The Birmingham City Jail is a 350 bed jail in the city of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. You can call them 24 hours a day for inmate information at 205-254-6369.
Offenders arrested for misdemeanors and felonies in this county are brought here for booking and processing, and if their crime requires it, are incarcerated until they are either bonded out, are released from custody on their own recognizance, or are ordered to remain in custody until the disposition of their trial.
You can also use the inmate search tool to see this facility's roster of those who have been arrested and are still in custody.
Those who are found guilty and sentenced to a term of less than one year, will do their time in this county. Those sentenced to longer terms will be sent to either the Alabama State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page provides information on how to search for an inmate in the official jail roster, or by calling the facility at 205-254-6369, directions to the facility, and inmate services such as the visitation schedule and policies, funding an inmate's account, mailing them a letter, receiving phone calls from an inmate, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary purchases.
It's always a good idea to find out and save the inmate's jail ID number or booking number as you may need this for sending mail or other communication needs. If you can't locate it online, you can call the Birmingham City Jail at 205-254-6369 to get it.
Phone: 205-254-6369
Physical Address:
425 6th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35205
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Subject Number
Birmingham City Jail
425 6th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35203
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Subject Number
Birmingham City Jail
425 6th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35203
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Birmingham City Jail, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 205-254-6369 for the information you are looking for.
Birmingham City Jail Inmate Search
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about finding an inmate in the Birmingham City Jail, how the jail rosters work and what happens after an offender is arrested and booked. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-254-6369 for further assistance.
The Birmingham City Jail maintains an average of 350 offenders in custody on any given day. The Birmingham City Jail has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Jefferson County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 40,300 offenders.
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To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Birmingham City Jail, call the jail’s booking line at 205-254-6369.
There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.
Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.
If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.
Birmingham City Jail Booking Roster
After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Jefferson County for booking.
Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.
Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Jefferson County and other Alabama and USA jurisdictions.
If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.
It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.
The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.
During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.
Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.
At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.
If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Birmingham City Jail will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.
Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.
Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.
If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.
Bail is what the arrested in Jefferson County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Alabama Jefferson County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Birmingham City Jail until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different.
The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions.
Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Jefferson County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid. Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid. Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
Yes, Alabama is a bail state, and Jefferson County allows bail.
There four types of bonds accepted in Jefferson County:
1. Judicial public bail/bond is the release of a defendant without any money but must have some kind of supervision while out on bail.
2. Cash bail is payment by the defendant or another person in part or in full of the total bail. The Jefferson County Clerk of Court supervises this bond.
3. Property bail is when one or more people put up property owned in the state of Alabama to cover the bond.
4. Professional surety bail is when the defendant is released on bail by having a professional bond company execute the bond.
In Alabama, for violations of motor vehicle laws, a state trooper, sheriff’s office, police officers and constables can arrest and set bail for those violations not to exceed $300.
For non-motor vehicle violations, a bond hearing officer sets bail in Alabama. This officer must be an attorney and can set bail for any court in the state and is available on weekends and holidays via audio-visual technology that allows the public to view the hearing.
Bail is set at the time of arrest for lesser offenses and within 48 hours at what is called the initial appearance for more serious offenses.
It is best to ask your attorney to reduce the bail amount, also called bond reduction. There is a formal motion that must be filed with your judge who will approach the Deputy District Attorney. If the bail was set within the guidelines or if there are not extenuating circumstances, the bond reduction would likely be declined. These are the bail guidelines for Alabama.
The courts require that the person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court in order to get their money back. In Alabama, a surety is not responsible for court fees. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Alabama can pay bail, although it could be costly. Your attorney is not permitted to post bail.
Yes, Alabama counties allow payment of bail on-line. The Jefferson County Clerk of Court can be paid on-line.
Cash payments may not be paid to the arresting officer but can be paid to the clerk of court. Personal checks are not accepted but a certified check, money order or cashier’s check are accepted. Payment of bail by credit cards are dependent on the court and the amount.
If you have attended all of the court appearances and met all of the conditions, the person who posted the bail will get the money back. In Alabama, the court fees are not taken out of the bail money for sureties (the person who signed on the bond for the arrested). You will lose the 10% that you paid the bond company.
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back.
Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
The Birmingham City Jail or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.
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How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Birmingham City Jail? What is the Schedule?
Officials – upon presentation of valid identification, Attorneys, Parole and Probation Officers, and Social Workers for public or community services will be permitted to visit with a detainee at any reasonable time during day or evening hours.
Visits by clergy – upon presentation of appropriate identification (e.g., valid clergy card or ministerial credential card and driver license), members of the clergy may visit between the hours of 9:00AM until 11:00AM and 5:00PM until 7:00PM, 7 days a week.
Visits with Friends and Family - Video Screen Visits per the schedule below.
Visitation for pre-trial detainees – includes those individuals who have not yet been to trial, either due to a continuance or before scheduled court dates.
The schedule is as follows:
Monday
8:00 AM to 2:00 PM or
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM to 2:00 PM or
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Friday
8:00 AM to 2:00 PM or
3:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Detainees Serving Time
The visitation schedule for those detainees serving time is as follows:
Inmate's Last Name begins with A-D
Monday
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Inmate's Last Name begins with E-H
Tuesday
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Inmate's Last Name begins with I-P
Wednesday
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Inmate's Last Name begins with I-P
Thursday
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Females only
Sunday
12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
*The minimum age to enter the jail is 13 years old and the visit must be pre-approved by the Commander or other staff.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Birmingham City Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-254-6369 for further assistance.
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Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Birmingham City Jail?
Officials – upon presentation of valid identification, Attorneys, Parole and Probation Officers, and Social Workers for public or community services will be permitted to visit with a detainee at any reasonable time during day or evening hours.
Visits by clergy – upon presentation of appropriate identification (e.g., valid clergy card or ministerial credential card and driver license), members of the clergy may visit between the hours of 9:00AM until 11:00AM and 5:00PM until 7:00PM, 7 days a week.
Visits with Friends and Family - Video Screen Visits per the schedule below.
Visitation for pre-trial detainees – includes those individuals who have not yet been to trial, either due to a continuance or before scheduled court dates.
The schedule is as follows:
Monday
8:00 AM to 2:00 PM or
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM to 2:00 PM or
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Friday
8:00 AM to 2:00 PM or
3:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Detainees Serving Time
The visitation schedule for those detainees serving time is as follows:
Inmate's Last Name begins with A-D
Monday
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Inmate's Last Name begins with E-H
Tuesday
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Inmate's Last Name begins with I-P
Wednesday
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Inmate's Last Name begins with I-P
Thursday
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Females only
Sunday
12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
*The minimum age to enter the jail is 13 years old and the visit must be pre-approved by the Commander or other staff.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Birmingham City Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-254-6369 for further assistance.
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How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Birmingham City Jail?
Option 1 - Dropping Money at the Jail
Bring money to the jail in person.
Either the jail personnel will process the Inmate Account payment or you will use a self-serve kiosk in the lobbies that accepts cash, debit or credit cards.
Option 3 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail
Mailing a deposit takes more time to process than the other methods but can be done if you live too far away to bring it in person and you don't have a debit/credit card for online deposits. Never send cash. Always send a Money Order from the US Post Office, a reputable bank or Western Union.
Make the Money Order out to the inmate's name and put their Subject Number in memo section of the Money Order.
Mail to:
Inmate's Full Name & Subject Number
Birmingham City Jail
425 6th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35203
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Birmingham City Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-254-6369 for further assistance.
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How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Birmingham City Jail?
Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)
For full instructions on the Birmingham City Jail Inmate Phone System, what the costs are, how it works, and tips and guidelines on rules, regulations and saving money on calls, check out our Inmate Phones Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Birmingham City Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-254-6369 for further assistance.
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How do I Mail an Inmate in the Birmingham City Jail, and what can I send them?
Postcards
The Birmingham City Jail allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.
Envelopes
The Birmingham City Jail also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.
Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope.
Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Subject Number
Birmingham City Jail
425 6th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35203
Legal Mail
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Subject Number
Birmingham City Jail
425 6th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35203
Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
The Birmingham City Jail allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Birmingham City Jail standards will be disposed of.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & Subject Number
Birmingham City Jail
425 6th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35203
For inmates receiving mail in the Birmingham City Jail there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.
All mail is to be shipped to the Birmingham City Jail:
Inmate's Full Name & Subject Number
Birmingham City Jail
425 6th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35203
For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Birmingham City Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-254-6369 for further assistance.
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Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Birmingham City Jail, and what can I purchase?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Birmingham City Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-254-6369 for further assistance.
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How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Birmingham City Jail using an Online Messaging Service?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Birmingham City Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-254-6369 for further assistance.
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Do Inmates in the Birmingham City Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Birmingham City Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-254-6369 for further assistance.
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What are the other City and County Jails in Jefferson County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Jefferson County?
This facility, known as "Birmingham City Jail" is also known as Birmingham City Jail , Birmingham City Police Department, Birmingham Arrests, Birmingham Sheriff, Birmingham Inmate Search, Birmingham Jail.
