Which Jail Is He In? A Jefferson County, Alabama Guide

October 14, 2026 · Jay Orkerly

To find out which jail someone is in after an arrest in Jefferson County, Alabama, start with who arrested him. A Sheriff's deputy takes people to one of the two county jails, in Birmingham or Bessemer, and one Sheriff's search covers both. A city police officer usually takes him to that city's jail first. Anyone held on a felony charge is moved to the county jail.

Have a name or a booking number? Call Bail Bonds of Alabama at 205-401-8052, 24 hours a day.

Key takeaways

Jefferson County has 18 jails run by cities plus two run by the county, according to a 2020 PARCA survey.
The agency that made the arrest decides the first jail.
One Sheriff's search covers both county jails, Birmingham and Bessemer.
The Birmingham City Jail is a separate jail with its own search.
People move between jails, so search again before you drive anywhere or pay anyone.

Why is it so hard to tell which jail he is in?

Jefferson County has an unusual number of jails. A 2020 survey by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) counted 18 jails run by cities in Jefferson County, plus two run by the county. PARCA found that, for its population, Jefferson County may have more jails than any other major county in the country.

Many of those city jails work like short-term holding cells. PARCA found that most people booked into them are in and out in less than 72 hours, and people held on felony charges are transferred to the Jefferson County Jail.

That is why the city where he was picked up only gives you part of the answer. Three arrests a few miles apart, made by three different agencies, can land in three different jails. The agency that arrested him is the clue that matters most, so that is where your search starts.

When you have a name, one call to 205-401-8052 starts the bond.

Step 1: Who arrested him?

Start with the badge, because each agency has its own first stop.

Who arrested him	Where he usually goes first	Where to look
Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy	Jefferson County Jail, in Birmingham or Bessemer	The Sheriff's Inmate Inquiry, which searches both jails
Birmingham police	The Birmingham City Jail, a separate jail run by the city	Birmingham's own Inmate Inquiry
Police in a city that runs its own jail	That city's jail	The city's police department
Police in a city that sends prisoners elsewhere	A neighboring city's jail or the county jail	Ask the arresting police department

In our experience, most cities in the area have their own jail, and some smaller cities hold the people they arrest in the county jail. Cities with their own jail include Hoover, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Gardendale, Fultondale, and Tarrant.

Some cities contract with a neighbor to hold their prisoners. As of PARCA's 2020 survey, Irondale sent its prisoners to Tarrant; Trafford, Kimberly, and Morris sent theirs to Warrior; and Leeds sent to Trussville or Pell City. The Sheriff patrolled Center Point, Pinson, Clay, and Fairfield, and people held after those arrests went to the county jail, as did Graysville arrests. These arrangements can change, so confirm with the arresting police department.

West of Birmingham, arrests in Bessemer, Hueytown, and nearby areas book into the county's Bessemer Jail.

Not sure who made the arrest? The uniform, the markings on the patrol car, the place of the stop, or what he tells you on the phone will usually settle it. Know the agency? Call us any hour.

Step 2: How to find out what jail someone is in (search in this order)

These official searches are the fastest way to find out if someone is in jail here. Work through them from fastest to slowest:

Search the Sheriff's Inmate Inquiry first. Leave "Housing Facility" blank to search both county jails at once. If he is there, the record names which Jefferson County jail holds him: Birmingham or Bessemer. Our Jefferson County Jail search guide explains every field.
Search Birmingham's Inmate Inquiry next if Birmingham police made the arrest. This is the city jail's own list, kept apart from the county's.
Call the arresting city's police department. Suburban city jails are reached by phone:
- Hoover: 205-444-7737
- Homewood: 205-332-6200
- Vestavia Hills: 205-978-0100
- Gardendale: 205-631-8787
- Fultondale: 205-849-5456
- Tarrant: 205-849-2811
Watch for his call. In our experience, families usually learn the jail when the officer lets him call someone, for example to pick up a car or a passenger, or when he calls from inside after booking.

When he calls, write down three things: the jail name, the booking number, and the charge. Our Find an Inmate page lists more jails and police departments across the area. Found the record? Call 205-401-8052 today with the booking number.

Will he stay in the same jail?

He may be moved. The jail where he is booked can be a first stop, so the answer to "city jail vs county jail" can change overnight.

Felony holds move to the county. PARCA found that people arrested and held on felony charges are transferred to the Jefferson County Jail. A city jail can hold him while the case is sorted out, then hand him off.

Birmingham can use a holding window. In our experience, the Birmingham City Jail can hold someone for up to about 48 hours on an investigative hold. That happens when the charge could go either way, a misdemeanor or a felony, or when officers want time to gather evidence or ask questions. At the end, they decide, and he may be moved to the Jefferson County Jail. If officers get what they need sooner, the move can happen sooner.

Minor charges often end fast. Police officials told PARCA in 2020 that most people arrested on non-violent misdemeanors are released on signature bonds. A signature bond is a written promise to come back to court; his signature takes the place of money.

The safe habit: search again right before anyone drives to a jail or pays anything. A record that showed a city jail this morning can show the county jail by tonight. Questions about a transfer? Our line is open 24 hours.

What if he is not in any search yet?

Give booking time. Fingerprints, photos, and paperwork come first, so the record can lag behind the arrest. Our county search guide lists the other common reasons a record is missing.

He may also be held outside Jefferson County. Hoover sits in two counties, and as of PARCA's 2020 survey, Leeds sent some prisoners to the Pell City jail in St. Clair County. Shelby County and St. Clair County run their own jails and their own rosters. Check the Shelby County Jail and St. Clair County Jail searches if the arrest happened near a county line. The place of the arrest tells you which county's search to try next.

One warning while you wait. In our experience, scam calls can reach families before an arrest even shows up online. Check the jail yourself through the official searches above before you pay anyone, and read how jail call scams work so you can spot one.

You found the jail. Now what?

Write down the booking number, the charge, and the bail amount. A bail bond company will ask for all three. Our list of what you need covers the rest.

A licensed bail bond company posts the full bail for a fee of normally 10% to 15% of the bail amount. At Bail Bonds of Alabama, creative financing is available, upon approval. Our Virtual Bail Office™ lets you complete the initial bail bond from your phone, and under our No Jail Visit Guarantee, we post the bond at the facility while you stay home.

Then comes the jail's part. At the Jefferson County Jail, release typically takes 5 to 6 hours after the bond is posted. Read how long release takes for what happens inside during that time.

You have done the hard part by finding him. Call 205-401-8052 with the booking number, and we can start the bond from your phone.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find out which jail someone is in in Jefferson County, Alabama?

Search the Jefferson County Sheriff's Inmate Inquiry first, because it covers both county jails. If Birmingham police made the arrest, search Birmingham's Inmate Inquiry. For other cities, call the arresting police department.

Is he in the city jail or the county jail?

It depends on who arrested him. A city officer usually books him into that city's jail first. PARCA found that people held on felony charges are transferred to the Jefferson County Jail.

Can someone be moved from a city jail to the Jefferson County Jail?

Yes. Felony holds are transferred to the county jail. In our experience, the Birmingham City Jail can hold someone up to about 48 hours on an investigative hold before a transfer.

Is the Birmingham City Jail the same as the Jefferson County Jail?

They are two different jails. The Birmingham City Jail is run by the Birmingham Police Department and has its own search. Read our Birmingham City Jail guide for the details.

Can I post bond in the middle of the night?

Yes. Bail Bonds of Alabama answers 24 hours a day, and we post the bond at the facility so you can stay home.

Where to go next

Bail Bonds of Alabama has served Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair Counties since 2014. One call. That's all. Call 205-401-8052, 24 hours a day.

This page is general information based on official Sheriff's Office and city sources and the 2020 PARCA report, as of October 2026. Jail arrangements and phone numbers can change. It is not legal advice.