How to Find Booking Reports in Huntsville
Huntsville booking reports are maintained by the Madison County Sheriff's Office. Huntsville Police make arrests within city limits and transport individuals to the county jail for booking. The sheriff's staff create the official booking record during intake. You can search for current inmates online through the county's jail roster.
Huntsville Quick Facts
Where Huntsville Booking Reports Are Kept
The Madison County Sheriff's Office maintains all booking reports for Huntsville. Like most Alabama cities, Huntsville does not operate its own jail. City police arrest people within city limits. They then transport those individuals to the county facility for booking and detention.
The sheriff's office creates the official booking record during the intake process. This record includes personal information, charges, mugshot, and bond amount. The county maintains these records as required by Code of Alabama § 36-22-8. The law mandates public access to jail books during office hours.
| Sheriff's Office | Madison County Sheriff |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Northside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801 |
| Phone | (256) 722-7181 |
| Online Roster | www.madisoncountysheriffal.org |
Huntsville Police Department
The Huntsville Police Department handles law enforcement within city limits. Officers respond to calls, investigate crimes, and make arrests. When an arrest occurs, the officer creates an arrest report documenting the incident. This is separate from the booking report created at the county jail.
After an arrest, Huntsville Police transport the individual to the Madison County jail. The sheriff's staff take over from there. They complete the booking process including fingerprints, photographs, and entering data into the system. The booking report becomes part of the county's records, not the city's.
For questions about the arrest itself, contact Huntsville Police. For questions about booking status, jail conditions, or release information, contact the Madison County Sheriff. Each agency has different responsibilities and maintains different records. The city website is at www.huntsvilleal.gov.
How to Search Huntsville Booking Reports Online
The Madison County Sheriff provides free online access to current inmate information. You can search without creating an account or paying any fees. The system shows everyone currently in custody plus recent releases. This includes people arrested in Huntsville by city police.
To search for booking reports, visit www.madisoncountysheriffal.org. Look for the inmate search or jail roster section. Enter the person's name to see if they appear. Results show booking dates, charges, and bond amounts. Most entries include mugshot photographs.
If you cannot find someone online, they may have already been released. Online rosters typically show only current inmates. For historical booking information, contact the sheriff's office directly at (256) 722-7181. Staff can search archived records that may not appear online.
Huntsville Booking Report Fees
Searching the online jail roster is free. You can check if someone is in custody without paying anything. This applies to all Huntsville residents using the Madison County system. Phone status checks are also free during business hours.
Fees apply when you need official copies of records. General fee guidelines include:
- Online roster search: Free
- Phone status check: Free
- Copy of booking record: $0.50 to $1.00 per page
- Certified copies: $5 to $25 depending on type
State-level background checks through ALEA cost $25 and require fingerprint submission. Court records through Alacourt Access cost $9.99 per name search. These alternatives show records beyond what the county jail roster provides. Visit pa.alacourt.com for court records.
Huntsville as Alabama's Largest City
Huntsville became Alabama's largest city in 2021, passing Birmingham. The population now exceeds 230,000 residents. This growth is driven by the aerospace and defense industries centered around NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal. The city is known as Rocket City USA.
The diverse workforce brings people from around the world. Over one hundred languages are spoken in the Huntsville area. This creates a varied population that shows up in booking records. Some arrests may involve federal matters due to the military and government presence. Those cases transfer to federal facilities rather than the county jail.
Huntsville was the first English-speaking city in Alabama, founded in 1805. It was also the first racially integrated city in Alabama in 1962. This progressive history continues with modern technology investments including the county's SmartWEB booking system.
Alabama Booking Report Laws
Alabama law requires booking reports to be public records. Code of Alabama § 36-22-8 mandates that sheriffs maintain a public record book for all prisoners. This includes people arrested by Huntsville Police and booked at the county jail.
Section 36-12-40 gives Alabama residents the right to inspect public records. You do not need to explain why you want the information. However, Alabama is one of only seven states that limits this right to state residents. Out-of-state requests may be denied.
Some records have privacy restrictions. Juvenile records are confidential under § 12-15-133. Records of ongoing investigations may be withheld until the case concludes. Expunged records must be removed from public access. The Madison County Sheriff follows all state requirements when handling records requests.
Madison County Booking Records
Huntsville is located in Madison County. All booking reports for Huntsville arrests go through the county sheriff's office. For complete information about the county jail, fees, and procedures, visit the Madison County page.
Other Major Alabama Cities
These are the other major cities in Alabama with populations over 50,000. Each uses its county sheriff for booking reports. Select a city to learn about jail access in that area.