Tuscaloosa Inmate Records Search

Tuscaloosa inmate records are kept at the Tuscaloosa County Jail. The city does not run its own jail. All arrests made by Tuscaloosa police go to the county facility. The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff maintains the jail roster and gives out inmate data. You can search for free on the sheriff website.

Where Tuscaloosa Inmates Are Held

Tuscaloosa does not have its own city jail. Like most Alabama cities, Tuscaloosa uses the county jail for all inmates. The Tuscaloosa County Jail sits on McFarland Boulevard in the city. It can hold between 547 and 900 inmates at a time. The sheriff runs the jail and keeps all inmate records for Tuscaloosa and the rest of the county.

When Tuscaloosa police make an arrest, they take the person to the county jail. The booking process starts there. Staff take photos and prints. They log the charges and set bond. This data goes into the jail roster. Most of this info is public. You can view it online or ask for it at the jail in person. The jail is open 24 hours a day for booking.

The jail roster shows all current inmates. It lists charges and bond amounts. Mugshots appear for most people. Release dates may show for those already sentenced. The roster updates often, sometimes every few hours. New arrests post quickly. Releases come off the list within a day or so.

Tuscaloosa Police Department

The Tuscaloosa Police Department handles law enforcement in the city. Officers patrol the streets and respond to calls. They make arrests for crimes that happen in city limits. After an arrest, the police bring the person to the county jail. The city police do not hold inmates for long. They use a short-term holding area only.

The police department has a records division. You can get arrest reports and incident reports there. These are not the same as inmate records, but they may help you find case details. Call the records line or visit in person during business hours. Bring a valid ID when you go. Fees apply for copies of reports.

The police department serves a city of over 114,000 people. This makes Tuscaloosa the fifth largest city in Alabama. The department works closely with the county sheriff on major cases. Both agencies share data when needed. For inmate info, though, you go to the county.

How to Search Tuscaloosa Inmates Online

The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff offers a free online jail roster. Go to the sheriff website at tcsoal.org. Look for the jail or inmate roster link. The search lets you find current inmates by name. Results show booking info, charges, and bond amounts. Mugshots appear for most people. This is the fastest way to find Tuscaloosa inmate records.

To search for Tuscaloosa inmates, you need:

• First or last name of the person
• Date of birth helps narrow results
• Booking number if you have it

The county also has a mobile app for iPhone users. The app lets you search the roster from your phone. It sends alerts when inmates are booked or released. Download it from the App Store. Search for Tuscaloosa County Sheriff. The app is free to use. It works well for people who need to track inmates in Tuscaloosa.

For state inmates, use the ADOC search instead. The Alabama Department of Corrections handles people serving more than one year. Go to doc.alabama.gov and click Inmate Search. Enter the AIS number or name. This search is free. It only shows current state inmates. County jail inmates do not appear there.

Tuscaloosa Inmate Record Fees

Viewing the online jail roster is free. You pay nothing to see current inmates. The search shows names, charges, mugshots, and bond info at no cost. Most people only need this basic data. Fees apply when you need official copies or certified records for court use.

The main fees for Tuscaloosa inmate records are:

• Online roster search: Free
• ADOC state inmate search: Free
• Background check: $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

Contact the sheriff office for exact fee amounts. Prices can change. Call ahead before you visit. Pay by cash or money order for most requests. Some offices take cards now. Ask when you call. Bond fees are separate. A $35 filing fee applies in most cases. Licensed bondsmen charge about 10% of the total bond amount.

University of Alabama and Inmate Records

Tuscaloosa is home to the University of Alabama. The school has over 38,000 students. This makes the city much larger during the school year. Game days bring even more people. The population can swell by tens of thousands for football weekends. This affects jail capacity and arrest numbers in Tuscaloosa.

The university has its own police force. UA Police handle crimes on campus. They make arrests for offenses that happen on university property. These arrests still go to the county jail. UA Police do not run their own jail. Students arrested on campus end up in the same Tuscaloosa County Jail as everyone else. Their inmate records appear on the same roster.

During home football games, arrests spike in Tuscaloosa. Public intoxication and disorderly conduct are common charges. The jail sees more bookings on game weekends than normal weekends. This can slow down the system. Release times may take longer when the jail is busy. If you need to find someone after a game day arrest, check the online roster first. Call the jail if you do not see them listed yet.

The university area brings unique challenges to Tuscaloosa law enforcement. A young, transient population means more first-time offenders. Many students are from out of state. Their families may not know how Alabama jails work. The online roster helps. Families anywhere can check if someone was arrested in Tuscaloosa. They can see charges and bond amounts right away.

Note: UA Police contact is (205) 348-5454 for non-emergencies on campus.

Alabama Inmate Records Laws

Alabama law makes inmate records public. Under Code of Alabama Section 36-12-40, every Alabama resident has the right to inspect public records. This includes jail rosters and booking data. You do not need to give a reason for your search. The law applies to Tuscaloosa and all other cities in the state.

There are some limits. Under Code of Alabama Section 15-19-7, youthful offender records stay sealed. A court order is needed to view them. Expunged records are also hidden from public view. The law covers expungement under Code of Alabama Sections 15-27-1 through 15-27-21. Once a record is expunged, it does not show up on public searches.

Only Alabama residents can make formal records requests. You must show proof of residency like a driver's license or voter card. The agency has 10 business days to acknowledge your request. They have 15 business days to respond. Fees for copies must be reasonable. The law allows agencies to charge for actual costs. Most Tuscaloosa inmate data is free online, so formal requests are only needed for historical records or certified copies.

Under Code of Alabama Section 36-12-41, public officers must give copies when you ask and pay the fee. This means the sheriff cannot refuse to give you copies of Tuscaloosa inmate records if you follow the rules. Fees must be posted or told to you up front.

Tips for Finding Tuscaloosa Inmates

Start with the online roster. It is free and fast. Enter the name and check the results. If you do not find the person, try different spellings. Names can be entered wrong at booking. A typo can hide a record. Try first name only or last name only if the full name search fails.

Check both county and state systems. The county roster shows local inmates. ADOC shows state prisoners. Someone could be in either place. A person arrested in Tuscaloosa might get a state sentence later. They would then transfer to a state prison. The county roster would no longer show them.

Call the jail if online searches fail. Staff can look up inmates by date of birth or other details. They may find someone the online search missed. The jail phone is open 24 hours. Ask for the booking desk. Have the person's full name and birth date ready when you call.

Use VINE for release alerts. The victim notification system covers all Alabama jails. Sign up at vinelink.com or call 1-877-846-3425. You get a call or text when an inmate is released. This works for Tuscaloosa County inmates. It is free to use. Many people find this helpful for tracking when someone gets out.

Other Alabama Cities

Tuscaloosa is one of ten Alabama cities with a population over 50,000. Each city handles inmate records through its county jail. Only a few cities run their own jails. Birmingham, Montgomery, Hoover, and Dothan have city jails. The rest use county facilities like Tuscaloosa does.

• Huntsville - Uses Madison County Jail
• Birmingham - Has city jail (350 beds)
• Montgomery - Has municipal jail
• Mobile - Uses Mobile County Metro Jail
• Hoover - Has city jail
• Auburn - Uses Lee County Detention Center
• Dothan - Has city jail
• Madison - Uses Madison County Jail
• Decatur - Uses Morgan County Jail

Tuscaloosa County Inmate Records

Tuscaloosa is the county seat of Tuscaloosa County. The county jail handles all inmates for the city and surrounding areas. The sheriff office maintains the roster and processes all records requests. For more details on the county jail, capacity, visitation rules, and nearby resources, visit the full county page.

View Tuscaloosa County Inmate Records