Which Jefferson County Jail Will Your Loved One Be In — Birmingham or Bessemer?

Jefferson County's jail system moves fast. The Sheriff's Office processes roughly 43,000 inmates each year, with about 1,000 people housed between Birmingham and Bessemer on any given day. That volume means intake, housing assignments, and releases happen constantly. Before you drive across the county, confirm which building is listed as the housing facility - it'll save you time and frustration.

Here's the good news: some services run out of both locations. The Sheriff's Pre-Trial Release Office operates from Birmingham and Bessemer, handling releases for qualified individuals and helping families post bond for those who don't qualify for pre-trial release. So even if you're unsure which building your loved one is in, you're not stuck driving to the wrong place for every question. That said, the two sites aren't identical. Law libraries and adult educational services are only available at the Birmingham facility. If your loved one needs those resources, their housing location matters - another reason to confirm Birmingham vs. Bessemer early.

Birmingham headquarters: 2200 Rev Abraham Woods, Jr., Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203. Email: info@jeffcosheriffal.com.

Bessemer facility: 1822 2nd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020.

1. Use the online inmate inquiry - Search for your loved one, then look for the field labeled “Housing Facility.” That’s the quickest way to see whether they’re listed at Birmingham or Bessemer.
2. If the listing isn’t clear, contact the Sheriff’s Office - Use the published contact email (info@jeffcosheriffal.com) or the Birmingham headquarters mailing address (2200 Rev Abraham Woods, Jr., Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203) to follow up when you need help confirming the correct location.

If You Cant Find Them

• ✓ Call 911 for emergencies (the Sheriff’s contact information lists “Communications Emergency 911”).
• ✓ If you see an immediate public-safety situation, call 911 (the Sheriff’s Office has directed the public to call 911 in urgent situations, such as spotting a named fugitive in a news release).

For non-emergency questions - especially confirming where someone is housed - use the published contact info. Send mail or visit Birmingham headquarters at 2200 Rev Abraham Woods, Jr., Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203 (email: info@jeffcosheriffal.com), or the Bessemer facility at 1822 2nd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020.