Search Huntsville Inmate Records

Huntsville inmate records are held at the Madison County Detention Facility. Huntsville does not run its own jail. All people arrested by Huntsville Police transfer to the county jail on Wheeler Avenue. This is standard for most Alabama cities. The Madison County Sheriff keeps all jail records for Huntsville inmates.

Where Huntsville Inmates Are Held

Huntsville uses the Madison County jail for all inmates. The city does not have its own jail. This is how most Alabama cities work. When Huntsville Police make an arrest, they take the person to the county jail downtown. The booking takes place there. All inmate records for Huntsville then stay with the Madison County Sheriff.

The Madison County Detention Facility sits on Wheeler Avenue in Huntsville. It has space for 1,220 inmates. This makes it one of the largest jails in Alabama. The jail serves all of Madison County, not just Huntsville. People from Madison city, Harvest, and other towns go here too. Chief of Corrections Chad Brooks runs the jail. Sheriff Kevin Turner leads the full department.

After an arrest in Huntsville, the process moves fast. Police book the person at the jail. A mugshot is taken. Charges are filed. Bond is set if the charge allows it. For minor city charges, the City Magistrate can set bond right away. Call (256) 427-7817 for the City Magistrate office. They handle bonds 24 hours a day for Huntsville city cases. County and state charges go through a judge at the county level.

Huntsville Police Department Records

The Huntsville Police Department handles all arrests in the city limits. The department has a Records Division that keeps arrest files. You can get copies of police reports from this office. These are not the same as jail records. Police records show what led to the arrest. Jail records show what happened after booking in Huntsville.

The Records Division is at the same address as the sheriff jail on Wheeler Avenue. This is because the police department and the county share space. Call (256) 427-7020 to reach the Records Division. Staff can tell you how to get copies of arrest reports. Fees apply for copies. Most requests take a few days to process. You can ask in person, by phone, or by mail.

The Huntsville Police run a unique inmate labor program. This is not common for city police forces. Inmates can work on city projects through this program. They may do clean-up work, landscaping, or other tasks. This gives inmates a chance to stay active and reduces costs for the city. The program is one more link between Huntsville and the county jail system.

How to Search Huntsville Inmates Online

You can search Huntsville inmates for free online. Go to the Madison County Sheriff website at madisoncountysheriffal.org. Click on "Inmate Roster" on the main page. The search opens in a new window. This roster shows all Madison County inmates, including those from Huntsville.

The roster uses SmartWEB software. It updates often. You can search by first name, last name, or both. You can also search by date to see recent bookings. Results show mugshots, charges, bond amounts, and booking dates. You see the housing unit and visitation status too. This tells you if an inmate can have visitors.

To find Huntsville inmate records, you need this info:

• Full name of the inmate
• Rough date of arrest if known
• AIS number for state inmates

The online roster shows current inmates and recent releases. It does not show old records. If you need historical data, you must contact the jail directly. Call (256) 519-4800 and ask for the Records Section. They can look up past inmates in Huntsville. There may be fees for this service. The Alabama Department of Corrections at doc.alabama.gov covers state prison inmates. County jail inmates need a separate search through Madison County.

Huntsville Inmate Record Fees

Searching the online jail roster is free. You pay nothing to look up current Huntsville inmates. The Madison County Sheriff website does not charge for basic searches. You can view mugshots, charges, and bond info at no cost. This makes it easy to check on someone in the county jail.

Fees apply when you need official copies. Background checks have fees too. The exact cost depends on what you ask for. Call the Records Division at (256) 427-7020 for current fee info. Copy fees in Alabama range from $0.25 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more. Bond filing fees are $35 in most cases.

For state inmate records, the ADOC search is free for current inmates. Historical records from ADOC cost $25 minimum. This fee is not refundable. You fill out Form 23-A and mail it with a money order. Court records through Alacourt cost $9.99 per name search. This covers all Alabama courts, including Madison County cases from Huntsville.

Huntsville Aerospace and Defense Workers

Huntsville has a unique population. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center sits here. Redstone Arsenal employs thousands. Cummings Research Park hosts over 300 tech firms. These jobs bring workers from across the country and around the world. This creates a transient workforce unlike any other Alabama city.

This affects inmate records in Huntsville. Many people are new to the area. They may have out-of-state warrants. Their records may be in other states. When police run checks on someone, they search national databases too. A person could have a clean record in Alabama but active warrants elsewhere. The VINE system helps track these cases. Sign up at vinelink.com to get alerts about inmates.

The defense industry also brings security clearance issues. Some jobs need background checks that go back years. Inmate records can affect these checks. Even old arrests may show up. People who work in defense often need to know what is in their record. The Madison County Clerk can provide certified copies for background checks. These are official documents that employers accept.

Huntsville grew fast. It passed Birmingham in 2020 to become Alabama's largest city. The population keeps rising. More people means more arrests and more inmate records in Huntsville. The 1,220-bed jail handles the load for now. But growth puts pressure on the system. The sheriff watches capacity closely and plans for the future.

Alabama Inmate Records Laws

Alabama law gives residents the right to view public records. This includes inmate records in Huntsville. Code of Alabama Section 36-12-40 covers this right. Every Alabama resident can inspect public records with some limits. You must show proof that you live in the state. A driver's license or voter card works.

Under Code of Alabama Section 36-12-41, public officers must give copies of records upon request. They can charge a fair fee for this. The law does not set exact amounts. Fees vary by county and agency. For Huntsville inmate records, the Madison County Sheriff sets the copy fees. Call ahead to ask what they charge.

Some records are not public. Youthful offender records stay sealed under Code of Alabama Section 15-19-7. The court may allow access in special cases. Expunged records are hidden from public view under Code of Alabama Sections 15-27-1 through 15-27-21. A person with an expunged record can say the arrest never happened. But law enforcement still sees these files.

Request procedures have time limits. Under Code of Alabama Section 36-12-44, agencies must respond within 10 business days. They have 15 more days to provide records. If they deny your request, they must say why. You can appeal to the courts if you think the denial was wrong. Most Huntsville inmate record requests are routine and process within a week.

How to Request Huntsville Inmate Records

You can get Huntsville inmate records in several ways. Online searches give you basic info for free. Phone calls work for quick questions. In-person visits let you see files directly. Written requests get you official copies.

For online searches, use the Madison County jail roster. It shows current inmates and 48-hour releases. You see mugshots, charges, and bond. This is enough for most basic needs. The roster does not show old records or detailed case files.

For official copies, contact the Madison County Sheriff Records Section. Call (256) 519-4800 and ask for records. Tell them what you need. They will explain the fees and process. You may need to fill out a request form. Bring ID if you go in person. Mail requests should include a check or money order for fees.

Court records are separate from jail records. For case files, pleas, and judgments, try Alacourt at pa.alacourt.com. This costs $9.99 per name search. You get access to criminal, civil, and traffic cases. This includes Huntsville Municipal Court and Madison County Circuit Court records. The site covers all Alabama courts in one search.

Visiting Inmates in Huntsville

Video visitation is the main way to visit Huntsville inmates. You must book at least one week ahead. Only inmates held 30 days or more can have visits. Call (256) 519-4864 to schedule. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Have the inmate's name and booking number ready when you call.

The online roster shows visitation status. Check before you call. Some inmates have holds that block visits. Court orders can suspend visits. Security issues can too. Staff will tell you if an inmate cannot have visitors. This is not the same as being on the approved list. Even approved visitors may be blocked if a hold is in place.

You need a valid photo ID to visit. You must be on the inmate's approved visitor list. The inmate submits names for approval. This takes a few days to process. Dress code rules apply. No revealing clothing. No clothing that matches inmate uniforms. Leave valuables at home or in your car. The jail may turn away visitors who do not follow rules.

Madison County Inmate Records

Huntsville is in Madison County. All jail records go through the Madison County Sheriff. The county serves over 380,000 residents across many cities and towns. For full details on the county jail system, fees, online search options, and contact info, see the Madison County inmate records page.

View Madison County Inmate Records

Other Alabama Cities

Nine other Alabama cities have populations over 50,000. Some run their own jails. Most use county facilities like Huntsville does. Birmingham and Montgomery have municipal jails. Hoover and Dothan also have city jails. The rest use county jails for all inmates.

• Birmingham (196,357) - Has city jail
• Mobile (201,367) - Uses county jail
• Montgomery (195,818) - Has municipal jail
• Tuscaloosa (114,288) - Uses county jail
• Hoover (93,013) - Has city jail
• Auburn (83,757) - Uses county jail
• Dothan (71,650) - Has city jail
• Madison (64,029) - Uses county jail
• Decatur (57,974) - Uses county jail