Madison county jail in downtown Huntsville is where law enforcement begins to process offenders through the criminal justice system in Madison County.
The facility, which is under the management of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, operates an open booking system. When an officer brings an offender into custody, jail officials collect the necessary information such as mugshot, personal information, fingerprints, and physical description. The offender is assigned a booking number and gets scheduled for a hearing in a Madison County court.
Inmate information is available to the public on the inmate roster, a database of all inmates housed in the facility. Visitors are welcome, provided they are on the inmate’s visitation list and possess a valid government-issued photo I.D. card. Furthermore, all visitors must follow the inmate visitation rules. Generally, you must dress appropriately and arrive earlier than the appointment time. Note that only inmates incarcerated longer than thirty days have the privilege of visitation.
The jail is located at:
815 Wheeler Avenue,
P.O. Box 2047
Huntsville, AL 35804.
For inquiries and requests, contact the jail on (256) 519-4864, (256) 519-4840 (fax), or send an email to jail@madisoncountyal.gov.
County jails in Alabama work with the judiciary, the Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and the Department of Corrections to prosecute and rehabilitate offenders. These agencies also have other responsibilities, such as processing requests for criminal court records and criminal history information.
Ultimately, Madison County jail is a busy center. It houses a daily average of 1100 inmates and processes about 22000 offenders every year. However, the facility is embroiled in various lawsuits and allegations of inhumane treatment of inmates. In December 2020, the press reported the jail to have the highest death rate among county jails in the state. In response, Madison County jail counters that it investigates inmate deaths thoroughly and takes pride in providing a safe environment for inmates.