The sheriff's jail information page is the place to start; it lays out Linden's visiting, phone and money rules. To be sure about a booking, phone the detention center, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, at 334-295-2257. Have the legal name, birthday and arrest date ready.

Good questions for Dunn Street staff:

• Is this person in your custody tonight?
• What booking number did they get?
• Was it deputies, Demopolis police or Linden police?
• Is there a bond yet, or a hold from elsewhere?

Write every answer on paper. Busy signal at the jail? Dial the sheriff's office in that same building at 334-295-4208. VINELink, the statewide custody tool, comes up again further down.

A Demopolis arrest may first go through the police station before the ride to Linden. After arrival, booking means fingerprints, a photo, a medical screen and a warrant check. For several hours, the person may be in no record at all.

Phone 334-295-2257 and spell the name the way it reads on the person's ID, adding the birthday. Ask four things: Was the person booked? Already bonded out? Taken to a hospital? Held for Sumter, Greene, Dallas or another county? The jail sits at 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748. Nothing yet? Wait a few hours, call back, and try other spellings or a maiden name.

The Marengo County Detention Center stands at 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748. With 118 beds, it shares the building with the Marengo County Sheriff's Office. Reach the jail at 334-295-2257 and the sheriff at 334-295-4208.

Demopolis lies roughly 20 minutes north, so even a Demopolis arrest ends with a drive down to Dunn Street. Inmates with Demopolis or Linden city charges usually stay here as well, and the U.S. Marshals rent space here for some federal detainees. Before driving over, phone to check that your loved one is still in Linden and to ask about visiting hours. Carry a photo ID for the front desk.

Quite possibly. On minor offenses and traffic charges, Marengo officers often write out a citation instead of driving anyone to Linden. Rule 4.3 permits that for some charges. With no booking, the name never shows up in Dunn Street records.

Look at the citation: it lists which court and what day. A skipped date can turn into a warrant, so mark it somewhere you will see it. Linden citations go to Linden Municipal Court, 211 North Main Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-5051. Demopolis citations go to Demopolis Municipal Court, 301 East Washington Street, Demopolis, AL 36732, 334-289-5933. Tickets from deputies or troopers are handled by District Court through the Coats Avenue clerk, 334-295-2224.

VINELink costs nothing and covers custody at many Alabama jails, the Linden jail among them. Type a name or a Dunn Street booking number, then choose the record whose birth date and details fit.

Once you register, VINELink sends a call, text or email whenever the Linden jail releases or transfers the person. Treat your registration details as private. A VINELink notice is a helpful early warning, yet it does not authorize anyone to collect a person from jail. Before heading to Linden, confirm with the detention center, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-2257. If VINELink shows nothing, that alone does not mean the person has left custody.

Dunn Street takes mugshots during booking. A mugshot documents an arrest; it says nothing about guilt. Reporters wanting a local photo that is not public may ask the sheriff's office, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-4208, how such requests are handled. Include enough identifying details to pick out the right person.

Federal agencies guard photos more tightly. ICE releases booking photos only after an approved ICE FOIA request. The Marshals share one only in narrow cases, such as an escape, when the image could help catch someone or protect the public. Be wary of private websites charging to remove a mugshot; they cannot erase court or jail records.

Most bond amounts come straight from Alabama's schedule and appear on the warrant. Third-degree domestic violence, a Class A misdemeanor, lists $300 to $6,000, yet domestic cases need a judge first. Any figure can be changed by a Linden judge.

Families usually pick from these:

• Full cash bond, which the Coats Avenue clerk hands back at the end, provided every Linden hearing was attended.
• A licensed bail agent, whose fee is kept.
• A property deed pledged as security.
• A signature bond with no money down.

Aniah's Law lets 17th Circuit prosecutors request a hearing to deny bail outright on certain violent crimes. A May 19, 2026 vote stretched that roster: attempted murder now qualifies, as does shooting into a building or vehicle where people are. More on the county bail page and Alabama bail laws page.

The clerk takes it, not an officer. Here, that means the circuit clerk's office in the courthouse, 101 East Coats Avenue, Linden, AL 36748. The main number is 334-295-2224, with 334-295-2219 as a second clerk line. Hours end at 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Pay the office that holds the case; a city charge goes to that city's court. Bring photo ID. Alabama adds 3.5 percent on top of each bond, with a floor of $100 for misdemeanors and $150 for felonies, plus a $35 filing fee. Ask for the complete total by phone so the drive to Coats Avenue is not wasted, and save each receipt in one folder.

Dunn Street records often abbreviate charges, which makes them confusing. For full charge names plus the case number, ask the detention center, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-2257. The Coats Avenue clerk, 101 East Coats Avenue, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-2224, can explain what has been filed.

In Alabama, felonies can mean state prison, while a misdemeanor sentence stays under a year in jail. Reading files at the clerk's counter costs nothing; Alacourt charges a fee. Prosecutors in Linden may later file something different from the booking charge. Until a court rules, every charge is only an accusation. Keep the case number beside your notes, since other people may share the name.

The person should ask the Linden judge at the first appearance. When someone can't pay, a sworn financial form goes to the judge, who then rules on appointing a lawyer. Demopolis and Linden city judges also appoint counsel when a city charge could mean jail.

Dunn Street phone calls and video visits are recorded. Urge your loved one to discuss charges only with the lawyer, never on jail lines. The Coats Avenue clerk, 101 East Coats Avenue, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-2224, can explain the paperwork. Statewide funding for appointed lawyers flows through Alabama's Office of Indigent Defense Services, 100 North Union Street, Suite 680, Montgomery, AL 36104, 334-242-7059, though only the judge makes an appointment.

According to the sheriff's office, each inmate may receive as many as five visitors per visiting day. The weekly schedule:

• Men: Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
• Women: Wednesdays, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Every visitor signs the register 30 minutes before visiting starts, so get to Dunn Street early. Bring a photo ID. Holidays and lockdowns can upset the schedule, so phone the detention center, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-2257, a day ahead. Ask about bringing children and what items are allowed. Our jail visitation guide covers more.

Video visits at the Marengo County Detention Center cost $6. After registering an account, relatives can join from a phone or laptop at home, or from visit stations inside the Linden jail. Time slots shift, so check them online or phone Dunn Street before booking.

Test the camera and microphone ahead of time. People on screen must follow the jail's dress and conduct rules. Recording is routine, so leave the case out of the chat. When a visit drops, note the time and any error message for staff. The jail is at 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-2257. Registration steps are in our at-home video visit guide.

Per the sheriff's office, inmate phones run daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., pausing for meals and lockdowns. Inmates can only call out. Calls go collect, or they draw down a prepaid account set up for your own number.

House rules on Dunn Street calls:

• Staff may listen and record.
• About 15 minutes per call is expected.
• No three-way calls.
• Jail staff do not relay messages, so set call times in advance.

Funding steps are explained in our inmate phone guide. Report connection trouble to the jail, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-2257.

Snacks, soap and other store items are bought from an online store account that families fund. Lobby kiosks at the Linden jail may also accept deposits. Each email runs a quarter. Calls draw on a separate prepaid account, so one balance may not cover every service.

Put the full name and Dunn Street booking number on each deposit, and keep the confirmation. Step-by-step help:

• Inmate deposits
• Commissary shopping
• Inmate email
• Inmate tablets

None of that money counts as bail. For deposit problems, call the jail, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-2257.

JailExchange's facility record lists one address for personal mail and subscriptions alike:

• First line: the inmate's complete name, then the inmate ID number.
• Then: Marengo County Jail, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748.

Put your own name and full street address in the upper left corner, so Dunn Street can send back anything it rejects. Leave out cash, stamps, medicine and anything the jail has not approved. Read our jail mail guide before tucking photos inside, because size and content limits apply. Mail questions go to the detention center at 334-295-2257. Letters from family can lift spirits during a long wait, so write often if you can.

Booking property normally comes back at release. If house keys or a wallet are needed sooner, ask whether a relative can sign them out. Evidence stays with the court case until a judge releases it.

Leftover account money follows a separate timetable. The sheriff's office says cash surrendered at booking may be spent on commissary or sent to someone outside. Once released, the former inmate returns 7 to 13 days later to pick up the remaining balance. The commissary officer chooses those pickup days and hours, and they can shift. Phone the Linden jail, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-2257, before making the trip.

Phone the detention center, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-2257, and request whoever supervises that Dunn Street shift. Describe the illness, list each prescription, name the pharmacy, and mention allergies. Give the legal name and birthday so the report lands in the right file.

Jail medical staff decide on treatment; emergencies go to a hospital in Demopolis or farther. Any worry about self-harm should be said plainly and immediately. Never mail or leave medication at Dunn Street unless staff explain how. If a serious health issue goes unaddressed, let defense counsel know so they can raise it with the court. Outside the jail, emergencies call for 911.

For county warrants, call the sheriff at 334-295-4208. Deputies work out of 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, where surrenders are taken. City warrants come from Demopolis Municipal Court, 301 East Washington Street, Demopolis, AL 36732, 334-289-5933, or Linden Municipal Court, 211 North Main Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-5051. Related court cases can be searched on Alacourt Access, and the Marengo clerk's site lists the clerk's services. With a lawyer's help, a planned Dunn Street surrender with bond ready can cut jail time short and keep the family in the loop.

Juvenile files are confidential, and minors never appear in adult custody records. Juvenile probation, 334-295-5541, can tell you where the youth is and when the hearing is set. Juvenile hearings take place at the courthouse, 101 East Coats Avenue, Linden, AL 36748.

Marengo has no youth detention center. A teen ordered held goes to a contracted regional center outside Marengo; probation staff can name it, and the Department of Youth Services center list shows the possibilities. A hearing has to happen within 72 hours. Sending a teen home with a parent is common. Older teens facing the gravest charges may be tried as adults, so have a lawyer confirm which Linden court holds the file.

Most federal arrests here are carried out by the Marshals or the DEA. Charges then go to the Southern District of Alabama, whose Northern Division meets at the federal courthouse, 908 Alabama Avenue, Selma, AL 36701. No full-time clerk works in Selma, so call the Mobile clerk's office, 155 St. Joseph Street, Mobile, AL 36602, 251-690-2371. A magistrate judge decides release after a pretrial officer reports on job, family and record.

While the case is pending, plenty of federal detainees stay in the Linden jail under a Marshals rental arrangement, and a Marshals hold may appear on VINELink. To learn where someone is housed, contact the Marshals in Mobile, 155 St. Joseph Street, Suite 201, Mobile, AL 36602, 251-499-6620. A federal prison sentence moves the person into BOP custody, trackable on the BOP locator.

Booking fingerprints taken on Dunn Street are run against federal databases that ICE can see. A match may prompt a detainer. Bonding out on the local charge leaves that detainer in place. Under it, Dunn Street may hang on to the inmate for no more than 48 hours after the scheduled release time, giving agents room to travel.

Agents usually collect people from the Linden jail inside that window. Should they miss it, the person walks free on the local case. Afterward, search the ICE Online Detainee Locator with the A-number plus birth country. Missing that number? Enter the precise name, the native country and the birthday. ICE's New Orleans office handles Alabama: 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360.

Sentences longer than twelve months are carried out by ADOC. The person stays on Dunn Street until ADOC has room. Then comes a reception center, where ADOC screens physical and mental health, security level and gang connections before assigning a prison that fits.

The ADOC inmate lookup finds people by name or AIS number; match birth details when names repeat. For information on each prison, read our Alabama state prisons pages. Prison mail and visit rules differ from the Linden jail's, so check the assigned prison's own rules before sending a letter or planning a trip.

It's a scam. Fraudsters follow arrest news and phone families quickly, demanding gift cards, wires or payment-app transfers before someone can leave Dunn Street. Bail is paid to the clerk on Coats Avenue or through a licensed bail agent who signs a written contract.

Hang up and dial the jail yourself, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-2257. Ask if the person is there and whether bond is set. Never read a card number or code to someone who called you. If money already went out, gather the receipts and file a report with your local police department. Warn the rest of the family too, since scammers often work through a whole contact list.

The arresting agency points to the court that will hear the case:

• Demopolis Police Department, 301 East Washington Street, Demopolis, AL 36732, 334-289-3073.
• Linden police cases: Linden Municipal Court, 211 North Main Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-5051.
• Marengo County Sheriff's Office, 101 Dunn Street, Linden, AL 36748, 334-295-4208, covering Thomaston, Sweet Water, Faunsdale, Dayton, rural roads, U.S. 80 and U.S. 43.

City arrests can bring city charges; deputies' arrests go to District Court. Someone may also be held for, or moved to, a neighboring county's jail:

• Sumter County Jail, 118 Hospital Drive, Livingston, AL 35470, 205-652-7259
• Greene County Jail, 951 Finches Ferry Road, Eutaw, AL 35462, 205-372-3152
• Hale County Jail, 1001 Main Street, Greensboro, AL 36744, 334-624-3081
• Dallas County Jail temporary site, 4805 US Highway 80, Uniontown, AL 36786, 334-690-1200
• Prince Arnold Detention Center in Wilcox County, 240 Highway 265 S, Camden, AL 36726, 334-682-4715
• Clarke County Jail, 149 Clark Street, Grove Hill, AL 36451, 251-275-8156
• Choctaw County Jail, 217 South Hamburg Avenue, Butler, AL 36904, 205-459-2166