Huntsville Jail Mugshots
Huntsville jail mugshots are maintained by the Madison County Sheriff's Office. As Alabama's largest city with over 230,000 residents, Huntsville sees thousands of arrests each year. The Huntsville Police Department makes arrests within city limits but books people into the Madison County Jail. This is where mugshots are taken and stored. You can search for Huntsville jail mugshots online through the Madison County Sheriff's free jail roster. The roster shows current inmates with booking photos, charges, and bond information.
Huntsville Quick Facts
Which County Handles Huntsville Arrests
Huntsville is located in Madison County. The Madison County Sheriff's Office operates the county jail where all Huntsville arrests are processed. When Huntsville Police arrest someone, that person is transported to the Madison County Jail for booking.
Madison County Jail contact information:
- Address: 100 Northside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801
- Jail Phone: (256) 532-3606
- Sheriff's Office: (256) 532-3610
- Online Roster: madisoncountysheriffal.org/roster.php
The Huntsville Police Department has its own holding facility at 815 Wheeler Avenue NW for short-term detention. But for formal booking with mugshots and charges, people are transferred to Madison County custody. This typically happens within 24-48 hours of arrest.
How to Find Huntsville Jail Mugshots
There are several ways to search for mugshots of people arrested in Huntsville. The online method is fastest for current inmates.
Start with the Madison County online jail roster. Go to the sheriff's website and click on the jail roster link. Enter the person's last name and search. Results show current inmates with their mugshots, charges, and bond amounts. This search is free and available 24/7.
For in-person searches, visit the Madison County Sheriff's Office at 100 Northside Square in Huntsville. The office is near the courthouse in downtown. Staff can help you look up records in the jailer's log book. Under Alabama Code Section 36-22-8, this book is a public record.
For historical records or comprehensive background checks, contact ALEA at 334-676-7897. They maintain statewide criminal records including mugshots. The fee is $25 by mail or $15 online.
Huntsville Police Department
Huntsville Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in the city. HPD handles most arrests within Huntsville city limits.
HPD contact information:
- Address: 815 Wheeler Avenue NW, Huntsville, AL 35801
- Non-Emergency: (256) 722-7100
- Website: huntsvilleal.gov/police
HPD operates holding cells at their headquarters. These are for short-term detention only. The department does not maintain long-term mugshot records. Those are kept by the Madison County Sheriff after booking.
Huntsville Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations and some misdemeanors. The court is at 815 Wheeler Avenue NW. Phone: (256) 427-5005. Municipal court cases may not always result in county jail booking.
What Huntsville Jail Records Show
When someone is booked into Madison County Jail after arrest in Huntsville, several pieces of information are recorded.
A typical booking record includes:
- Front-facing booking photograph (mugshot)
- Full legal name and any aliases
- Date of birth and age
- Physical description including height and weight
- Booking number and date
- Charges at time of arrest
- Bond amount if set
- Arresting agency (usually Huntsville PD)
The online roster shows most of this information. Some personal details like home address and Social Security number are not displayed for privacy reasons.
Alabama Public Records Laws
Huntsville jail mugshots are public records under Alabama law. Several statutes govern access to these documents.
Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 is the Open Records Act. It gives every resident the right to inspect and copy public records. Mugshots fall under this law. You can request them without giving a reason.
Alabama Code Section 36-22-8 requires the sheriff to maintain a public record book of all prisoners. This includes everyone booked into Madison County Jail from Huntsville. The book must be open for inspection during office hours.
Alabama Code Section 14-6-1 places the sheriff in charge of the county jail. The Madison County Sheriff has custody of all Huntsville booking records.
Expungement may be possible if charges were dropped or you were found not guilty. Alabama Code Sections 15-27-1 and 15-27-2 cover this process. The filing fee is $500.
Federal and Military Jurisdiction
Huntsville has unique federal presence that affects some arrests. Redstone Arsenal is a major military installation in the area.
Arrests on Redstone Arsenal fall under federal jurisdiction. These do not go through Madison County Jail. Instead, they are handled by military police or federal agencies. Federal cases go through the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama.
For federal inmates, search the Bureau of Prisons locator at bop.gov. FCI Montgomery is the nearest federal facility. The BOP locator shows custody status but typically not mugshots.
Marshall Space Flight Center is on Redstone Arsenal. NASA employees arrested off-base go through normal Madison County procedures. On-base incidents are federal matters.
Legal Resources in Huntsville
If you need legal help regarding criminal records in Huntsville, several resources are available.
North Alabama Legal Aid provides free legal services to qualifying residents. Their Huntsville office is at 2209 Drake Avenue SW. Phone: (256) 536-9645. They can help with expungement and other criminal record issues.
The Alabama State Bar offers a lawyer referral service at 1-800-392-5660. The initial consultation costs up to $50 for 30 minutes. They can connect you with criminal defense attorneys in the Huntsville area.
Alabama Legal Help at alabamalegalhelp.org offers self-help guides and information about criminal records and your rights.
Nearby Cities
Other major cities near Huntsville may have different jail booking procedures.
Search Huntsville Jail Records
Use our search tool to find jail mugshots and arrest records for Huntsville, Alabama.