Birmingham Mugshots: Find the Correct Booking, Jail & Court Record
If you are searching for Birmingham mugshots or a recent arrest, first determine whether the person is in Birmingham City Jail or a Jefferson County jail. The city and county operate separate custody systems, and searching only one can miss the record you need.
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Court, Criminal, Marriage, Divorce, Property
Birmingham City Jail handles city custody, while the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office operates county correctional facilities in Birmingham and Bessemer. A booking photograph or jail entry documents an arrest or detention event; it does not prove guilt or show the final court outcome.
Which Birmingham Jail or Arrest Record Should You Search?
The correct source depends on who is holding the person and what information you need. Current custody, a police incident report and the eventual criminal case are separate records.
Is the person in Birmingham City Jail?
Use Birmingham Police Department’s inmate inquiry route for a person currently held by the City. The city says searches require the person’s full name or subject number.
Birmingham City Jail →Was the person moved to Jefferson County?
Use the Sheriff’s official Inmate Inquiry. It supports searches by name, subject number, booking number, booking dates and housing facility.
Jefferson County Inmate Search →Need an incident or offense report?
Use Birmingham Police Records rather than the jail roster. BPD has separate rules, eligibility requirements and fees for releasable reports.
BPD Records Division →How to Search Birmingham City Jail
Birmingham City Jail is operated by the Birmingham Police Department at 425 6th Avenue South. The city describes the facility as housing pretrial detainees and people serving sentences for city ordinance violations.
Start with the official City Jail page
Use the City of Birmingham’s Custody Services page. It provides the official inmate inquiry route rather than requiring a third-party mugshot site.
Search using a full name or subject number
The city says you will need the person’s full name or subject number. A subject number is more specific than a common name when you already have it.
Review custody and release information
Search results can show current custody status and a scheduled release date where that information is available.
If no result appears, check Jefferson County
Birmingham’s official jail guidance specifically says a person not found in City Jail may have been transferred to Jefferson County.
Birmingham City Jail contact
The jail is located at 425 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205. General custody questions can be directed to 205-254-6369 or 205-254-6370.
Jefferson County Mugshots and Inmate Search
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office operates correctional facilities in Birmingham and Bessemer. For many Birmingham-area arrests, the county inmate system is the most useful official source after City Jail has been ruled out.
Search fields available
The Sheriff’s Inmate Inquiry currently provides fields for:
- Name
- Subject number
- Booking number
- In-custody status
- Booking-from date
- Booking-to date
- Housing facility
Jefferson County Jail — Birmingham
809 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. NBirmingham, AL 35203
Main switchboard:
205-325-5670
Administrative Office:
205-325-5772
Pre-Trial Release:
205-325-5716
What the Jefferson County Inmate Record Can Show
The public inquiry contains useful identifiers beyond a photograph. Check multiple fields before deciding that a record belongs to the person you are searching for.
| Record field | What it helps establish | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Photograph | Booking-record visual identifier | A photograph does not establish guilt or conviction. |
| Subject number | Specific person identifier within the system | It is an agency identifier, not a court disposition. |
| Booking number | A particular booking event | A person may have multiple bookings. |
| In custody | Whether the displayed record currently identifies custody | Status can change after you view the page. |
| Scheduled release date | Release information when available | A displayed date can be affected by later legal or administrative changes. |
| Housing facility | Which Jefferson County facility holds the person | Birmingham and Bessemer are separate jail locations. |
How to Search Recent Birmingham Bookings
Jefferson County’s official search allows booking-date ranges. That is more reliable than assuming an unofficial “today” or “last 7 days” mugshot gallery is complete.
| What you need | Start here | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Possible Birmingham City Jail custody | City Jail inmate inquiry | Search using full name or subject number. |
| Recent Jefferson County booking | Jefferson County Inmate Inquiry | Use booking-from and booking-to dates. |
| Current county custody only | Jefferson County Inmate Inquiry | Apply the in-custody filter and verify the housing facility. |
| Previously released person | Booking search + court records | Search the booking period, then follow the case through the appropriate court. |
| State-prison custody | Alabama Department of Corrections | Use ADOC only when state incarceration is the relevant question. |
How to Get a Birmingham Police Incident or Offense Report
A jail booking and a police report answer different questions. Birmingham Police Records maintains incident and offense reports and publishes separate access rules, processing information and charges.
Incident and offense reports
BPD says these reports may be released only to authorized parties and must be picked up in person after proper identification is shown.
Most releasable incident or offense reports are currently listed as available within 5–7 working days. Some records, including certain juvenile-related cases, may not be released.
Have the case number ready when contacting the Records Division about availability.
Current BPD records fees
- Incident/Offense Report: $10
- Accident Report: $10
- Birmingham-only Criminal Background Check: $10
- Fingerprints: $10
- Fingerprint Cards: $10
- Archived Report: $25
These are the fees published by Birmingham Police when reviewed September 27, 2026. Verify the current amount before paying.
Birmingham Police Records contact
1710 1st Avenue NorthBirmingham, AL 35203
Records:
205-254-6308
Email:
[email protected]
Posted Records Division hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. Birmingham-only criminal background checks are listed as available between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Which Birmingham Court Record Shows What Happened Next?
The correct court depends on the type of case. City misdemeanor and traffic matters can follow a different route from Jefferson County felony or other state-court criminal cases.
Birmingham Municipal Court
Birmingham Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal and traffic cases within the city’s police jurisdiction. The court also issues warrants, sets bail and conducts trials.
801 17th Street NorthBirmingham, AL 35203
Customer Service: 205-254-2161
Birmingham Municipal Court →Jefferson County District and Circuit Courts
Jefferson County’s Circuit Clerk is the official record keeper for District and Circuit Court proceedings. Criminal records are among the court divisions maintained by the office.
Jefferson County Courts →Alabama Just One Look
Alabama’s court system provides Just One Look for on-demand state trial court records. The Jefferson County Circuit Clerk notes that fees apply to this online service.
Open Just One Look →When to Use the Alabama Department of Corrections Inmate Search
ADOC is not a replacement for Birmingham City Jail or Jefferson County inmate searches. It serves a different stage of the custody system.
Who appears in ADOC search?
The Alabama Department of Corrections says its online database contains people who are currently incarcerated in ADOC custody. Historical inmate data is not available through that online search.
ADOC also states that the public inmate search does not include inmates sentenced under Alabama’s Youthful Offender Act.
Best identifier: AIS number
The search supports an Alabama Institutional Serial number or inmate name. ADOC describes the six-digit AIS number as the unique inmate identifier and the quickest way to locate a particular person when it is known.
Why You May Not Find the Birmingham Mugshot or Booking
One empty search is not enough to determine that an arrest never occurred. Check the custody route and the age of the record before drawing a conclusion.
The person may have transferred
Birmingham City Jail expressly advises users to check Jefferson County if a person is no longer found in city custody.
Booking may still be processing
Arrest, intake, identification and record publication do not necessarily happen at the same moment. Recheck the responsible official system when the arrest is very recent.
The person may no longer be in custody
Search available booking-date information and then use police and court records if you need an older arrest after release.
The person may be in the other Jefferson County facility
Jefferson County operates both Birmingham and Bessemer jail facilities. Use the housing-facility field rather than assuming every county inmate is housed downtown.
The person may have moved to ADOC
A person serving a state sentence may appear in Alabama DOC rather than a local jail search. Use the system that matches the current stage of custody.
Some information may not be public
Juvenile, sealed, protected or otherwise restricted information may not appear in a public search or may not be releasable through an ordinary records request.
Birmingham Jail, Police and Court Contact Directory
Use the office connected with the record you actually need rather than sending the same request to every agency.
| Agency or facility | Address | Contact | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City Jail | 425 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205 | 205-254-6369 | City custody and detainee questions. |
| Jefferson County Jail — Birmingham | 809 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Birmingham, AL 35203 | 205-325-5670 | County custody, charges and bond information. |
| Birmingham Police Records | 1710 1st Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203 | 205-254-6308 | Incident/offense reports and Birmingham records. |
| Birmingham Municipal Court | 801 17th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203 | 205-254-2161 | City misdemeanor and traffic cases. |
Official Sources for Birmingham Mugshots and Jail Records
These government and court resources were reviewed on September 27, 2026. Jail status, fees, office hours, court schedules and access rules can change, so recheck time-sensitive information before visiting or paying for a record.
- City of Birmingham — Custody Services Division — Birmingham City Jail and inmate inquiry guidance.
- Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Inquiry — county inmate, booking and housing-facility search.
- Jefferson County — County Jail — Birmingham jail contact, custody and bond information.
- Birmingham Police Records Division — police reports, background checks, fees and records contacts.
- Birmingham Municipal Court — city misdemeanor and traffic proceedings.
- Jefferson County — Tenth Judicial Circuit — Jefferson County District and Circuit Court information.
- Alabama Administrative Office of Courts — statewide court resources and Just One Look access.
- Alabama Department of Corrections Inmate Search — current Alabama state-prison custody.
Related guide: USA Mugshots Official Public-Record Guide .
Birmingham Mugshots FAQ
Where can I find Birmingham, Alabama mugshots?
Start with Birmingham City Jail if the person may be in city custody. If no matching city detainee appears, check the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Inquiry, which includes booking photographs and separate Birmingham and Bessemer housing facilities.
Is Birmingham City Jail the same as Jefferson County Jail?
No. Birmingham City Jail is operated by the Birmingham Police Department. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office operates separate county correctional facilities, including its Birmingham jail and Bessemer facility.
Can I search Jefferson County bookings by date?
Yes. The official Jefferson County Inmate Inquiry includes booking-from and booking-to date fields along with name, subject number, booking number, custody status and housing-facility options.
What if the person is no longer in Birmingham City Jail?
Birmingham’s official jail guidance says the person may have been transferred to Jefferson County. Search the county inmate roster or call Jefferson County Jail at 205-325-5670.
How do I get a Birmingham Police arrest or incident report?
Contact the Birmingham Police Records Division. BPD says releasable incident or offense reports are available only to authorized parties and generally require in-person pickup with identification. Have the case number available when asking whether a report can be released.
How much does a Birmingham Police report cost?
As reviewed September 27, 2026, BPD lists incident/offense reports at $10, accident reports at $10, Birmingham-only criminal background checks at $10 and archived reports at $25. Verify current charges before paying.
Where do I check the outcome of a Birmingham criminal case?
City misdemeanor and traffic cases may be handled through Birmingham Municipal Court. Jefferson County District and Circuit Court cases can be researched through the Jefferson County court system and Alabama’s Just One Look trial-court service.
Does a Birmingham mugshot prove the person was convicted?
No. A mugshot or booking record documents an arrest or detention event. It does not establish guilt and does not replace the court record showing what happened later in the case.
When should I use the Alabama DOC inmate search?
Use ADOC when you are looking for a person currently incarcerated in the Alabama state-prison system. ADOC says its online inmate database does not provide historical inmate data and does not include inmates sentenced under the Youthful Offender Act.