Why a loved one's release from Morgan County Jail can take hours — realistic timeline and what causes delays
Waiting to pick someone up from Morgan County Jail? The hardest part is often the not-knowing. Here's what the facility says about timing, plus the common bottlenecks that can stretch release out for hours.
Morgan County Jail says court paperwork typically arrives around 5:00 pm most days. That one detail shapes the whole evening. If you're expecting someone to walk out earlier, the release timeline may not actually start until that paperwork shows up. For families,
Once the release process starts, Morgan County Jail says it can still take up to five hours. The reasons are mostly operational - things that pull staff attention, require checks, or pause movement inside the facility. Knowing what causes delays won't make the wait shorter, but it can make it feel less random while you're sitting in the parking lot, arranging rides, or trying to time childcare.
- ✓ Additional arrests to be processed - when new people are coming in, staff time and workflow can shift toward intake, slowing down release processing.
- ✓ Warrant checks - release can’t move forward until required checks are completed and cleared.
- ✓ Inmate-related issues - medical or behavior-related problems can interrupt normal processing and delay someone being brought out.
- ✓ Headcount - during headcount procedures, movement and tasks may pause, which can stall releases.
- ✓ Facility lockdowns - if the facility is on lockdown, movement is restricted and releases can be delayed until the lockdown is lifted.
Note: Delays can stack. If court paperwork arrives late and a headcount or lockdown happens around the same time, the wait can stretch well beyond what you were hoping for.
- Plan for an evening timeline - since court paperwork is often received around 5:00 pm, assume you may be waiting well into the evening, even if you heard “they’re getting out today.”
- Build a backup plan for rides and kids - because releases can take up to five hours and can be delayed by things like headcount or lockdowns, line up a second driver, flexible childcare, and a realistic pickup window.
- Bring what helps you wait - have your phone, a charger, and anything you need to stay reachable in case timing changes while you’re nearby.
- Expect a window, not a promise - on release days, treat every estimate as a rough range; delays like warrant checks or additional arrests being processed can shift things quickly.
Tip: Don't anchor to an exact pickup time. With paperwork often arriving around 5:00 pm and multiple possible delays, release timing can shift even after you've started waiting.
Need to check on status? Call the Morgan County Sheriff's Office at 256.351.4800. It makes the most sense to reach out after 5:00 pm (when paperwork usually arrives), or if the delay has stretched a few hours past what you were told. If you need to go in person, the address is 119 Lee St NE, Decatur, AL 35601.
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