About the Jefferson County Jail
Jefferson County Jail is a two-facility county jail system in Jefferson County, Alabama, operated by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The system includes the Birmingham Jail and the Bessemer Jail, and the facilities hold people awaiting trial, people held on state or federal matters, and individuals awaiting transfer to the Alabama Department of Corrections.
The current Jefferson County Sheriff is Mark Pettway. The corrections command structure includes Deputy Chief John F. Weatherly Jr. over Birmingham and Bessemer Corrections, Captain Terry Guinn for Birmingham Corrections, and Captain Philip O. Hill Jr. for Bessemer Corrections. Jail operations are provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with on-site medical services at both facilities and law library and adult education services listed for the Birmingham facility.
Jefferson County Jail - Birmingham
- Facility
- Jefferson County Jail - Birmingham
- Address
- 809 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Main Phone
- (205) 325-5670
- Operated By
- Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Jefferson County Jail - Bessemer
- Facility
- Jefferson County Jail - Bessemer
- Address
- 1822 2nd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020
- Main Phone
- (205) 481-4160
- Operated By
- Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
How the Jefferson County Inmate Search Works
The live roster at the top of this page is the Jefferson County inmate search tool for current jail custody records. You can use the search box to filter the roster by inmate name, booking number, or listed charge, and the results narrow while you search.
The roster may show core booking fields such as name, booking number, booking date, charge summary, custody status, and housing facility. When available, "View Details" may reveal more booking information, including subject number, demographic information, booking history, housing facility, total bond amount, total bail amount, booking origin, bond entries, and individual charge rows.
Use the "In Custody" status and housing facility information carefully because Jefferson County's broader official inquiry data can include released or historical booking records. This page is designed for current inmate lookup Jefferson County users, but the jail roster is not the same thing as a court docket. Alabama trial court records are maintained separately through state court record systems such as Just One Look, Alacourt, and AlaFile, while this roster is focused on jail booking and custody data.
Posting Bail at Jefferson County Jail
Bail is set by the court, not by Jefferson County Jail staff. Jail staff can provide information about an inmate's charges, bond amount, and how to arrange bond, but the court controls whether bond is available and what conditions apply.
Before going to the jail to post bail, call the facility where the inmate is housed. For Birmingham inmates, call Jefferson County Jail - Birmingham at (205) 325-5670 or the Birmingham Pre-Trial Release Office at (205) 325-5716. For Bessemer inmates, call Jefferson County Jail - Bessemer at (205) 481-4160 or the Bessemer Pre-Trial Release Office at (205) 481-8529.
The roster details may show total bond amount, total bail amount, bond number, bond type, and bond amount when those fields are available. Accepted payment methods are not confirmed in the provided county data, so call the jail before arriving to confirm whether cash, card, money order, or surety bond options are currently accepted.
Common court-ordered bail or release conditions in Alabama may include:
- No-contact or protective-order conditions.
- Firearm surrender requirements.
- DUI-related alcohol, drug, testing, or driving restrictions.
- Pretrial evaluation, monitoring, or supervision.
- Court-date compliance and updated contact information requirements.
Sending Money to an Inmate
Jefferson County Jail money deposit methods are not confirmed in the provided county data. Call the jail before sending funds or coming to the facility to confirm the current approved deposit methods for the Birmingham or Bessemer location.
For an inmate housed in Birmingham, call (205) 325-5670. For an inmate housed in Bessemer, call (205) 481-4160. Use the inmate's full name and booking number from the Jefferson County jail roster when asking staff how to deposit money so the funds are applied to the correct person.
No commissary platform, online deposit vendor, cash drop-off process, booking fee, medical co-pay, work-release fee, or pay-to-stay fee was confirmed in the provided county data. Do not assume a deposit method is accepted until jail staff confirms the current procedure.
Inmate Communication
Inmates at Jefferson County Jail cannot receive incoming personal phone calls. The current phone service provider and account setup instructions are not confirmed in the provided county data, so call the jail at (205) 325-5670 for Birmingham or (205) 481-4160 for Bessemer before setting up a phone account.
Mail should be addressed to the facility where the inmate is housed. For Birmingham inmates, use Jefferson County Jail - Birmingham, 809 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Birmingham, AL 35203. For Bessemer inmates, use Jefferson County Jail - Bessemer, 1822 2nd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020.
Include the inmate's full legal name and booking number when available. Jail calls and mail are generally monitored and screened, except confidential legal communication with an attorney.
Visitation at Jefferson County Jail
Jefferson County Jail has in-person visitation, but visit access depends on the facility, inmate eligibility, staffing, classification, and scheduling. The provided county data confirms that Birmingham visitation is available Monday through Saturday evenings and Bessemer visitation is available Saturday and Sunday.
Visitor rules confirmed for Jefferson County Jail include:
- Bring a valid state ID or driver's license.
- Expect all visitors to be subject to search.
- Do not wear provocative or revealing clothing.
- Do not bring cell phones, electronic devices, purses, packages, food, or drinks into the visitation area.
- Confirm age and supervision rules before bringing a minor visitor.
| Facility | Confirmed Visitation Window | Confirmed Scheduling Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Jail | Monday through Saturday evenings | The inmate must schedule a 45-minute slot the day before the visit |
| Bessemer Jail | Saturday and Sunday | The inmate must schedule a 45-minute slot the day before the visit |
Each inmate may receive no more than two visits per week under the confirmed Jefferson County visitation rules. Call the correct facility before planning a visit to confirm the current schedule, whether the inmate is cleared for visitors, and whether any operational changes affect that day's visit.
Jefferson County Court Information
Jefferson County criminal cases are handled within the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Alabama, with Birmingham and Bessemer divisions. District Court handles misdemeanor matters and felony preliminary hearings, while Circuit Court has the primary role in felony prosecutions.
Court dates can change, and the hearing notice or judge-issued document is the controlling source for the date, time, courtroom, and format. The jail roster is not a court calendar, and Jefferson County Jail should not be treated as the final source for court-date changes.
For court-date questions connected to Birmingham cases, the confirmed numbers are District Court at (205) 325-5309 and Circuit Court at (205) 325-5285. For court-date questions connected to Bessemer cases, the confirmed numbers are District Court at (205) 497-8520 and Circuit Court at (205) 497-8510.
Jefferson County court information includes a Find My Courtroom resource that warns court dates may change frequently and that judge-issued documents control when there is a conflict. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Court Services function also handles court-related duties, including prisoner transport, but the provided data does not confirm whether a specific hearing will use in-person transport, video, telephone, Zoom, or another format.
- Court
- Jefferson County Circuit Clerk - Birmingham Division
- Address
- Jefferson County Courthouse, 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Phone
- (205) 325-5355
- Hours
- 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday
- Judicial District
- Tenth Judicial Circuit of Alabama