What Happens During Reception at Fountain Correctional Center (What Families Should Know)

Right after arrival, your loved one goes through basic identification processing - photographs and fingerprints. For families, this is one of the earliest "paper trail" moments. Staff are documenting identity and creating records that will follow them through the rest of the system.

Reception includes health screening that goes beyond a quick check. Your loved one should receive a complete physical exam and a dental exam, both handled by medical and dental professionals. This is when staff document current health conditions and urgent needs - information that shapes what care or follow-up happens after reception.

Psychological testing and interviews are also part of reception. These screenings help staff understand mental health needs and other factors that affect housing, safety, and programming. If your loved one has a history that matters here, being honest and clear during these interviews can make a real difference later.

After the initial screenings come classification interviews - figuring out where your loved one should be housed and what needs they have. Classification Specialists ask about criminal history, education, work background, substance use history, and day-to-day needs. They use this information to make initial custody and placement recommendations to the Central Classification Division. This is one reason the early days feel slow from the outside: a lot of information is being gathered and verified before decisions get finalized.

The reception and classification process usually wraps up within about two weeks of arrival. That doesn't mean every detail is settled on day 14, but it's a useful expectation to set. Early on, your loved one may have limited ability to communicate consistently while moving through required steps and waiting on decisions.

Shortly after initial classification, your loved one should receive a "Time Sheet." Families often hear about this because it's a concrete document - a signal that classification has started to settle and the system is assigning dates and structure to the sentence. If you're waiting for something that feels official, this is one of the first items they may mention once they can talk more reliably.

Even within Alabama DOC, each institution has its own rules and policies. These are explained during orientation shortly after arrival. While reception steps are fairly consistent, the day-to-day rules your loved one follows - and the procedures that affect families, like contact and visiting expectations - can be specific to Fountain. If something you're hearing secondhand doesn't line up, treat orientation guidance and Fountain's current instructions as the source of truth.

How Families Use Info

• ✓ Expect a quieter stretch at first - reception and classification are generally completed within about two weeks after arrival, so communication may be limited or inconsistent during that window.
• ✓ Use the “Time Sheet” as a milestone - shortly after initial classification, your loved one should receive a Time Sheet, which often signals things are stabilizing.
• ✓ If you’re planning to send anything tied to housing or routine, wait until classification is underway or completed - it’s easier once your loved one knows what unit they’re in and can tell you what’s actually allowed.

One practical thing you can do right away: keep your loved one's AIS number handy. The AIS (Alabama Institutional Serial) number is a unique six-digit identifier assigned to each ADOC inmate, and it's the quickest way to locate someone in ADOC searches. Write it down, save it in your phone, keep it with any other paperwork you receive. Having the correct AIS number makes every future step smoother.