Search Jackson County Inmate Records
Jackson County inmate records are managed by the sheriff's office in Scottsboro. The county jail holds people waiting for trial and those serving short sentences. The sheriff posts a free online roster so you can search current inmates at any time. Jackson County sits in northeast Alabama near the Tennessee border. This is a rural county with about 52,000 residents. The jail serves all cities and towns in the county.
Jackson County Jail Quick Facts
Jackson County Sheriff's Office
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail in Scottsboro. Sheriff Chuck Phillips leads the department and oversees all jail operations. The corrections staff handles booking, housing, and releases around the clock. The office serves a large rural area with towns spread across the county. Deputies patrol from Scottsboro to the Tennessee line and down to the DeKalb County border.
The jail sits near the courthouse in downtown Scottsboro. Staff process new arrivals at all hours. Most inmates come from local police agencies or state trooper stops on the highways that cross Jackson County. The booking process includes fingerprints, mugshots, and a health screening. Inmates then wait for their court date or bond hearing.
You can reach the sheriff's office by phone or visit in person during business hours. The jail operates 24 hours a day for questions about inmates. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody and provide bond info. For records requests or detailed questions, call during regular office hours in Jackson County.
| Sheriff's Office |
102 East Laurel Street Scottsboro, AL 35768 Phone: (256) 574-2610 |
|---|---|
| County Jail |
Scottsboro, AL 35768 Phone: (256) 574-2612 |
| Office Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | jacksoncountysheriffal.org |
How to Search Jackson County Inmates Online
Jackson County offers a free online inmate roster. You can search current inmates from any device with internet access. The roster shows everyone held in the county jail. Results include mugshots, charges, and bond amounts. The site updates as new people are booked in Jackson County.
Go to the sheriff's website at jacksoncountysheriffal.org/inmate-roster to view the roster. The page lists all current inmates with their basic info. You can scroll through the list or use your browser's find function to search by name. Each entry shows the booking date, charges, and bond if set in Jackson County.
To search Jackson County inmates, you need this info:
- First or last name of the person
- Approximate date of arrest if known
- Type of charges if known
The roster only shows current inmates in Jackson County. Once someone is released or transferred, they drop off the list. For historical records, you need to contact the sheriff's office directly. Provide as much detail as possible when you call. The staff can search past booking records if you have a name and date range in Jackson County.
For state prisoners from Jackson County, use the ADOC Inmate Search instead. The county roster covers local jail inmates only. People sentenced to more than one year go to state prison. ADOC tracks those inmates with a six-digit AIS number. Check both systems if you are not sure where someone is held.
Jackson County Inmate Record Fees
The online inmate roster is free to view. You pay nothing to search who is in jail in Jackson County. Fees apply when you request official copies of records. The sheriff's office charges for printed documents and certified copies. Call ahead to ask about current fees before visiting in Jackson County.
Bond amounts vary by charge. The court sets bond at the first hearing. You can pay cash bond directly to the jail. A bondsman charges about 10% of the total and posts the rest. The bond filing fee is $35 in most Alabama courts. This goes to the Circuit Clerk when the bond paperwork is filed in Jackson County.
For court records, try Alacourt ACCESS. This statewide system costs $9.99 per name search. You get case info, charges, and court dates. This helps when you need more than basic jail roster data. It covers criminal, civil, and traffic cases across Jackson County.
ADOC historical records cost $25 minimum. This covers searches for people who went to state prison from Jackson County. The fee is not refundable even if no records exist. Send Form 23-A with a money order to the ADOC office in Montgomery. Allow two to four weeks for a response.
How to Request Records in Jackson County
You can request inmate records in person, by phone, or by mail in Jackson County. The method depends on what you need and how fast you need it. In-person visits let you get copies the same day. Phone calls work for quick questions. Mail takes longer but creates a paper trail.
To visit in person, go to the sheriff's office during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID. Tell the staff what records you need. They can search the system and print copies while you wait. Some records may take longer to pull from archives. Be ready to pay fees at the time of your visit in Jackson County.
For mail requests, write a letter with the inmate's full name, date of birth if known, and what records you want. Include your contact info and a check or money order for fees. Mail it to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office at 102 East Laurel Street, Scottsboro, AL 35768. Allow two to three weeks for a reply.
Under Code of Alabama Section 36-12-40, public records are open to Alabama residents. The sheriff must respond within 15 business days of getting your request. If they deny it, they must say why in writing. You can appeal a denial through the courts in Jackson County.
Jackson County Jail and Northeast Alabama
Jackson County sits in the northeast corner of Alabama. The county borders Tennessee to the north and Georgia to the east. This location creates unique issues for the jail. Highway traffic between states brings people through the area. Interstate visitors sometimes end up in the county jail after traffic stops or accidents in Jackson County.
The Tennessee River runs along the southern edge of the county. Lake Guntersville provides recreation but also brings visitors who may run into trouble. Scottsboro, the county seat, is a small city with about 14,000 people. The rest of the county is rural with small towns like Stevenson, Bridgeport, and Hollywood in Jackson County.
The jail handles a mix of local residents and passers-through. Some inmates have ties to other states and may face extradition. The sheriff works with agencies in Tennessee and Georgia on cross-border cases. If you are looking for someone who might be in Jackson County, check the online roster first. Then call the jail if you need more info. Staff can tell you if someone has a hold from another jurisdiction.
Scottsboro has historical ties to a famous legal case from the 1930s. The Scottsboro Boys case drew national attention and shaped civil rights law. Today the county runs a modern jail with standard booking and release procedures like other Alabama counties.
Alabama Inmate Records Laws
Alabama law gives residents the right to view public records including jail data. Several state statutes control how records work in Jackson County. Knowing these laws helps when you make a request or want to understand what info is public.
Code of Alabama Section 36-12-40 says residents can inspect public records. This covers jail rosters, booking logs, and most inmate files. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The law applies to all public agencies in Jackson County. Under Section 36-12-41, agencies must give copies when asked and paid a fair fee.
Some records stay private. Youthful offender files are sealed under Section 15-19-7. Expunged records are hidden under Sections 15-27-1 through 15-27-21. Medical records stay private under federal HIPAA rules. Security plans and emergency procedures are also blocked from public view in Jackson County.
Only Alabama residents can make formal records requests. You must show proof like a license or voter card. Out-of-state people may be denied. But the online jail roster is open to everyone. Anyone with web access can view current inmates without a formal request in Jackson County.
Cities in Jackson County
Jackson County has several cities and towns. None have populations over 50,000, so all inmates go to the county jail. There are no separate city jails in Jackson County. City police make arrests and transport people to the sheriff's facility in Scottsboro.
Scottsboro is the largest city and county seat. About 14,000 people live there. Other towns include Stevenson, Bridgeport, Hollywood, Section, and Paint Rock. These are small communities with limited police staff. The sheriff's office provides backup coverage across the entire county.
No cities in Jackson County meet the 50,000 population threshold for a separate page on this site.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Jackson County. If you cannot find someone in the Jackson County roster, check nearby counties. Inmates sometimes transfer between jails. Each county maintains its own roster system.