Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.
Whether it’s the middle of the night or the middle of the day, the 1220-bed Madison County Detention Facility can be reached for inmate information at 256-519-4800.
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 Madison County Detention Facility at 256-519-4800.
Phone: 256-519-4800
Physical Address:
815 Wheeler Avenue
Huntsville, AL 35801
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate MNI # or Booking #
Madison County Detention Facility
PO Box 2047
Huntsville, AL 35804
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate MNI # or Booking #
Madison County Detention Facility
PO Box 2047
Huntsville, AL 35804
Other Jails and Prisons
The easiest way to find an inmate in the Madison County Detention Facility 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 256-519-4800. You can look up specific court information for a criminal case in Alabama through the Alacourt ACCESS V2.0 Portal.
Madison County Detention Facility Inmate Search
Our Frequently Asked Questions and Answers cover:
If you still have questions after reading them, call 256-519-4800 for further assistance.
The Madison County Detention Facility is licensed for 1220 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 Madison County remain in custody at the Madison County facility much longer.
Every year, Madison County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 25,360 offenders.
The Madison County Detention Facility, widely known as the Madison County Metro Jail, is the main adult jail for Huntsville and the rest of Madison County. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office runs it at 815 Wheeler Avenue NW in Huntsville, and the booking desk answers 24 hours a day at (256) 519-4800. It is a large jail, built to hold about 1,220 people. It houses men and women arrested by the sheriff’s office and other agencies across the county. The City of Huntsville sends its arrestees here under a contract with the sheriff instead of running its own jail. Along with people awaiting trial and those serving county sentences, the jail has held close to 300 people at a time who were sentenced to state prison and are waiting for transfer to Kilby Correctional Facility. Southern Health Partners provides medical care.
To check on someone, use the sheriff’s online inmate roster at madisoncountysheriffal.org. Within 72 hours of arrest, and sooner if possible, Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 4.3 requires an initial appearance before a judge. Felony and misdemeanor cases here move through the courts of the 23rd Judicial Circuit. Check court dates on Alacourt (v2.alacourt.com). The sheriff keeps a most wanted list at madisoncountysheriffal.org. Anyone with an outstanding warrant should call the sheriff’s office or a lawyer before turning themselves in.
Alabama guarantees bail to most defendants. The exceptions are capital offenses with strong proof and, under Aniah’s Law (2022), murder; first-degree kidnapping, rape, sodomy, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson and robbery; aggravated child abuse and certain offenses against children; and terrorism. For those, a judge can deny bail after a pretrial detention hearing. Amendment 1, approved by 81.6% of voters in May 2026, added solicitation, attempt or conspiracy to commit murder and shooting into an occupied building or vehicle. The Rule 7.2 schedule guides amounts (Class A felony $10,000–$60,000; Class B $5,000–$30,000; Class A misdemeanor $300–$6,000; DUI $1,000–$7,500), though judges can go above or below it. People may be released on their own recognizance, through the county’s Pre-Trial Release Program, on an unsecured appearance bond, or on a secured bond posted in cash, with property or through a bonding company. Where you pay depends on the case. Huntsville misdemeanor bonds go through the city magistrate 24/7 at (256) 427-7817. City of Madison misdemeanors are handled weekdays 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at (256) 772-5617. County felonies and misdemeanors are handled at the courthouse, Room 200, weekdays 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. ((256) 532-3373). Cash bonds can also be paid online at alapay.com or cashbondonline.com. The sheriff’s office itself does not process property bonds.
All personal visits are remote video visits through NCIC. Create an account at ncic.com and upload a clear photo of your government-issued ID for approval. Visits cost $0.30 a minute plus tax and can be booked up to 48 hours ahead, first come, first served. A person must be in custody for 30 days before visits start, and each inmate can have up to three visits a day. Visiting blocks run Monday–Friday 8–10 a.m., noon–3:30 p.m., 5–6 p.m. and 8–10 p.m. (no evening block on Wednesdays), and weekends 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and 8–10 p.m. If you are going to the jail in person to drop off clothes or pick up property, Huntsville’s Orbit buses run from the downtown Huntsville Transit Center at 521 Pratt Ave NW. Call Orbit at (256) 427-6811 to find the route closest to Wheeler Avenue. Nearby are the Circle K at 905 Memorial Pkwy NW and the Marathon at 1800 University Dr NW for gas, and Krystal at 1024 N Memorial Pkwy or Five Guys at 1221 N Memorial Pkwy for food.
Mail goes to the person’s name and booking number, Madison County Detention Facility, P.O. Box 2047, Huntsville, AL 35804. Personal mail is scanned and delivered on the jail’s kiosks, and books and periodicals must come straight from the publisher. Money for commissary goes through Inmate Canteen, using the lobby kiosk, online at team3.inmatecanteen.com, or by phone at (706) 298-4974. The weekly commissary limit is $75. NCIC runs the phones at $0.16 a minute for domestic calls, plus secure messaging, so set up an account at account.ncic.com or (800) 943-2189. Released property can be picked up at 815 Wheeler Ave 24 hours a day with photo ID. Family may bring street clothes to the lobby for someone about to be released, and leftover funds are paid out at the Pistol Permit Office, 603 Fiber Street, weekdays 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
After an arrest, individuals are taken to Madison County Detention Facility 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 Madison County Detention Facility includes the following steps:
The booking process can take anywhere from one hour to 48 hours. For questions about an arrestee’s bond or bail, contact the facility at 256-519-4800.
If someone has been booked at Madison County Detention Facility in Huntsville, 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 256-519-4800.
There are a variety of payment methods available for bail.
For a full guide to the bail process in Madison County, Alabama, visit the Madison County Detention Facility Bail Information Page.
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How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Madison County Detention Facility? What is the Schedule?
815 Wheeler Avenue
Huntsville, AL 35801
256-519-4800
VIDEO VISITS ONLY
| INMATE HOUSING |
DAY | TIMES |
| Housing 1 Units A - E |
WED | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| Housing 2 Units F - K |
WED | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| Medical | WED | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| L-Floor | MON | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| M-Floor | TUE | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| N-Floor | THU | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| P-Floor | MON | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
In other words, you can visit your inmate in jail by using your home computer, as long as it is equipped with a microphone and camera that supports video.
When available, the jail also provides use of ‘video visit kiosks’ in the jail lobby if you do not have a computer at home. These ’on-site’ video visits are FREE.
Costs
NCIC Video Visitation fees are subject to change, but the cost to you is roughly $7.50 ($0.25 per minute) for a 30-minute visit + an additional fee of $2.00 for the connection.
On-site (at the jail) video visits are FREE.
How to set up your Video Visit
Your inmate will be notified by the jail staff of the date and time for the visit. Be sure to be in front of your computer and connected to NCIC at least 15 minutes before the start of the visit.
NCIC Customer Service
Phone - 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069
Email – info@ncic.com
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Madison County Detention Facility’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 256-519-4800 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 Madison County Detention Facility?
815 Wheeler Avenue
Huntsville, AL 35801
256-519-4800
| INMATE HOUSING |
DAY | TIMES |
| Housing 1 Units A - E |
WED | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| Housing 2 Units F - K |
WED | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| Medical | WED | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| L-Floor | MON | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| M-Floor | TUE | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| N-Floor | THU | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
| P-Floor | MON | 8:00am - 2:30pm |
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Madison County Detention Facility’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 256-519-4800 for further assistance.
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How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Madison County Detention Facility?
Instructions on purchasing commissary items for an inmate:
NOTE: Madison County Detention Facility may only allow online deposits for local commissary purchasing.
1. Register or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen.
2. Select the facility where the inmate is located and the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
3. Select the "Purchase Items" option.
4. Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Madison County Detention Facility, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Madison County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Madison County Detention Facility’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 256-519-4800 for further assistance.
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How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Madison County Detention Facility?
To receive phone calls from an inmate in Madison County follow these instructions:
Madison County Detention Facility uses the services of NCIC for inmate phone calling. It is called a ‘friends & family account”.
In order to receive phone calls from your inmate, you need to do the following:
NOTE:
1. You cannot receive any calls to your phone number from your inmate until both you and your phone number are registered.
2. When you do receive a call, the number you will view on your phone from the incoming call is: 800-943-2189.
3. When allowed by Madison County Detention Facility, families can also leave secure voicemails for inmates to listen to.
Fees
NCIC Customer Service
Phone - 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069
Email – info@ncic.com
Full list of participating jails.
For all the information regarding phone calls with Madison County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, fees, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Madison County Detention Facility’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 256-519-4800 for further assistance.
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How do I Mail an Inmate in the Madison County Detention Facility, and what can I send them?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Madison County Detention Facility’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 256-519-4800 for further assistance.
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Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Madison County Detention Facility, and what can I purchase?
Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
NOTE: Madison County Detention Facility may only allow online deposits for local commissary purchasing.
For best results use google chrome as your browser for accessing Inmate Canteen.
Instructions on purchasing commissary items for an inmate:
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Madison County Detention Facility follow these steps:
For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Madison County Detention Facility, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Madison County.
Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Madison County Detention Facility’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 256-519-4800 for further assistance.
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How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Madison County Detention Facility using an Online Messaging Service?
You can deposit money three different ways:
• Deposit online at NCIC.com
• Deposit at the kiosk in the Madison County Detention Facility lobby, if available.
• Deposit over the phone 24/7 at 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069 (Note: if you deposit money using a live agent the fee is $5.95).
NCIC Customer Service
Phone - 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069
Email – info@ncic.com
To send a secure email message to an inmate in Madison County Detention Facility follow these steps:
Madison County Detention Facility uses the services of NCIC for you to deposit funds into your {Madison County inmate’s account so that you and they can purchase secure email messaging services from this jail’s e-messaging service.
You can deposit money three different ways:
• Deposit online at NCIC.com
• Deposit at the kiosk in the Madison County Detention Facility lobby, if available.
• Deposit over the phone 24/7 at 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069 (Note: if you deposit money using a live agent the fee is $5.95).
Email – info@ncic.com
For all information on how to Text/Email an Inmate in Madison County Detention Facility check out our Secure Messaging Guide for Madison County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Madison County Detention Facility’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 256-519-4800 for further assistance.
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Do Inmates in the Madison County Detention Facility have Access to Tablets or Computers?
Madison County Detention Facility offers NCIC tablets to rent to inmates that they can use for video visitation and calls, phone calls, instant messaging, education and entertainment.
They can also be used for commissary ordering.
Madison County Detention Facility offers NCIC tablets to rent to inmates that they can use for video visitation and calls, phone calls, instant messaging, education and entertainment.
They can also be used for commissary ordering.
To find out more bout how much tablets cost to rent, and what programs, entertainment, education and other things it can be used for, check out our Tablet Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Madison County Detention Facility’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 256-519-4800 for further assistance.
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What are the other City and County Jails in Madison County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Madison County?
This facility, known as "Madison County Detention Facility" is also known as Madison County Jail, Madison County Detention Center Alabama, Madison County Inmate Search, Madison County Sheriff, Madison County Detention Center, Madison County Arrests.
The Madison County Detention Facility serves the following cities and towns of Madison County: Arab, Gurley, Hazel Green, Huntsville, Madison, Meridianville, New Hope, Normal, Owens Cross Roads and Triana.
