Jefferson County Police Records Search

Police records in Jefferson County include arrest data, jail rosters, and booking information maintained by the Sheriff's Office. As the most populous county in Alabama with over 664,000 residents, Jefferson County processes thousands of bookings each year across two jail facilities. The Sheriff's Corrections Division handles all detention operations for people awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. You can search current inmates online for free through the official inmate inquiry portal. This page covers how to find arrest records, request police reports, and look up who is in the Jefferson County Jail right now.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the unincorporated areas of Jefferson County. They also run the county jail system. Mark Pettway serves as the current sheriff.

Here is the main contact info for the Sheriff's Office:

• Address: 2200 Rev Abraham Woods, Jr., Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203
• Phone: 205-325-5700
• Website: jeffcosheriffal.com

The office is open Monday through Friday. Hours run from 8 AM to 5 PM. For urgent matters, call the main number. Someone is there around the clock.

If you need a police report, go to the Records Division. They can pull incident reports and crash reports for you. Fees apply for copies. Call ahead to check what you need to bring.

Jefferson County Jail Facilities

Jefferson County runs two jail facilities. One is in Birmingham. The other is in Bessemer. Both fall under the Corrections Division of the Sheriff's Office.

The Birmingham County Jail holds most inmates. This is the larger of the two facilities. It sits in downtown Birmingham near the courthouse.

• Address: 809 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Birmingham, AL 35203
• Phone: 205-325-5670

The Bessemer County Jail serves the western part of Jefferson County. It handles bookings for that area.

• Address: 1822 2nd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020
• Phone: 205-481-4160

Together, these jails hold around 1,000 inmates on any given day. The population changes as people get released or transferred. Inmates here are either waiting for trial or serving sentences under one year. Those with longer sentences go to state prison.

Visitation rules differ by facility. Check the Sheriff's website for current schedules. Most visits must be scheduled in advance. Video visitation is also available at both jails.

How to Search Jefferson County Inmates

Finding who is in jail is simple. The Sheriff's Office has a free online tool for this.

Go to the Jefferson County Inmate Inquiry page. You can search in several ways:

• Search by the person's first or last name
• Search by subject number if you have it
• Search by booking number

Results show the inmate's name and photo. You also see their charges, bond amount, and booking date. The system covers both the Birmingham and Bessemer facilities.

This is a real-time search. It shows who is currently in custody. If someone got released, they will not appear. For past arrests, you need to contact the Sheriff's Office directly.

The inmate search is free to use. No account is required. It updates throughout the day as new bookings come in and releases happen.

How to Request Police Records

Getting copies of police records takes a few steps. The process depends on what type of record you need.

For arrest records, contact the Sheriff's Office Records Division. You can request records for yourself or ask about someone else. Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, public records are open to inspection by Alabama residents. Arrest records fall under this law.

The sheriff keeps what is called a jail book. Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 requires every sheriff to maintain this record. It lists each person committed to the jail. This log is a public document.

To request a record, you can visit in person or submit a written request. Include these details:

• The full name of the person
• Date of birth if known
• Approximate date of the arrest
• Your contact information
• Payment for any fees

Response times vary. Simple requests may take a few days. Complex requests can take longer. Alabama law does not set a deadline for responses.

If you want a criminal background check, that goes through ALEA at the state level. The Sheriff's Office does not run background checks for the public.

Jefferson County Police Record Fees

Fees apply for most record copies. These help cover the cost of processing requests.

Typical fees in Jefferson County include:

• Incident reports: $10 to $25 depending on length
• Crash reports: $15 to $25
• Copy fees: Around $0.50 per page
• Certification: Extra fee if you need a certified copy

The inmate search online is free. No charge to look up who is in jail.

Payment methods vary. Some records offices take cash only. Others accept money orders or credit cards. Call ahead to check what forms of payment they take.

Note: Fees can change. Always confirm the current cost before sending payment by mail.

Jefferson County Court Records

Court records are different from police records. The Sheriff handles arrests. The courts handle cases after charges are filed.

Jefferson County is in the 10th Judicial Circuit. This circuit is unique because it is the only one in Alabama that only covers one county. The Circuit Court hears felony criminal cases. District Court handles misdemeanors and preliminary hearings.

For court records, contact the Circuit Clerk's Office. They have records of all criminal cases filed in the county. You can also search online through Alacourt Access at pa.alacourt.com.

The Birmingham Division of the Circuit Clerk handles most cases:

• Address: 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Room 500, Birmingham, AL 35203
• Phone: 205-325-5355

The Bessemer Division covers cases from that part of the county:

• Address: 1801 3rd Avenue N, Bessemer, AL 35020
• Phone: 205-497-8580

Online court searches cost $9.99 for a name search. This includes access to one case. Document images cost extra.

Legal Aid and Resources

If you need legal help, several organizations serve Jefferson County.

Legal Services Alabama provides free legal help to those who qualify based on income. They handle civil matters and can give referrals for criminal cases.

The Birmingham Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. Call them for a low-cost consultation with an attorney who handles criminal matters.

For those who cannot afford a lawyer in a criminal case, the court appoints a public defender. This happens at the first court appearance if you qualify.

The Alabama State Bar has an online lawyer search tool. You can find attorneys by practice area and location. Look for those who specialize in criminal defense if you need help with an arrest or charges.

Cities in Jefferson County

Jefferson County contains many cities and towns. Each city police department handles records for crimes within their limits.

The largest cities in Jefferson County are:

• Birmingham - The county seat and largest city in Alabama
• Hoover - Split between Jefferson and Shelby counties

Smaller cities include Bessemer, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, and many others. These cities have their own police departments. Contact them directly for records from their jurisdictions.

If you are not sure which agency handled a case, start with the location where the incident happened. City police cover city limits. The Sheriff covers unincorporated areas.

Nearby Counties

Jefferson County shares borders with several other Alabama counties. Records from these areas are kept by their respective sheriff offices.

Search Jefferson County Records

Use the search tool below to find police records in Jefferson County. Look up arrest records, inmates, and criminal history.