Whether it’s the middle of the night or the middle of the day, the 350-bed Birmingham City Jail can be reached for inmate information at 205-254-6369.
Misdemeanor and felony arrests from across the county all come through this jail for booking and processing. If the charges warrant detention, the person stays until they are bonded out, released on their own recognizance, or held until a verdict is reached at trial.
Current inmates are listed in the roster available through the inmate search tool.
Sentenced to under a year? The time is served here in the county. Sentenced to more? The inmate goes to the Alabama State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page shows how to search the official jail roster, how to find the facility, and how to use inmate services such as the visitation schedule, inmate account deposits, mail, phone calls, voicemail, email and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary.
Hold on to the inmate’s jail ID or booking number, since mail and messaging usually require it. If it’s not online, call Birmingham City Jail at 205-254-6369.
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
The easiest way to find an inmate in the Birmingham City Jail is to search the Official Jail Inmate Roster, which shows charges, bond amounts, visiting eligibility, and mugshots. You can also get this information by calling 205-254-6369. You can look up specific court information for a criminal case in Alabama through the Alacourt ACCESS V2.0 Portal.
Birmingham City Jail Inmate Search
Our Frequently Asked Questions and Answers cover:
If you still have questions after reading them, call 205-254-6369 for further assistance.
The Birmingham City Jail is licensed for 350 inmates, but it often has to make room for many more offenders, especially on weekends. Most city and county jails turn over at least 40% of their population monthly, 30% more every 90 days, and 20% more every six months. Around 8-9% stay incarcerated for six to twelve months. Inmates held longer than twelve months are usually facing serious charges like rape or murder. Because those cases take longer to prepare for trial, offenders arrested in Jefferson County remain in custody at the Jefferson County facility much longer.
Every year, Jefferson County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 40,300 offenders.
The Birmingham City Jail is a secure facility located in Birmingham, Alabama that opened its doors in 1966 and has been continuously operational since. It is a municipal jail operated by the Birmingham Police Department that holds an average of 150-200 inmates, including suspects awaiting trial or serving sentences for violation of city ordinances. Visitors must be approved by a jail supervisor and those with warrants will be arrested. Records kept on inmates include arrest records, sentencing records, court documents, and other criminal records.
In April 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail" while incarcerated there for leading a Good Friday demonstration as part of the civil rights movement in violation of an injunction against such activities.
The original city jail was housed within the Birmingham City Hall on 4th Avenue North and 19th Street, but the current location of the prison is at 425 6th Avenue South in South Titusville neighborhood.
It provides services to all neighborhoods throughout the city such as events and issues related to each neighborhood and can be reached 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 205-254-6369. The mission of the jail is to provide an enhanced level of service to citizens while maintaining humane custody and supervision through safe confinement practices. Recently there have been discussions about transitioning inmates from the city jail to the Jefferson County jail.
After an arrest, individuals are taken to Birmingham City Jail for the booking process, where their identity is confirmed, charges are reviewed, and decisions are made about whether they will be released on bail or detained.
The arrested individual should remain silent during booking, as anything said could be used against them. It’s important to wait for legal representation before answering questions.
The booking process at Birmingham City Jail includes the following steps:
For questions about an arrestee’s bond or bail, contact the facility at 205-254-6369.
If someone has been booked at Birmingham City Jail in Birmingham, their next steps may include:
1. Release without posting bail, provided they agree to attend court.
2. Detainment until their trial.
3. Posting bail or bond to secure release. For the exact amount, call 205-254-6369.
There are a variety of payment methods available for bail.
For a full guide to the bail process in Jefferson County, Alabama, visit the Birmingham City Jail Bail Information Page.
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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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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
Ask the Birmingham City Jail whether it accepts postcards, and what size and type, before mailing one. 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
Ask the Birmingham City Jail whether books can be mailed in, and whether they must come straight from a publisher or retailer 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.
Ask the Birmingham City Jail whether hardcover books are accepted.
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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What are the other City and County Jails in Jefferson County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Jefferson County?
