Search Montgomery Inmate Records
Montgomery inmate records are kept at two places. The city runs its own municipal jail at 103 North Perry Street. The Montgomery County Jail is a separate facility run by the sheriff. Where you search depends on what charges the person faces. City charges stay at the city jail. County and state charges go to the county jail. Montgomery is the state capital of Alabama with about 195,800 residents.
Montgomery Quick Facts
Where Montgomery Inmates Are Held
Montgomery has two jail systems that work side by side. The Montgomery Municipal Jail holds people on city charges like traffic crimes, minor drug cases, and city code violations. The Montgomery County Jail holds people on county charges, state crimes, and those waiting for trial on serious offenses. Both jails sit in downtown Montgomery near the court buildings. The municipal jail has fewer beds and handles shorter stays. The county jail is much larger with about 1,290 beds.
When Montgomery police make an arrest, they decide where the person goes. City misdemeanor charges go to the municipal jail. Felony charges and state crimes go to the county jail. Some people start at one jail and transfer to the other based on their charges. If you search for someone in Montgomery, check both systems to find them. A person might show up in one but not the other depending on when they were booked and what charges they face.
The county jail uses a free online roster at mcsojail.countygovservices.com. The municipal jail does not have a public online roster. For city jail inmates, you must call the jail or visit in person. This split system means searching for Montgomery inmates takes two steps. Start with the county roster online. If you do not find the person there, call the city jail to check their records.
Montgomery Municipal Jail
The Montgomery Municipal Jail sits at 103 North Perry Street in downtown Montgomery. This is a city-run facility separate from the county system. The jail holds people arrested by Montgomery police on city charges. It also holds people sentenced in municipal court for up to 12 months. The jail is part of the Montgomery Police Department and reports to the city, not the sheriff.
| Facility | Montgomery Municipal Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 103 N Perry Street Montgomery, AL 36104 |
| Phone | (334) 625-2831 |
| Hours | 24 hours, 7 days a week |
| Operated By | Montgomery Police Department |
The municipal jail does not post its roster online. To find out if someone is held there, you must call the jail directly. Staff can tell you if a person is in custody and what charges they face. Bond info is also available by phone. Visiting hours and rules differ from the county jail, so call ahead if you plan to visit. The city jail tends to have faster turnover since it handles minor charges. People often bond out quickly or transfer to county if charges are upgraded.
Montgomery County Jail
The Montgomery County Jail is the main detention center for the county. It sits at 250 South McDonough Street in downtown Montgomery. The sheriff runs this facility. It holds about 1,290 inmates at any given time. People charged with state crimes, felonies, and serious offenses go here. The jail also holds people waiting for trial in circuit court and those serving county sentences up to one year.
| Facility | Montgomery County Detention Facility |
|---|---|
| Address | 250 S McDonough Street Montgomery, AL 36104 |
| Phone | (334) 832-4980 |
| Sheriff Office | (334) 832-1339 |
| Website | montgomerysheriff.com |
The county jail offers a free online roster. Go to mcsojail.countygovservices.com to search. You can look up inmates by name. Results show the mugshot, charges, bond amount, and booking date. The roster updates throughout the day as new inmates are booked and others are released. This is the best starting point when you search for Montgomery inmate records since most arrests end up here.
How to Search Montgomery Inmates Online
The Montgomery County Sheriff runs a free online jail roster. This is the fastest way to find inmate records in Montgomery. The system uses CountyGovServices software that many Alabama counties share. You do not need to create an account or pay any fees to search. Results show current inmates and people released in the past few days.
To search Montgomery County inmates online:
- Go to mcsojail.countygovservices.com
- Click on "Current Inmates" or use the search box
- Enter the first name, last name, or both
- View results with mugshots, charges, and bond info
The roster shows who is in the county jail right now. It does not show people in the city municipal jail. It also does not show people who were released more than a few days ago. For historical records, you need to contact the sheriff office directly. The online roster is a snapshot of current custody. People can be released or transferred at any time, so check back often if you do not find someone right away.
For municipal jail inmates, no online roster exists. You must call (334) 625-2831 to ask about city jail inmates in Montgomery. Staff can tell you if someone is there and give you bond info. If you are not sure which jail to check, start with the county roster online since it covers more people. Then call the city jail if the person is not in the county system.
Montgomery Inmate Record Fees
Viewing the Montgomery County online roster is free. You pay nothing to search and see basic inmate data. This includes mugshots, charges, and bond amounts. The city jail does not charge for phone inquiries either. Fees apply only when you need official copies of records or background checks.
Common fee types in Montgomery:
- Online jail roster search: Free
- ADOC state inmate search: Free
- County background checks: $5 to $25
- Copy fees: $0.25 to $1.00 per page
- Certified copies: $1.00 to $5.00 per document
- Alacourt court records: $9.99 per name search
For state prison inmates, use the ADOC Inmate Search at doc.alabama.gov. This is free for current inmates. Historical state records cost $25 minimum through Form 23-A. Bond filing fees in Montgomery County are $35 paid by money order. Licensed bondsmen charge about 10% of the total bond amount. Call the county jail or sheriff office to confirm current fees before you go.
Montgomery as State Capital
Montgomery is the capital of Alabama. This brings unique factors to its inmate records system. State government offices sit here. The Alabama Department of Corrections has its headquarters at 301 South Ripley Street. The main ADOC office is just blocks from the county jail. This makes Montgomery a hub for corrections in Alabama.
State inmates pass through Montgomery often. Court hearings, appeals, and transfers bring prisoners to the capital. The county jail may hold state prisoners waiting for court dates. This means the Montgomery County roster can show people from across Alabama. Some are local arrests. Others are state inmates held here for legal proceedings.
The state courts also sit in Montgomery. The Alabama Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals are here. Cases from every county can end up in Montgomery on appeal. Lawyers and families travel to the capital for these hearings. If you search Montgomery inmate records and find someone from another county, they may be here for a state court matter rather than a local crime.
Montgomery also hosts the state vital records office. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records are kept here. While not inmate records, these documents connect to criminal cases. Proving identity or family ties often requires vital records. The Alabama Department of Public Health at 201 Monroe Street handles these requests just a short walk from the courthouse.
How to Request Records in Montgomery
You can request Montgomery inmate records in several ways. The method you choose depends on what info you need and how fast you need it. Online roster checks are instant but only show current data. Phone calls work for quick questions. Written requests get you official copies for court or employment use.
For county jail records, contact the Montgomery County Sheriff Office. You can call, visit in person, or send a written request. Under Code of Alabama Section 36-12-40, Alabama residents have the right to inspect public records. You must show proof of residency like a driver's license or voter card. The sheriff has 10 business days to respond to your request and 15 days to provide records.
For city jail records, contact the Montgomery Police Department. Records requests go through the police records division. Call (334) 625-2000 to ask about the process. City records may have different forms than county records. Both offices can tell you what documents they need and what fees apply. Allow time for processing since staff must pull files and make copies by hand for historical requests.
Alabama Inmate Records Laws
Alabama law makes most inmate records public. Code of Alabama Section 36-12-40 gives every Alabama resident the right to inspect public records. This includes jail rosters, booking data, and charge info. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The law assumes records are open unless a specific rule closes them.
Some records stay sealed. Youthful offender records are protected under Code of Alabama Section 15-19-7. The court may allow access in some cases, but the default is sealed. Expunged records are also hidden from public view under Code of Alabama Section 15-27-1 through 15-27-21. If someone had their record expunged, you will not find it in jail rosters or court searches.
Only Alabama residents can make formal records requests. Out-of-state requests may be denied. You must show proof that you live in Alabama. A driver's license or voter registration card works. The agency has 10 days to respond to your request and 15 days to provide the records. Under Code of Alabama Section 36-12-41, they can charge reasonable fees for copies.
Montgomery Police Department
The Montgomery Police Department handles all city law enforcement. The department has over 450 sworn officers serving the capital city. Officers patrol the streets, respond to calls, and make arrests within city limits. When they arrest someone, the person goes to either the city jail or county jail based on the charges.
| Agency | Montgomery Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 320 N Ripley Street Montgomery, AL 36104 |
| Non-Emergency | (334) 625-2000 |
| Records Division | (334) 625-2651 |
| Website | montgomeryal.gov/police |
The records division handles public records requests. Call them to ask about arrest records, incident reports, or inmate info from the city jail. The department works closely with the county sheriff on major cases. Joint task forces cover drug crimes, violent offenses, and gang activity. This cooperation means records might exist at both agencies for the same case.
Other Alabama Cities
Montgomery is one of ten Alabama cities with populations over 50,000. Each city has its own police department and record access points. Most cities use county jails for detention. A few like Montgomery run their own municipal jails. Here are the other major cities where you can search inmate records in Alabama.
- Huntsville - Uses Madison County Jail
- Mobile - Uses Mobile County Metro Jail
- Birmingham - Has city jail with 350 beds
- Tuscaloosa - Uses Tuscaloosa County Jail
- Hoover - Has city jail
- Auburn - Uses Lee County Jail
- Dothan - Has city jail
- Madison - Uses Madison County Jail
- Decatur - Uses Morgan County Jail
Montgomery County Inmate Records
Montgomery is the county seat of Montgomery County. The county jail handles most inmates from the city and surrounding areas. The sheriff office maintains the jail roster and inmate records for the county. For more details on the county system, jail capacity, and full contact info, visit the Montgomery County inmate records page.