Madison County, Alabama • Huntsville custody guide • sources reviewed October 5, 2026
Madison County, Alabama Jail Roster: Find Current Inmates and Booking Records
The official Madison County Sheriff’s Office inmate roster is the first place to check current county-jail custody in Huntsville. It also provides a released view for recent custody changes, while the individual booking profile can show the booking number, booking time, charge description, arresting agency, court field, bond information and holds when those fields are available.
Use the roster for custody and booking facts, then verify court status, bond, visitation, money or release questions through the agency that controls that task. A booking record is not a conviction record.
Quick Answer: Use the Madison County Sheriff Roster for Alabama Custody
This page covers Madison County, Alabama, not Madison County in Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, New York or another state. The county jail is the Madison County Detention Facility in Huntsville, operated by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
For a person believed to be in local custody, open the Sheriff’s roster and start with the current-inmate view. If the person recently disappeared from the current list, switch to the released view; the Sheriff’s roster disclaimer specifically provides a 48 Hour Release option.
Do not freeze a roster count into a decision.
The number of people displayed changes as bookings, releases, court returns and transfers occur. Refresh the official roster and call the jail at 256-519-4800 when same-day custody, bond or release status matters.
Which Official Source Answers Your Question?
Current custody or recent release
Use the Madison County Sheriff inmate roster. It provides current and released views plus individual booking profiles.
Official rosterCounty criminal case or filed charges
Use the Madison County Circuit Clerk / Alabama trial-court system. The clerk is the record keeper for District and Circuit Court proceedings.
Madison County Circuit ClerkHuntsville municipal case or misdemeanor bail
Use Huntsville Municipal Court for city misdemeanor, traffic, ordinance, warrant and bail questions within Huntsville jurisdiction.
Huntsville warrant & bail informationCity of Madison municipal case
Use Madison Municipal Court for City of Madison misdemeanor, traffic, warrant and municipal-court questions.
Madison Municipal CourtAlabama state-prison custody
Use the Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search after transfer to state custody. The six-digit AIS number is the strongest identifier when known.
ADOC Inmate SearchFederal prison custody
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator when the person is in federal custody rather than Madison County or Alabama DOC custody.
BOP Inmate LocatorWarrant is not the same as custody. A warrant can exist without the person being booked into the Madison County Detention Facility. No separate countywide public warrant-search portal was verified during this review, so use the handling court or responsible agency rather than assuming a roster search answers the warrant question.
How to Search the Madison County Jail Roster
- Confirm Alabama and Huntsville. Check that the official domain is madisoncountysheriffal.org and the facility is at 815 Wheeler Avenue in Huntsville.
- Open the official inmate roster. Use the Sheriff’s current-inmate view when you are checking active local custody.
- Search by the name control the roster provides. The public form accepts a first or last name. If a full-name search fails, try the surname alone or a known spelling variation.
- Open the individual profile. Compare the booking number and booking time, then review the displayed arresting agency, charge, court, disposition, bond type, bond amount and holds when present.
- Check the released view after a recent custody change. The official roster offers a 48-hour release route; use it before assuming the person was never booked.
- Verify the next action with the correct authority. Call the jail before paying bond or relying on a same-day custody change, and use the court record for the legal case outcome.
Save the booking number privately. The Sheriff requires the booking number on inmate mail, and it is also a stronger identity check than relying on a name or booking photo alone.
How to Read Madison County Booking Records
The roster is a jail-operational record. An individual profile can include fields that help identify the booking and the agency or court connected to it, but the court file remains the better source for later filings, hearings, pleas, dismissals and final dispositions.
| Roster field | Useful for | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Booking number | Matching a specific jail booking and addressing inmate mail. | It is the same as a court case number or ADOC AIS number. |
| Booking time | Showing when the jail recorded intake. | It is the exact arrest time or a promised release time. |
| Description / charge | Showing the allegation, warrant, revocation or other booking reason displayed by the jail. | It is a conviction or final prosecutor filing. |
| Arresting agency | Identifying which law-enforcement agency is tied to that booking row. | The arresting agency also controls the court record or current custody. |
| Court / disposition | Giving a routing clue toward municipal, district or another court entry. | An unexplained abbreviation is a complete legal disposition. |
| Bond type / amount | Showing the amount or type currently displayed by the roster. | It is still payable or that payment alone guarantees immediate release. |
| Holds | Flagging another agency or custody issue when the roster publishes one. | A listed bond resolves every hold. |
| Release time | Confirming a release displayed in the released view. | It explains every release condition or later transfer. |
The Sheriff’s individual profiles warn that charges and bail amounts may change after court appearances and may not be current. When money or release depends on the answer, confirm the current amount, charges and case number with Detention Facility staff at 256-519-4800.
No Result? Use This Troubleshooting Order
| Problem | Possible explanation | Next action | Official route |
|---|---|---|---|
| No name match | Name variation, misspelling or a newly processing booking. | Try surname only, former/maiden or hyphenated spelling, then recheck later if the arrest was recent. | Sheriff roster / 256-519-4800 |
| Person was listed, then disappeared | Recent release or a custody change. | Use the released view before searching unrelated counties. | 48 Hour Release option on Sheriff roster |
| Court case exists but no jail result | A filed case or warrant does not necessarily mean current incarceration. | Check the handling court record separately. | Madison Circuit Clerk / municipal court |
| State sentence or prison transfer | The person may have left county custody for ADOC. | Search by the six-digit AIS number when known, or by name. | Alabama DOC Inmate Search |
| Federal case or federal sentence | The person may be in federal rather than county custody. | Use the BOP locator by number or name. | Federal BOP Inmate Locator |
| Juvenile matter | Adult public roster access may not apply to juvenile custody. | Use the appropriate juvenile court/agency rather than treating a missing adult-roster entry as proof of no custody. | Madison County court system |
| Wrong Madison County | The search result may be for another state. | Match the state, city, area code and official domain before using any payment or visitation instructions. | Madison County, Alabama Sheriff site |
No fixed roster-update delay is stated here because the responsible agency does not publish a guaranteed universal posting interval on the roster page.
Bond and Court Routing: The Arresting Jurisdiction Matters
Madison County’s official jail information separates bond routes by jurisdiction. That distinction matters because Huntsville municipal misdemeanors, City of Madison municipal matters and Madison County District/Circuit cases do not use exactly the same payment desk or hours.
| Case route | Official bond information | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| City of Huntsville misdemeanor | Sheriff jail guidance says misdemeanor bonds can be posted with the Huntsville magistrate 24/7. Huntsville’s own warrant/bail page says the magistrate office is open 24/7 for setting and receiving bail, with normal business hours 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | 256-427-7817 |
| City of Madison misdemeanor | The Sheriff jail page publishes Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. for bond posting; the City court page lists regular court hours through 5 p.m. Because those official hours are not identical, call before traveling. | 256-772-5617 |
| Madison County misdemeanor or felony | District Court Clerk’s Office, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m., excluding holidays, Madison County Courthouse, 2nd floor, Room 200. The Sheriff also links online/phone payment routes. | 256-532-3373 |
Property bond note: the Sheriff’s FAQ lists property bond as a possible release method, but the current jail-information page expressly states that the Madison County Sheriff’s Office does not process property bonds. Verify any property-bond procedure through the correct court before preparing paperwork or traveling.
Madison County District and Circuit Court
The Circuit Clerk is the official record keeper for Madison County District and Circuit Court proceedings. Most trial-court information can be accessed through Alabama’s “Just One Look” on-demand service, which is fee-based.
Paper court-record copies
The Madison County court records-request page requires a completed request form and payment for each party. Mailed requests do not accept personal checks; cashier’s checks or money orders are accepted, and cash is accepted for in-person filing.
72-hour hearing is not a release promise. The Detention Facility’s court guidance says that when an arresting agency must obtain a felony warrant through the Madison County Magistrate Office, that process may take up to 48 hours, and District Court cases may receive a 72-hour hearing for charge and bond notification. The jail also states that it does not determine release dates or provide them to the public.
Visitation, Phone Calls and Secure Messages
Remote visitation
Current Sheriff guidance says an inmate must be incarcerated for 30 days before visitation is allowed. Visits are remote, monitored and recorded. Appointments can be scheduled through NCIC up to 48 hours before the visit and are first-come, first-served.
Visitors need an approved account and a clear image of government-issued ID. Remote visits cost $0.30 per minute plus tax, and the inmate or visitor may pay. The jail allows up to three visits per day.
Current facility visitation windows
Monday–Friday: 8–10 a.m.; noon–3:30 p.m.; 5–6 p.m.; and 8–10 p.m., except there is no listed Wednesday evening 8–10 p.m. window.
Saturday–Sunday: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and 8–10 p.m. Housing changes can cancel a scheduled visit automatically, and the facility can change, suspend or cancel visits for safety or security.
Phone provider
NCIC Inmate Communications is the current provider. Local, in-state and out-of-state calls are listed at $0.16 per minute; Mexico at $0.25; international at $0.35.
Voicemail
Friends and family with prepaid accounts can leave monitored voicemail messages up to three minutes. The published flat charge is $1.50 per message.
Secure messaging
Messages are listed at $0.25 each plus tax. Photos and attachments are not allowed, and an approved messaging account with government-ID verification is required.
Phone calls and messages are subject to monitoring and review. The jail prohibits three-way call connections and may block numbers for misuse. For NCIC account or blocked-number help, the Sheriff lists 800-943-2189.
Inmate Mail, Commissary and Money
Personal mail is digitized
The Detention Facility scans incoming personal correspondence and delivers it to inmates digitally through housing-area kiosks. Original personal mail is retained for seven days so an inmate-designated person can retrieve it; unrecovered items are then discarded.
Mail to:Inmate First and Last Name
Inmate Booking #
Madison County Jail
P.O. Box 2047
Huntsville, AL 35804
The inmate’s name, booking number and a valid return address are required.
Mail restrictions worth checking first
Photos may be no larger than 4×6, and Polaroid, framed or mounted photos are prohibited. Books must be new, softback and sent directly by a mainstream publisher or bookstore. Money, checks, drafts, money orders, phone cards, IDs and personal packages are not accepted through inmate mail.
Because the detailed prohibited-item list is longer, recheck the current Sheriff mail rules before sending anything unusual.
| Route | Published rule or fee | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lobby kiosk — cash | $3.00 deposit fee | Use the Detention Facility lobby kiosk. |
| Lobby kiosk — credit/debit | 10% of deposit, minimum $3.25 | Credit-card transactions are limited to $150 per transaction. |
| Web deposit via Inmate Canteen | 10% of deposit, minimum $3.25 | Combined credit-card total is limited to $500 per 30-day period, including fees. |
| Carepack | $4.95 shipping plus 11% processing | Current weekly carepack maximum is $75 per inmate. |
The Sheriff also lists commissary deposit help by phone at 706-298-4974. Commissary orders must be placed before Monday at 10 p.m. for Wednesday delivery; Monday Snack Packs before Sunday at 10 p.m.; Friday Snack Packs before Thursday at 10 p.m.
A released inmate can collect remaining funds at the Pistol Permit Office, 603 Fiber Street, Huntsville, from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Friday excluding holidays, with valid identification. Recheck the Sheriff’s jail-information page before traveling.
Medication, Health Privacy and Personal Property
Medication and approved medical items
Medications, eyeglasses, contacts and other approved medical items can be dropped off or picked up Monday–Sunday from 8 a.m.–6 p.m. All items require approval by medical personnel and Jail Administration and are subject to search.
Health information
The facility says its staff and healthcare contractor will not discuss an inmate’s healthcare with family or friends because of medical privacy requirements. For an urgent health concern, contact the facility directly rather than expecting roster staff to disclose medical information.
Property pickup
For housed inmates, family members may pick up released property seven days a week, 24 hours a day, at 815 Wheeler Avenue with valid photo ID. The facility says most stored personal property is disposed of after 30 days, subject to listed exceptions such as IDs, keys, legal documents and certain valuables.
Booking Photos, Police Reports and Court Records Are Different Records
The Sheriff roster may display a booking photograph on an individual profile. Treat that image as part of a jail booking record, not evidence of guilt or a final case result.
Jail custody / booking
Use the Sheriff roster and Detention Facility for current custody, booking number, displayed charges, bond, holds and recent-release information.
Huntsville police incident report
For a Huntsville Police criminal-case report, the City says the listed victim or reporting party can request a copy with valid ID, case number, incident date/location and reason. The published fee is $10, and the City asks users to allow 72 hours for processing.
Huntsville Police Records & ReportsCourt record
Use the Circuit Clerk or correct municipal court for filed charges, hearings, pleadings, warrants in the court file, dispositions and other judicial records. A jail booking entry should not be substituted for the court record.
If the arresting agency is not Huntsville Police, use that agency’s records procedure instead of applying Huntsville’s report rules to another department.
Where to Search After Release or Transfer
VINE notification
The Sheriff directs users to VINE for custody-status notifications and says jail staff do not make release-notification phone calls. VINE is available 24/7 at VINELink or by phone at 877-846-3425.
Open VINELinkAlabama DOC
Use ADOC after a state-prison transfer. The official search includes currently incarcerated ADOC inmates and gives priority to the six-digit AIS number when known.
Search ADOCFederal BOP
Use BOP for federal prison custody. The locator searches by name or federal identification number and covers federal inmates from 1982 to the present.
Search BOPMadison County Jail, Sheriff and Court Contacts
| Office | Purpose | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Madison County Detention Facility | Current custody, booking, jail procedures, time-sensitive bond verification | 815 Wheeler Ave, Huntsville, AL 35801 256-519-4800 |
| Detention Facility Administration | Facility administration | 256-519-4839 |
| Madison County Sheriff’s Office | Sheriff administration / general agency information | 100 Northside Square, Room 206, Huntsville, AL 35801 256-532-3412 |
| Madison County District Court bond desk | County misdemeanor/felony bond route published by the Sheriff | Madison County Courthouse, 2nd floor, Room 200 256-532-3373 |
| Madison County Circuit Clerk | District/Circuit court records and court-file questions | 100 North Side Square, Huntsville, AL 35801 256-532-3380 |
| Huntsville Municipal Court / Magistrate | Huntsville municipal misdemeanors, warrants and bail | 815 Wheeler Ave, Huntsville, AL 35801 256-427-7810; bail 256-427-7817 |
| Madison Municipal Court | City of Madison municipal cases, warrants and bail | 100 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL 35758 256-772-5617 |
Map: Madison County Detention Facility
The map marks the published facility address. Call before traveling for a specific service because bond, visitation, property, medication and administrative tasks may use different procedures or service windows.
Use Jail and Booking Information Responsibly
- An arrest is not a conviction.
- A booking charge is not the same as a final court disposition.
- A warrant does not prove current incarceration.
- A displayed bond amount can change after court action and may not resolve every hold.
- A release entry does not explain every release condition or later transfer.
- Do not treat an old screenshot as current custody proof.
- Do not use public jail information to harass, threaten, stalk, shame or impersonate another person.
- For employment, housing, immigration, licensing or other high-stakes decisions, verify the correct court or official record and obtain qualified advice when needed.
Madison County Jail Roster FAQs
Is this Madison County jail roster for Alabama?
Yes. This guide covers Madison County, Alabama and the Madison County Detention Facility at 815 Wheeler Avenue in Huntsville. Confirm the state and official Sheriff domain before using any payment, visitation or mail instructions.
How do I search the Madison County Alabama jail roster?
Open the official Madison County Sheriff inmate roster, use the current-inmate view, search the first or last name, then open the person’s profile and compare the booking number, booking time, arresting agency, charge, court, bond and holds when displayed.
Does the roster show recently released inmates?
Yes. The Sheriff’s roster includes a 48 Hour Release option for people released from the Detention Facility during the previous 48 hours. It is a recent-release view, not a complete historical criminal-record database.
Why can’t I find someone who was just arrested?
A recent booking may still be processing, the name may be entered differently, the person may have been released quickly, or the person may be in another custody system. Try a simpler surname search, check the released view, and call 256-519-4800 when immediate confirmation matters.
Does a Madison County booking record mean the person was convicted?
No. A booking record documents jail intake or custody information. Charges are allegations unless and until a court determines otherwise. Use the correct court record for filed charges, pleas, dismissals, judgments and sentencing.
How do I confirm the current bond amount?
Use the roster as a starting point, then call the Madison County Detention Facility at 256-519-4800 because the Sheriff warns that charges and bail amounts may change after court appearances. The payment route also depends on whether the case is Huntsville municipal, City of Madison municipal or Madison County District/Circuit Court.
When can an inmate receive remote visits?
Current Sheriff guidance says the inmate must be incarcerated for 30 days before visitation is allowed. Visits are remote, scheduled through NCIC up to 48 hours in advance, and require an approved visitor account with government-issued ID verification.
What address should I use for inmate mail?
Address personal mail to the inmate’s first and last name plus booking number, Madison County Jail, P.O. Box 2047, Huntsville, AL 35804. A valid return address is also required, and the facility digitizes incoming personal mail.
How can I get notified about a release?
The Sheriff directs users to VINE for custody-status notifications and states that Detention Facility staff do not make release-notification phone calls. Register through VINELink or use the VINE phone number published by the Sheriff.
Where should I search if the person was transferred to prison?
Use the Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search for Alabama state-prison custody and the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator for federal custody. A Madison County booking number is different from an ADOC AIS number or federal register number.
Official Sources Reviewed
Current and released roster views, booking profiles, jail booking contact.
Bond routes, VINE, visitation, phone, messaging, mail, commissary, medical-item drop-off, property and court guidance.
District/Circuit court record responsibilities and trial-court access.
Source review date: October 5, 2026. Recheck live official pages before making a payment, scheduling a visit, mailing restricted items, traveling to the facility or relying on a time-sensitive custody change.
Independent Publisher Notice
Jail-Roster.org is an independent information publisher. It does not operate or represent the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Detention Facility, Huntsville Police, City of Madison, Alabama courts, Alabama Department of Corrections, Federal Bureau of Prisons, VINE, NCIC or any other government agency or service provider.
Official records and direct agency confirmation control when custody, charges, bond, court status, visitation, fees, mail rules, release or provider information changes.