
PO Box 1511
Montgomery, AL 36102
Alternatively, send an email

Can Jail Records be Expunged in Alabama?

In Alabama, selected jail records can be expunged under the following circumstances:

• An arrest or custody that led to no charges
• Dismissal of a charge with prejudice
• Dismissal of a charge without prejudice about two years ago
• A trial process that led to no conviction

Also, jail records for juvenile delinquency qualify for expunction when the juvenile comes of age. At the point of expunction, there should be no incriminating charges against the candidate or pending investigations. Jail records for felonies that do not qualify for expunction remain permanent records in the public domain unless a request to seal them from access is granted.