How to Find Recent Bookings in Alabama
Alabama has 67 counties. Each county has a sheriff who runs the local jail. The sheriff's office creates and stores all booking records. These records are public. You can view them for free in most cases. Over 40 Alabama counties post their jail rosters online. The rest require a phone call or visit. This guide shows you how to find recent bookings across Alabama. You will learn where to search, what the records show, and how the system works in each county.
Alabama Booking Records Quick Facts
What Do Alabama Booking Records Show?
A booking record is made when someone is arrested and processed at a county jail. The record captures key facts about the person and their charges. Alabama sheriffs must keep these records by law. Most counties now post this data online.
Alabama booking records contain the following information:
- Full name and any known aliases
- Date of birth, age, gender, and race
- Mugshot photograph
- Height, weight, eye color, and hair color
- Booking number and booking date
- Criminal charges filed
- Bond or bail amount
- Court dates and case numbers
- Arresting agency and officer
Some records show more detail than others. Large counties like Jefferson and Mobile post full booking info with photos. Smaller counties may show less. The format varies by county, but the core data is the same.
How Alabama's Booking System Works
Alabama uses a county-based jail system. There is no single state database for recent bookings. Each of the 67 counties runs its own jail. The county sheriff is in charge of the facility and all records.
Here is how a typical booking happens in Alabama. City police or county deputies make an arrest. They transport the person to the county jail. Jail staff then performs the booking. This includes taking a mugshot, recording personal info, and logging the charges. The booking creates a permanent record.
City police do not run jails in most of Alabama. They make arrests but hand off to the county. Only four cities have their own jail facilities: Birmingham, Montgomery, Hoover, and Dothan. Even in these cities, many arrests still go to the county jail.
State agencies play a different role. ALEA keeps criminal history records but not real-time bookings. ADOC tracks state prison inmates only. For recent jail bookings, you must check with the county sheriff.
Alabama Booking Record Fees
Most Alabama jail rosters are free to search online. You can view current inmates and recent releases at no cost. Getting paper copies may cost a small fee.
Here are the typical fees for Alabama booking records:
- Online jail roster search: Free
- Copy of booking record: $0.50 to $1.00 per page
- ALEA background check: $25.00
- Alacourt court record search: $9.99 per name
Fees vary by county. Some charge nothing for copies. Others charge per page. Call the sheriff's office to confirm local fees before you visit.
Are Alabama Booking Records Public?
Yes. Booking records are public in Alabama. State law requires sheriffs to keep these records open for inspection. You do not need to give a reason to view them. You do not need to be related to the person.
Code of Alabama Section 36-22-8 requires every sheriff to maintain a record book. This book must list all prisoners with their name, age, sex, charges, and dates of commitment and release. Section 36-22-13 says these records must be open to public inspection at all times, free of charge.
The Alabama Open Records Act also applies. This law gives every citizen the right to inspect and copy public records. Booking records fall under this law.
Some limits exist. Juvenile records are sealed. Expunged records are not public. But standard adult booking records are open to anyone who asks.
Alabama Booking Records Laws
Several Alabama laws govern how booking records are created and shared. Knowing these helps you understand your rights.
Code of Alabama Section 36-22-8 is the main law. It requires sheriffs to keep a book with prisoner data. The book must be open to inspection. This has been Alabama law for decades.
Section 41-9-625 requires law enforcement to obtain fingerprints and photographs of all arrested persons. This is why every booking includes a mugshot. The prints and photos become part of the permanent record.
Expungement laws allow some records to be sealed. Section 15-27-1 covers misdemeanor expungement. Section 15-27-2 covers felonies. If a record is expunged, it will not show on public searches.
Can You Search Alabama Bookings Online?
Yes. Over 40 Alabama counties have online jail rosters. You can search by name or browse current inmates. Results show photos, charges, and bond amounts. The searches are free.
The largest counties all have online search tools. Jefferson County uses a Tyler Technologies portal. Mobile County has a "Who's in Jail" page. Madison County posts a daily roster. Montgomery County uses the CountyGovServices platform.
Some counties use shared platforms. Several use Southern Software for their booking searches. Others use CountyGovServices. The search process is similar across platforms. Enter a name and view results.
Not all counties have online rosters. About 25 counties require a phone call or in-person visit. For these, contact the sheriff's office directly. Staff can check records and answer questions.
Note: Online rosters show current inmates and recent releases. Older records may require a formal request to the sheriff's office.
County Jails in Alabama
Alabama has 67 counties. Each one has a sheriff who runs the jail. The jail handles all bookings for that county. City police bring their arrests here too.
Jail sizes vary widely. Jefferson County has the largest system with about 1,200 beds. Mobile County has around 1,500 beds at its Metro Jail. Small rural counties may have fewer than 50 beds. Some very small counties house inmates in neighboring jails.
One special case exists. Choctaw County closed its jail in July 2019. Inmates from Choctaw County are now housed in neighboring counties. If you need Choctaw booking records, contact the sheriff's office for guidance.
Alabama Cities for Booking Records
Most Alabama cities do not run their own jails. City police make arrests, then take people to the county jail for booking. This means city arrest records are at the county level.
Four cities are different. Birmingham has a 76-bed city jail. Montgomery has a municipal jail. Hoover and Dothan also have city jail facilities. These cities may hold people briefly before transfer to county.
Ten Alabama cities have over 50,000 residents. These are the major population centers. For booking records in these cities, check the county jail roster first. If the city has its own jail, check there too.
Search Alabama Jail Rosters
Use the search tool below to find recent bookings and jail roster information across Alabama.