The Tuscaloosa County Jail system is a Jail in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama which is run by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff.  The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff is Rob Abernathy.  The Jail’s Chief of Operations is Eric Bailey and the Assistant Jail Administrator is Lt. Scott Taylor.  In addition to handling law enforcement for Tuscaloosa County, the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff is responsible for handing the detention of people legally confined in Tuscaloosa County.  The jail handles prisoners for all jurisdictions in Tuscaloosa County.

The Tuscaloosa County Jail has been in its present location since February 15, 1995.  This facility houses pre-trial and post-conviction detainees.  It has minimum and maximum security capabilities and has both misdemeanor and felony offenders.

The Tuscaloosa County Jail offers a wide range of rehabilitative opportunities for offenders, including substance abuse programming, anger management training, GED training, and on-the-job training through the inmate work release program.

The jail’s 1995 renovation helped it become one of the state’s most modern jail facilities.  Some of these modern amenities include onsite medical and dental facilities, as well as video visitation from jail cells.  The reduction in movement throughout the jail has created a safer jail for inmates and for staff.  The jail also has a Drug Court and an Identification and Extradition unit.

Tuscaloosa County Jail Address: 

The physical address for the Tuscaloosa County Jail is:

Tuscaloosa County Jail
1600 25th Ave
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Mailing Address:

The mailing address for the Tuscaloosa County Jail is:

Tuscaloosa County Jail
1600 25th Ave
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Tuscaloosa County Jail Phone Numbers:

The general information number for the Tuscaloosa County Jail is 205-349-4511.  Inmates cannot receive incoming phone calls; for information on phone calls from inmates, see our inmate phone call section.

Inmate Mailing Address:

The mailing address for the Tuscaloosa County Jail is the same as the physical address.

Inmate’s Full Name, Housing Unit
Tuscaloosa County Jail
1600 25th Ave
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Inmates have access to the U.S. Postal Service, and may correspond with persons and organizations subject only to the limitations necessary to maintain order and security.  All incoming and outgoing mail is checked by staff for content, cash, money orders, and any unauthorized items considered to be contraband before being delivered to the appropriate person.  

Inmates are generally prohibited from corresponding with each other or with inmates of other facilities, but the Chief Jail Administrator can give permission for those communications.  

Any items that violated federal, state, local statutes, or poses any threat to the safety security or orderly running of the facility are prohibited items.  Attempting to send them will subject the sender to criminal prosecution.

Communications with counsel or courts are not read, but are opened and checked for contraband.

Outgoing mail will be stamped “Inmate Tuscaloosa County Jail,” and must have your full name that was used during booking, and the return address of:
Your Name, Cell
1600 26th Avenue
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401

Generally prohibited items in mail include: 
-sexually explicit drawings, pictures or vocabulary;
-racial slurs;
-vulgar vocabulary;
-mail that violates the law;
-threats;
-contraband;
-any illegal material;
-escape plans;
-information that would create a clear and present danger of violence and physical harm to another;
-stickers;
-glue;
-glitter;
-forwarded mail;
-bodily fluids; or
-hair.
-Inmates may also have up to three photos and one religious text.

Tuscaloosa County Jail Inmate Search:

Tuscaloosa County Jail maintains a public records and arrest records online, which allows you to view current inmates.  It does not pull up a full roster, but allows you to search current inmates by first name, last name, middle name, and arrest date.  Once you find an inmate, you may select their record.  The record includes name, booking date, arresting agency, the charges, bond type when applicable, and a booking photo.  The Tuscaloosa County Jail also participates in the AlaVINE component of the VineLink system.  AlaVINE is an automated victim notification service, which allows people to sign up for notification if an inmate is released, transferred, or escapes from a participating agency.  It provides information 24-hours a day, via phone, internet, and email.

Inmate Bookings:

Tuscaloosa County Jail maintains a public records and arrest records online, which allows you to view current inmates.  It does not pull up a full roster, but allows you to search current inmates by first name, last name, middle name, and arrest date.  Once you find an inmate, you may select their record.  The record includes name, booking date, arresting agency, the charges, bond type when applicable, and a booking photo.

Recent Arrests:

The Tuscaloosa County Jail maintains a public records and arrest records online, which allows you to view current inmates.  It does not pull up a full roster, but allows you to search current inmates by first name, last name, middle name, and arrest date.  Once you find an inmate, you may select their record.  The record includes name, booking date, arresting agency, the charges, bond type when applicable, and a booking photo. To find recent arrests, you can search the current inmate list by booking date or a range of booking dates.

Mugshots:

The Tuscaloosa County Jail does not maintain a separate mugshot list, but you can access mugshots the current inmates list, which has mugshots as part of each record.

Jail Visitation:

The Tuscaloosa County Jail requires visitors to make appointments prior to visiting an inmate.  You can make an appointment by calling 205-349-4511.
Visitation is Sunday-Saturday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm.  You must call between the hours of 7:00am and 4:00pm the day before you want to visit to schedule a visit. 

-Inmates can have one visit per week, with the week beginning on Sunday and running through Saturday.  
-Only two visitors are allowed at a time.
-All visitors must be listed on the inmate’s visitation list in order to make a visitation appointment.
-Visitors must be at least 16 years old to visit, and any visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 
-All adult visitors must have a valid ID to visit. 
-Visitors must arrive 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the scheduled visitation time.
-No personal items such as purses, bags, or cell phones will be allowed in the facility.  
-Visitors will only be permitted to visit the inmate they visit. 
-Visitors who were previously incarcerated in the Tuscaloosa County Jail will be prohibited from visiting for six months after release for misdemeanor offenders and one year after release for felony offenders. 
-The jail maintains a dress code for visitation.  Failure to comply with dress code will result in being denied the visit.  The following guidelines apply:

No shorts;
No short skirts;
No skirts with slits;
No sleeveless shirts or tank tops;
No belly-baring clothing such as short shirts; and 
No cleavage-baring clothing.

Inmate Phone Privileges:

The Tuscaloosa County Jail allows inmates to make outgoing phone calls.  Phone calls may be collect calls or use funds from an inmate’s commissary account.  Inmates cannot receive incoming phone calls and the Jail will not take messages for inmates.  
Telephones are located in each of the inmate housing units, and are available throughout the day, except for at meal times and during lockdowns.  
Inmates may place outgoing phone calls, using their PIN numbers, which are the same as their commissary numbers.  All outgoing calls are collect calls, and will be billed to the person accepting the call.  All calls are subject to monitoring and recording.

Calls should be limited to 15 minutes, and inmates are asked to stay at least an arm’s length away from anyone using the telephone.
Three way calls and inmate to inmate calls are strictly prohibited and may lead to disciplinary action, including an inmate having telephone privileges suspended or being blocked from calling certain phone numbers.

Inmate Trust Accounts / Commissary:

Inmate trust accounts can be used for both commissary and canteen purchases and are a way for inmates to food and hygiene items that are not provided by the Tuscaloosa County Jail, during the period of their incarceration.

Each inmate is given the following items when they are incarcerated:
One uniform shirt
One uniform pants
One mattress
One blanket
Two sheets (one fitted and one sheet)
One pillow
One pillowcase
One Towel
One Face towel
One toothbrush
One tube of toothpaste
One bar of soap
One roll of toilet paper
One cup
One inmate handbook
One property bag

Inmates may purchase additional clothing form the commissary, and may also have contact lenses and prescription eyeglasses.

To order from the commissary, an inmate can use funds in the inmate trust account.  Commissary Services are made available once a week, and funds must be available no later than Wednesday at 8:00am for that week’s commissary purchases.  Commissary order forms are passed out weekly.  There is a one-hundred-dollar limit on purchases.  Any inmate who is found to be ordering and or receiving commissary in another inmate’s name will have their commissary privileges suspended and may face criminal prosecution.

To make deposits to an inmate’s account, you can use the KIOSK located in the front lobby of the Facility for Family and Friends at the Tuscaloosa County Jail.  The KIOSK can process cash and credit card transactions; there are service fees for cash transactions.  Any money deposited will be placed in the commissary account immediately.

Canteen service refers to special foods that are available in addition to the three meals that the jail provides all of its inmates on a daily basis.  This food can be purchased, using money from an inmate’s commissary account, three times a week and served every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Items served vary and are not items served during the course of regular facility meals with the exception of a dessert.

Tuscaloosa County Bail Information

Inmates can be released from Tuscaloosa County Jail in a number of ways: end of sentence, post bond or bail, release by judge or magistrate/court order, or qualifying for a pre-trial release program.  

To post bond, you must use one of the approved bondsmen that have been approved by the Circuit Court.  You can find them in booking and in the lobby of the Tuscaloosa County Jail facility.  

The Tuscaloosa County Jail accepts the following types of bonds: 

Cash Bonds: 

A cash bond in the amount of the bond can be posted with the courts.  During weekday business hours, these bonds are acquired at the District Court or Circuit Court Clerk’s Offices, or Municipal Court Clerk’s Office in cases involving municipal violations.  Contact the Court for information about whether the court will accept cash-only or will accept cashier’s checks, debit cards, or credit cards.   After business hours, on holidays and on weekends, these bonds may be acquired at the Jail Facility or Municipal Police Department Headquarters.  Cash Bonds must be posted with the Court of Jurisdiction.  You can find information about the Court of Jurisdiction in an inmate’s record. 

Bonding Company Bonds: 

Professional bonding companies are available to post bonds for inmates in Tuscaloosa County. Only those companies approved by the Circuit Clerk can post such bonds. Listings of the approved companies are provided in the inmate’s Jail Handbook, which is also accessible online. 

Property Bonds:

 An inmate can have a friend or family member post a bond, using their real property as a surety.  Should the property being posted be outside Tuscaloosa County, the friend or family member will have to obtain an out of county bond from the Sheriff of the county in which the property is located.  If the inmate fails to appear at the court date, then the property is subject to forfeiture.

Conditional Release Bonds: 

Under certain circumstances, an inmate can post a bond by having a friend or family member sign a Conditional Release Bond.  Not all inmates are eligible for conditional release, but an inmate may request consultation with a conditional release representative as the conditions of his/her bond change. An inmate request form should be given to the inmate for this process and returned to the inmate welfare officer.  Inmates charged with sex crimes or any crime involving domestic violence will be ineligible for this program.

Conclusion

The Tuscaloosa County Jail system is a Jail in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama which is run by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff, Rob Abernathy.  It handles all prisoners for all jurisdictions in Tuscaloosa County.   It is a large facility, which offers a range of jail programming, including GED classes, anger management, and work-release programming.