Sumter County Jail
Sumter County Jail
If you need information on an inmate, the 136-bed Sumter County Jail is available 24 hours a day at 205-652-7259.
Law enforcement brings people arrested for misdemeanors and felonies in this county to this facility for booking and processing. If the charges require it, they remain here until they are bonded out, released on their own recognizance, or ordered held until their trial is decided.
Check the inmate search tool for a roster of those who have been arrested and are still in custody.
Inmates who are convicted and sentenced to under a year stay here. Those with longer sentences are sent to the Alabama State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page walks you through searching the official roster, calling the facility at 205-652-7259, getting directions, and using inmate services such as visitation, account funding, mail, phone calls, voicemail, email and text, tablet rentals, bail, and commissary.
Make a note of the inmate’s booking number or jail ID, since mail and other services often require it. If it isn’t online, call Sumter County Jail at 205-652-7259.
Inmate Services
Other Jails and Prisons
Search for inmates in the Sumter County Jail using the Official Jail Inmate Roster. It lists each inmate’s charges, bond amount, visitation eligibility, and mugshot. Staff can also help by phone at 205-652-7259. Alabama court information for criminal cases can be accessed through the Alacourt ACCESS V2.0 Portal.
Sumter County Jail Inmate Search
We’ve put the most common questions about finding an inmate in the Sumter County Jail in one place: our Frequently Asked Questions and Answers. They also explain how rosters work and what happens after an arrest and booking. Call 205-652-7259 for more help.
The Sumter County Jail is licensed for 136 inmates at any given time, but it often has to make room for more, especially on weekends. At most city and county jails, at least 40% of inmates turn over monthly, another 30% every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 8-9% stay six to twelve months. Stays longer than twelve months usually mean serious charges like rape or murder. Because those cases take time to prepare for trial, offenders arrested in Sumter County are forced to remain in custody at the Sumter County facility much longer.
Approximately 2,720 offenders are arrested and detained each year by Sumter County law enforcement agencies.
The Sumter County Jail is at 118 Hospital Drive in Livingston, AL 35470, the county seat in west Alabama near the Mississippi line. The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office runs it. The jail has 136 beds and holds adults arrested in the county. Call the jail at (205) 652-7259 or the sheriff’s office at (205) 652-2841. To check whether someone is being held, search VINELink (vinelink.vineapps.com) or call the jail.
Under Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 4.3, anyone arrested must see a judge without unnecessary delay and within 72 hours. Sumter County is in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, along with Greene and Marengo counties. You can reach the circuit clerk at (205) 652-2291, and you can look up cases on Alacourt (v2.alacourt.com). Anyone who may have a warrant should contact the sheriff’s office or a lawyer before turning themselves in.
Most defendants in Alabama are entitled to bail. The exceptions are capital cases where the proof is evident or the presumption great, and, after a pretrial detention hearing under Aniah’s Law (2022), charges of murder; first-degree kidnapping, rape, sodomy, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson or robbery; aggravated child abuse and certain offenses against children; and terrorism. In May 2026, voters passed Amendment 1 (81.6% yes) to add solicitation, attempt or conspiracy to commit murder, and shooting into an occupied building or vehicle. The Rule 7.2 schedule gives judges a range for most other charges: $10,000–$60,000 for a Class A felony, $5,000–$30,000 for a Class B felony, $300–$6,000 for a Class A misdemeanor and $1,000–$7,500 for DUI. Judges can go above or below it. Release may be on personal recognizance, on an unsecured appearance bond, or on a secured bond paid in cash, backed by property, or written by a bail bond company. Call the jail for amounts and accepted payment types.
Inmate Sales (Combined Public Communications) runs video visits. Register at inmatesales.com before your first visit. Free 20-minute on-site video visits run from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the inmate’s assigned day, with up to three visitors. Remote visits run from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and cost $0.20 a minute. Bring a government-issued photo ID. Visitors under 17 need an adult with them. Don’t wear low-cut tops, tank tops, short skirts or tight shorts. No public bus serves Livingston, so plan to drive. You can buy gas at the Shell at 100 Washington Street S. or the Chevron at 703 AL-28 West. Jack’s at 118 N. Washington Street and McDonald’s at 704 AL-28 are nearby for a quick meal.
All mail goes to the inmate’s full name and inmate number, Sumter County Jail, 118 Hospital Drive, Livingston, AL 35470. Postcards, letters, legal mail, and publications sent directly from the publisher are accepted. Books must be paperback and come from a retailer such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. Commissary deposits and care packages up to $125 go through Inmate Canteen at team3.inmatecanteen.com ((715) 690-2965). Phones, texting (“chirping”) and tablet rentals are through Inmate Sales at (877) 998-5678.
- Jail (Main): 205-652-7259
- Circuit Court Clerk: 205-652-2291
- Circuit Court Judge: 205-652-6169
- District Attorney: 334-295-2219
- District Court Judge: 205-652-7364
- Livingston Police: 205-652-9525
- Sheriff: 205-652-2841
How booking works at Sumter County Jail
When someone is arrested, they are taken to Sumter County Jail for booking. This process includes identifying them, deciding on charges, and determining if they will be eligible for bail or held until court.
It's important to stay silent during this process, as any statements made may be used in court. Legal advice should be sought before speaking about the case.
The following steps make up the booking process at Sumter County Jail:
- Verification of personal details.
- Taking mugshots for identification purposes.
- Health assessments and questions about criminal history.
- Possible DNA collection if required.
- Search of the individual.
- Confiscation of personal property.
- Providing a phone call.
For more information on paying an arrestee’s bond, contact Sumter County Jail at 205-652-7259.
Paying bail for someone in Sumter County
After being arrested and booked into Sumter County Jail in Livingston, the arrestee's situation will proceed in one of three ways:
1. They may be released without bail and required to attend a court hearing.
2. They may be held in custody until their court date.
3. Bail can be posted for their release; call 205-652-7259 for the exact bail amount.
There are multiple ways to pay bail.
- Cash bonds are paid in full at the jail's bonding window or with the clerk of court, accepted as cash, cashier's check or money order, and many jails let you pay by card at a lobby kiosk or with an online bond vendor for a fee; have the inmate's full name and booking number when you go, and the jail is at 205-652-7259.
- Licensed bail bond agents in Sumter County can facilitate the process.
- Many courts accept a home or land as collateral for bond, as long as the owner proves clear title and equity at least equal to the bond amount (often twice it) with a deed and a current tax or appraisal value, and the court that set bail approves the pledge.
To get more information on the bail process in Sumter County, Alabama, visit the Sumter County Jail Bail FAQ.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Visit an Inmate in the Sumter County Jail? What is the Schedule?
Sumter County Jail on-site Inmate Visitation Schedule
118 Hospital Drive
Livingston, AL 35470
205-652-7259
- First, you must register with Inmate Sales, and then schedule a visit.
- Each inmate is allowed an unlimited amount of visits per day. Remote visitation is $0.20 per minute.
- Proper attire is required. No low-cut blouses, tank tops, short skirts or dresses, tight shorts, hats or any other form of provocative dress will be allowed. Shirt and shoes must be worn.
- All visitors must provide proper state or government issued photo identification (i.e. driver’s license, foreign id or passports) for inmate visitation.
- On Site video visitation is available at no cost.
- A video visit lasts 20 minutes.
- Visitors may only use this system on the inmates assigned visitation day, whenever the inmates have free time.
- All rules set forth for non-contact visitation shall be adhered to when using the video visitation system.
- Any lewd, profane or inappropriate behavior shall result in loss of video visitation privileges for the visitor and/or inmate.
- Each inmate is permitted a maximum of three on site visitors per session.
- Visitation sign-up is limited and on a first-come first serve basis.
- Visitors are encouraged to go online and reserve a visitation time. Purchased visitation minutes are not transferable.
- An adult must accompany all visitors who are under 17 years of age. Children must be monitored at all times.
- Visitors are not allowed to bring any personal belongings with them into the visitation area other than their picture ID and/or a set of keys unless otherwise allowed by the jail.
ON SITE VIDEO VISITATION - * NOTE: Each inmate is assigned one day a week for on-site visits. Check with them for their specific day, then book a time online with Inmate Sales.
| DAY | TIMES |
| SUNDAY | 9:00AM - 6:00PM |
| MONDAY | 9:00AM - 6:00PM |
| TUESDAY | 9:00AM - 6:00PM |
| WEDNESDAY | 9:00AM - 6:00PM |
| THURSDAY | 9:00AM - 6:00PM |
| FRIDAY | 9:00AM - 6:00PM |
| SATURDAY | 9:00AM - 6:00PM |
Sumter County Jail Remote Inmate Video Visitation
- First, you must register with Inmate Sales, and then schedule a visit.
- Each inmate is allowed an unlimited amount of visits per day. Remote visitation is $0.20 per minute.
- Remote Visits are $0.20 per minute.
REMOTE VIDEO VISITATION
| DAY | TIMES |
| SUNDAY | 6:00AM - 11:00PM |
| MONDAY | 6:00AM - 11:00PM |
| TUESDAY | 6:00AM - 11:00PM |
| WEDNESDAY | 6:00AM - 11:00PM |
| THURSDAY | 6:00AM - 11:00PM |
| FRIDAY | 6:00AM - 11:00PM |
| SATURDAY | 6:00AM - 11:00PM |
Sumter County Jail uses the services of Inmate Sales, also known as Combined Public Communication (CPC) for visitation communication between inmates and their friends and family members.
In order to have a successful video visit, these are the steps to follow:
- Make sure you have a device a speaker, a camera and a connection to the internet.
- Register with Inmate Sales.
- Find Sumter County Jail
- Select 'New Purchase'
- Choose this facility and a product ('Remote' or 'Onsite' Visit)
- Enter your personal information and purchase minutes.
- Schedule a visit.
Call 877-998-5678 if you have any questions.
iphone app
Google Play app
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sumter County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-652-7259 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Sumter County Jail?
Sumter County Jail uses the services of Inmate Sales, also known as Combined Public Communication (CPC) for visitation communication between inmates and their friends and family members.
In order to have a successful video visit, these are the steps to follow:
- Make sure you have a device a speaker, a camera and a connection to the internet.
- Register with Inmate Sales.
- Find Sumter County Jail
- Select 'New Purchase'
- Choose this facility and a product ('Remote' or 'Onsite' Visit)
- Enter your personal information and purchase minutes.
- Schedule a visit.
Call 877-998-5678 if you have any questions.
iphone app
Google Play app
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sumter County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-652-7259 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Sumter County Jail?
Instructions on purchasing commissary items for an inmate:
NOTE: Sumter County Jail 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.
How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Sumter County
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Sumter County Jail follow these steps:
- Register to create an account, or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen if you already have one.
- Select Alabama, then Sumter County Jail, and then the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
- Select the "Purchase Commissary Items" option.
- Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
- NOTE: Sumter County Jail may at times only allow online deposits for your inmate to purchase their own commissary locally.
For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Sumter County Jail, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Sumter County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sumter County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-652-7259 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Sumter County Jail?
How Do Inmates in Sumter County Jail Make Phone Calls?
To receive phone calls from inmates in Sumter County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:
- Sumter County Jail uses the services of a company named Inmate Sales.
- Register with them online or call them at 877-998-5678.
- Agents are available M-F from 8:00 AM - 12:00 midnight EST, Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, and speak both English & Spanish.
- Services for Sumter County inmates and their families and friends include: Collect Calling, PIN Debit, Purchasing Calling Cards, Deposits, Messaging & Video Visitation.
For all the information regarding phone calls with Sumter County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, 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 Sumter County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-652-7259 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow do I Mail an Inmate in the Sumter County Jail, and what can I send them?
Sumter County Jail Inmate Mail Guidelines
Postcards
Ask the Sumter County Jail whether it accepts postcards, and what size and type, before mailing one. Always include your name and return address.
Envelopes
The Sumter County 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 & Inmate #
Sumter County Jail
118 Hospital Drive
Livingston, AL 35470
Legal Mail
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate #
Sumter County Jail
118 Hospital Drive
Livingston, AL 35470
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 Sumter County 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 Sumter County Jail standards will be disposed of.
Ask the Sumter County Jail whether hardcover books are accepted.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate #
Sumter County Jail
118 Hospital Drive
Livingston, AL 35470
Sumter County Jail Inmate Mail Policies and Address - What Can You Send, and Where?
For inmates receiving mail in the Sumter County 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 Sumter County Jail:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate #
Sumter County Jail
118 Hospital Drive
Livingston, AL 35470
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 Sumter County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-652-7259 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Sumter County Jail, and what can I purchase?
Sumter County Jail uses the services of Inmate Canteen for Online Commissary Purchases for an Inmate.
Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
NOTE: Sumter County Jail 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:
- Register or Log in to your account
- Select the facility where the inmate is located and the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
- Select the "Purchase Items" option
- Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Sumter County
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Sumter County Jail follow these steps:
- Register to create an account, or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen if you already have one.
- Select Alabama, then Sumter County Jail, and then the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
- Select the "Purchase Commissary Items" option.
- Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Sumter County Jail, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Sumter 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 Sumter County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-652-7259 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Sumter County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?
Sumter County Jail uses the services of Inmate Sales to allow text messaging communication between inmates and their friends and family.
Chirping is the product name for inmate texting.
This product allows inmates to send chirps (texts) to friends and family members.
Here's how it works:
- First you must register, and then funds are added to the inmate's account. If you want to pay by phone, call 877-998-5678.
- When an inmate gets the device they may send 5 free automated messages each day for the first three days of possession of the chirping device.
- These automated messages will inform the person the inmate Chirped who is sending the Chirps and the facility they are Chirping from.
- It will then ask them to go to a direct link to the inmate's account on the Inmate Sales website.
- The website will then instruct them to use a credit card to put money on the inmate's account.
Cost of Chirping:
- If an inmate has available funds on their chirping device they will be able to chirp any cell phone and that chirp will appear to be a normal text.
- If you wish to stop receiving Chirps from an inmate, reply to the Chirp with STOP.
How to Send a Secure Email Message to an Inmate in Sumter County
To send a secure email message to an inmate in Sumter County Jail follow these steps:
- Register with Inmate Sales, the company that handles inmate messaging in Sumter County, by creating an account.
- Select Alabama, then select Sumter County Jail, and then the inmate you want to send your message to.
- Choose the amount of money you want to spend, and input your payment method. The funds can also be used by the inmate to send a message back to you.
- If you want to pay by phone, call 877-998-5678.
- NOTE: All messages between you and your inmate will be permanently recorded and seen by the staff and could be used against your inmate in court.
- Chirping is the product name for inmate texting.
- This product allows Sumter County inmates to send chirps (texts) to friends and family members.
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Inmate Sales Apps
iphone app
Google Play app
For all information on how to Text/Email an Inmate in Sumter County Jail check out our Secure Messaging Guide for Sumter County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sumter County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-652-7259 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessDo Inmates in the Sumter County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?
Sumter County Jail now offers Inmate Sales Tablets to their inmates.
Inmate Sales also handles inmate phone systems, video visitations, email and texting (they call it chirping) and digital letters.
The tablets are not directly connected to the internet, and inmates can use them for the following activities:
- Phone Calls - Inmates may make calls directly from their tablet allowing for more privacy. The rates are the same as the phones in the unit, and the calls are still recorded and monitored.
- eMessaging - Communicate via a text based message or picture.
- Job Search - Inmates have the ability to see what jobs are available when they are released.
- Education - Free educational platform and course catalog that provides thousands of educational resources.
- Self Help -Inmates have daily access to mental health and addiction recovery programming.
- Music - Top-40, Hip-Hop, Country, Rock, Gospel, and more.
- Law Library - Legal research with up-to-date case information.
- eBooks - Thousands of available titles.
- Religion - Religious resources for spiritual guidance.
- Games - Inmates can play their favorite games. Available through monthly subscriptions
- Facility Services - Digital access to submitted forms, requests, facility documents, and notifications from staff.
Here's how it works:
- Register here. It is recommended you use Chrome or Firefox.
Questions:
- By phone - 877-998-5678
Sumter County Jail now offers Inmate Sales Tablets to their inmates.
Inmate Sales also handles inmate phone systems, video visitations, email and texting (they call it chirping) and digital letters.
The tablets are not directly connected to the internet, and inmates can use them for the following activities:
Here's how it works:
- Register here. It is recommended you use Chrome or Firefox.
Questions:
- By phone - 877-998-5678
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Sumter County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 205-652-7259 for further assistance.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessWhat are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Sumter County?
The Sumter County Jail serves the following cities and towns of Sumter County: Emelle, Geiger, Livingston, Panola and York.