Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer
1822 2nd Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
205-481-4160
How do you find someone who is in jail in the Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer?
How do I find out if someone was arrested in Bessemer or Jefferson County?
What information is included in jail booking records and the jail roster?
How often are online jail booking records and rosters updated?
How do I find an inmate that is in the Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer?
How do I find a prisoner that is in the Alabama State Prison system?
How do I find a prisoner who is in the Federal Bureau of Prisons?
How do I find an immigration detainee who is being held in an ICE facility?
How do I find someone who is in juvenile detention in Jefferson County, or in Alabama?
How do I get information on someone who is in jail in Jefferson County?
Who can I call to find an inmate in Jefferson County?
What if I can’t find an inmate, even though I know that they are in custody in Jefferson County?
An inmate’s family member just died; how can I let them know right away?
An inmate’s family member just died; will they be allowed to attend the funeral?
What determines whether an inmate is placed in minimum, low, medium or high security facilities?
What information is available to the public about an inmate in the Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer?
How do I find old Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer inmate records from years ago?
How do I have my jail record from an arrest in Jefferson County sealed?
If you cannot find the mugshot of the offender that has been arrested, it is because Jefferson County or the state of Alabama has recently changed their policy regarding publicly posting them in the jail roster. However, you can write the jail at the following address and request a copy of an inmate's mugshot be mailed or sent by email to you. Make sure to include your email address in all correspondence.
Mail to:
Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer
1822 2nd Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
Attention: Media Relations - Inmate Mugshot Request
Mail, click on the link below, or call the facility at 205-481-4160 for the information you are looking for.
Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer Inmate Search
There are five ways to find out if someone was arrested in Jefferson County:
1. Look them up on the official jail inmate roster.
2. Look them up on vinelink.com, a national inmate tracking resource.
3. Call the jail at 205-481-4160. This is available 24 hours a day.
4. Write or visit the jail and request information.
You can reach them at:
Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer
1822 2nd Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
5. Do a search online using this person’s name, the town or city you think they were arrested in, and the crime you think they were arrested for. Sometimes the local newspaper, police department or sheriff’s office will have a daily police blotter published on their website.
Jail booking records, also known as the jail roster, typically include the following information:
• Full name of the inmate
• Inmate's physical characteristics (age, sex, height, weight, etc.)
• Inmate’s mugshot(s)
• Booking number, Inmate ID#, Jacket #, etc.
• Booking date and time
• Charges or offense details – the applicable statute
• Bond or bail amount, if applicable
• Court date, if set, plus the court name and location
• Previous arrests in this jurisdiction, conviction details, and sentence
Most jails update their records at least once per day. Some booking information is updated as often as every 15 minutes in the roster.
From the time a person is first arrested until when they are booked in the Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer, it can be as short as a couple of hours, up to 24 hours, or even longer if they were arrested during a major event such as a protest or riot in which hundreds of people were arrested at the same time.
There are seven ways to find an inmate in Jefferson County or the Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer:
1. Look them up on the official jail inmate roster.
2. Look them up on vinelink.com, a national inmate tracking resource.
3. Call the jail at 205-481-4160. This is available 24 hours a day.
4. Call local police departments in Jefferson County. Sometimes the local jails will hold recent arrestees for up to 72 hours before transporting them the Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer.
5. Check with the jails in neighboring counties and look up their rosters. It is always possible they were arrested there instead of Jefferson County.
6. Write or visit the jail and request information.
Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer
1822 2nd Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
7. Do a search online using this person’s name, the town or city you think they were arrested in, and the crime you think they were arrested for. Sometimes the local newspaper, police department or sheriff’s office will have a daily police blotter published on their website as well.
You can find an inmate in the Alabama Department of Corrections by searching for them on the State Prison Locator, Vinelink.com (a nationwide inmate locator resource), or by calling the Department of Corrections.
NOTE: If an alien is arrested for a state crime, you will still be able to locate them in the police jail or the county jail where they were arrested. If it was a misdemeanor crime, they would do their time in the Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer or the county jail where they were arrested and convicted.
If they were convicted of a Alabama state felony and sent to state prison, and not deported, then you can locate them in the Alabama state prison system.
In the United States, a juvenile is a person under the age of 18. If a juvenile is arrested for a crime, it is unlikely that their name will be publicly listed on an inmate search page or detention center roster, or will be released to the public. Only the juvenile’s parents or legal guardians will be given that information.
Review the juvenile detention centers in Jefferson County or call the Sheriff's Department at 205-481-4160.
If the crime is a serious felony such as Capital Murder, some states will release their name to the public, either when they are first arrested or after they are convicted. However, in general, it is unlikely that an inmate who is a juvenile will have their name released in any public way.
For online searches, if you want to see if someone is in jail in Jefferson County.
If you want a list of all the other county jail inmate searches in Alabama.
If you want a list of all the county jails in the United States.
If you want to look up an inmate in any of the Alabama state prisons. To look up the prisons in Alabama.
If you want detailed information on a particular inmate in in jail in Jefferson County, and you can’t find it online in the jail inmate roster, your only other option is to either call the jail at 205-481-4160, go to the jail in person and ask, or write them at:
Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer
1822 2nd Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
That said, most jails will limit the amount of information that they give to the public about an inmate in their roster because the offender is considered innocent until proven guilty, and thus is afforded a certain amount of privacy.
Once an offender is convicted, you are far more likely to find out information about them.
If you are good at using Google, you can dig into a person’s past and learn as much information about anyone as someone in the media can.
You can also search a website that has all the public records about people. One of the best online websites we found will cost you only $1.00.
To find an inmate in custody or ask about their roster in Jefferson County call 205-481-4160 24 hours a day.
No. Even though 99.9% of all pre-trial and convicted inmates are kept in Jefferson County Alabama where they were arrested and/or convicted, they can be kept in any US jail or prison that will have them. This is seen in circumstances where a jurisdiction is overcrowded, or an inmate is moved for their safety. That said, a person must stand trial where they were arrested unless the presiding judge or prosecuting attorney agrees to move the offender’s trial to a different jurisdiction if it is likely they will not get a fair trial.
If you know an inmate is in custody in Jefferson County, and you can’t find them, it can mean one of several things:
1. Either you or the jail has the spelling of the inmate’s name inputted incorrectly.
2. The jail has not yet updated their booking information or roster.
3. The inmate has already been released.
4. The inmate has either been arrested or is being housed in another jail.
5. The inmate is underage; therefore, it is illegal to post their information, or the inmate you are trying to find had their age incorrectly listed as someone under age 18.
Same answer as that above. If you know an inmate is in custody in Jefferson County, but your search comes back in the roster as “no record found.”, it can mean one of several things:
1. Either you or the jail has the spelling of the inmate’s name wrong.
2. The jail has not yet updated their booking information or roster.
3. The inmate has already been released.
4. The inmate has either been arrested or is being housed in another jail.
5. The inmate is underage; therefore it is illegal to post their information, or the inmate you are trying to find had their age incorrectly listed as someone under age 18.
If your record of arrest and booking is still showing online, even though you were released, it is because some jails allow that information to remain public indefinitely. Unfortunately, even though the charges against you may have been dropped, many jails will not erase that information from their public records voluntarily.
In a situation like this your only option will be to get an attorney and request they petition the court to force the jail to remove this information. That said, if you were in fact found guilty of the crime you were arrested for, it is unlikely they will remove the information surrounding your arrest and conviction.
Call the Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer immediately at 205-481-4160.
The death of a family member is one of the few times, if not the only time, that a jail will take a message for an inmate. Because of the sensitivity of the tragic news, when a family member has died, the news will be transmitted by a member of the clergy, a counselor or someone who is very high ranking within the jail.
Jail management understands that a sudden death of a loved one could cause a violent emotional response that jeopardizes the safety of staff or other inmates.
The death of a family member is one of the few times, if not the only time, that the Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer will allow an inmate, whether it pre-trial or post-conviction, to be allowed outside of the jail. Even if they are allowed outside the jail, they will have to have at least two armed escorts. An inmate attending a funeral is an extraordinary cost, use of staff and potential danger to the public. That is why it is rarely allowed.
This is not always the case though, and whether an inmate can attend a funeral depends on the inmate’s security classification, whether the jail has the staff to handle it, official jail policy, whether or not the inmate has an attorney that can push the right people, including the judge overseeing the inmate’s case, etc.
Call them at 205-481-4160 and start the process for special permission.
An inmate’s security classification depends on the following:
1. The inmate’s current crime.
2. The inmate previous crimes.
3. The inmate’s history for violence within the walls of the facility.
4. The inmate’s gang affiliation.
5. The jail's current distribution of inmates.
It's ultimately up to the Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer where the inmates are housed, and what restrictions they will have.
The information that a jail or court releases publicly about an inmate depends on the laws in the state, the policy of the jail, and the sheriff’s or warden’s individual decision.
Jail booking records and rosters can include more or less, the following information:
• Full name of the inmate
• Inmate's physical characteristics (age, sex, height, weight, etc.)
• Inmate’s mugshot(s)
• Booking number, Inmate ID#, Jacket #, etc.
• Booking date and time
• Charges or offense details – the applicable statute
• Bond or bail amount, if applicable
• Court date, if set, plus the court name and location
• Previous arrests in this jurisdiction, conviction details, and sentence
Vinelink, which you will see referenced when discussing public information about offenders and inmates, is a national public roster that both allows the public to look up and see the person’s status, plus be able to track their movements, whether it involves being transferred from one facility to another or being released from custody.
The tracking feature is especially helpful for those who are victims of, or witnesses to, a crime and fear that the release of an offender may be dangerous to them or someone close to them.
Anyone can register with Vine to receive automated notifications via email, text or phone. It is available in 48 states and 2,900 jails and prisons.
Here is a short video explaining why it started and how it works.
To find jail records that go back many years really depends on how far you want to go back, however you would need to send a written request to the county sheriff as follows:
Jefferson County Sheriff
Att: Jail Records
1822 2nd Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
Let them know the inmate’s name, any aliases, date of birth, the date range that the inmate may have been incarcerated, the crime they were charged with/convicted of, and any other helpful information you can think of.
To have your jail records sealed, you will have to have the crime you were convicted of expunged. You should know up front that not all crimes are eligible for expungement.
1. Hire a lawyer that specializes in expungement.
2. If your crime is eligible, they will contact the District Attorney's office in the judicial district where you were charged or convicted.
3. They will file a petition with the court where you were charged or convicted.
4. The entire process may take 1-2 years.
To get prison records from the state of Alabama, you will need to send a written request to the state prison system in Alabama. Begin your search for a state prison record request.
Let them know the inmate’s name, any aliases, date of birth, the date range that the inmate may have been incarcerated, the crime they were charged with/convicted of, the name of the facility you believe they were incarcerated in, plus any other helpful information you can think of.
Click the links above, or the button below.
Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer Inmate Services Information
Phone: 205-481-4160
Physical Address:
1822 2nd Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Subject Number
Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer
1822 2nd Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Subject Number
Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer
1822 2nd Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
Every year Jefferson County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain 40,300 offenders, and maintain an average of 2,015 inmates (county-wide) in their custody on any given day.
The weekly turnover rate of inmates is approximately 55%, meaning that every week more than half of these inmates are released and then replaced with new offenders being booked into jail.
The charts below break down the men, women, races, ethnicities and the types of crimes that people are arrested and incarcerated for in both Jefferson County and state prisons throughout the country. This information is compiled from local police and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, as well as the state of Alabama and the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau.
If you are looking for a prisoner in Alabama or Federal custody, click on the appropriate institution below.
If you are searching for an inmate being held in another county in Alabama, click below.
If you are searching for a prisoner in a Alabama State Prison click below.
If you are searching for a United States Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate click below.
Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Search
For ICE Detainees (Immigration) being held at a detention facility in the United States, click below.
| Race | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 39 | 2.43% |
| Black | 1,270 | 79.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 171 | 10.67% |
| American Indian/Native Alaskan | 24 | 1.50% |
| Asian | 50 | 3.12% |
| Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian | 23 | 1.44% |
| Other | 25 | 1.56% |
| Total | 1,602 | 100.0% |
(many inmates have multiple charges)
| Charge | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Felony (3rd Degree) | 527 | 32.90% |
| Felony (2rd Degree) | 137 | 8.55% |
| Felony (1st Degree) | 2 | 0.12% |
| State Jail Felony | 0 | 0.00% |
| Felony (Uncategorized) | 468 | 29.21% |
| Misdemeanor (Class A) | 468 | 29.21% |
| Misdemeanor (Class C) | 0 | 0.00% |
| Holds | 0 | 0.00% |
| Uncategorized | 0 | 0.00% |
| Sex | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 1,434 | 89.51% |
| Female | 168 | 10.49% |
| Total | 1,602 | 100.0% |
| Age | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 17 | 1.06% |
| 18-20 | 89 | 5.56% |
| 21-24 | 137 | 8.55% |
| 25-30 | 285 | 17.79% |
| 31-35 | 364 | 22.72% |
| 36-40 | 263 | 16.42% |
| 41-45 | 161 | 10.05% |
| 46-50 | 78 | 4.87% |
| 51-55 | 73 | 4.56% |
| 56-60 | 76 | 4.74% |
| 61-65 | 35 | 2.18% |
| 66-75 | 22 | 1.37% |
| 76-85 | 2 | 0.12% |
| Total | 1,602 | 100.0% |