Guide
Alabama Inmate Search at a Glance
Alabama keeps people in state custody in prisons run by the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC), while people awaiting trial or serving short sentences sit in county jails run by the 67 sheriffs. The two systems do not share one lookup. Start with the ADOC Inmate Search for anyone sentenced to a year or more, then check the county jail roster where the arrest happened.
The ADOC search runs on the AIS number, the Alabama Institutional Serial number that follows a person through every transfer. A name search works too, but common names return long lists, so add a middle initial or a year of birth when the search form allows it.
Official sources on this page were checked on September 25, 2026.
Guide
Alabama state prison inmate search
| State prison inmates | Yes, ADOC Inmate Search |
|---|---|
| County jail inmates | No, sheriff rosters by county |
| Parole and probation | No, Bureau of Pardons and Paroles |
| Released inmates | No |
| Photographs | No |
| Release dates | Yes, end of sentence date |
| Best search key | AIS number |
The ADOC Inmate Search returns the inmate's full name, AIS number, race and sex, the institution where the person is held, the offenses of conviction, the sentence and the projected end of sentence date. It covers people in the major prisons such as Holman, Donaldson, Limestone, Bibb, St. Clair, Staton and Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women, plus work release centers and community based facilities. It does not list people who finished their sentence, people in county jails, or people held on federal charges.
- ADOC Inmate SearchSearch Alabama state prison inmates by AIS number or name
- Alabama Department of CorrectionsFacilities, visitation rules, inmate mail and phone policies
- Alabama Bureau of Pardons and ParolesParole hearing dockets, decisions and supervision offices
- VINELink AlabamaCustody status and release alerts for Alabama jails and prisons
Guide
County jails and local custody in Alabama
Every Alabama county sheriff runs a jail, and the biggest ones publish an online roster: the Jefferson County Jail in Birmingham, Mobile County Metro Jail, the Madison County Jail in Huntsville, the Montgomery County Detention Facility and the Tuscaloosa County Jail. A roster usually shows the booking date, charges, bond amount and the arresting agency. Small counties post a roster on the sheriff's website or answer by phone. Municipal police departments in cities such as Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville and Montgomery hold arrestees only for hours before transfer to the county jail.
Guide
What Alabama inmate records show, and what stays private
Alabama's Public Records Law, Ala. Code section 36-12-40, makes the basic custody record public: name, AIS number, offense, sentence, facility and release date. Booking photos taken by sheriffs are generally public and many jail rosters show them. Medical files, mental health records, classification scores, disciplinary reports and pre-sentence investigation reports are not released to the public. A person's full criminal history report comes from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, not from the prison system, and it requires the subject's consent or a legal reason.
Alabama prisons are heavily overcrowded and inmates transfer often, so the facility shown today can change within days. The AIS number stays the same, so save it before you write or send money.
Guide
Parole, probation and release in Alabama
The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles decides parole and supervises everyone on parole or probation. Its monthly hearing docket is posted online with the inmate's name, AIS number, county of conviction and hearing date, and victims and interested citizens may register to be notified. When someone is released, the ADOC record shows the release date and the Bureau's field office takes over. For the sentence itself, the case file at the circuit court of the convicting county is the original record, and it is searchable through the Alabama court system.
Guide
When the search shows nothing
If the ADOC search returns nothing, the person is most likely in a county jail: check the sheriff's roster for the county of arrest, starting with Jefferson, Mobile, Madison or Montgomery. A person sentenced in the last few weeks may still be waiting in the jail for transfer. Check the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles for someone on parole or probation, the federal Bureau of Prisons locator for a federal case, and VINELink for a recent release.
Straight answers
Alabama Inmate Search, questions
What is an AIS number in Alabama?
The AIS number, short for Alabama Institutional Serial number, is the identifier the Alabama Department of Corrections assigns at intake. It stays with the person through transfers, work release and any return to custody, and it is the fastest way to find someone in the ADOC Inmate Search.
Why does the ADOC search not show someone who was just sentenced?
People sentenced in an Alabama circuit court often wait weeks in the county jail before the ADOC transports them to an intake facility. Until intake, the county jail roster is the only record. Check the sheriff's roster for the county of conviction.
Are Alabama county jail rosters public?
Yes. Booking records are public under the Alabama Public Records Law, and most sheriffs post a roster with the charges, bond and booking date. A few small counties only answer by phone.
How do I find out when an Alabama inmate gets a parole hearing?
The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles posts its hearing docket online several weeks ahead. Search it by name or AIS number, and register with the Bureau if you want written notice of the hearing and the decision.