How to Find Someone in Winston County Jail (Step-by-Step)
If you think someone is being held in Winston County Jail, the fastest way to confirm is through the Winston County Sheriff's Office inmate inquiry page. Here's how to run the search and make sense of the results.
Before you start, gather a few details so you can confirm you're looking at the right person. The Winston County Sheriff's Office site uses a last-name search, and results can include a booking number, date of birth, charges, and a release date. Having more than one matching detail makes a big difference, especially when names are common or spelled differently than you'd expect.
- ✓ Last name (this is the basic way to search when you don’t have much information)
- ✓ Booking number, if you have it (this is the most precise way to pull up the right record)
Head to the Winston County Sheriff's Office website and look for the "Inmate Inquiry" section on the homepage (it's typically on the right side). Click the "Inmate Inquiry" link to open the search page, where you can look someone up by last name.
The inmate inquiry page gives you two search options: last name and booking number. Use the last-name option when you only know part of the information or aren't sure of the booking details. If you have a booking number, use that instead. It narrows the results to the exact person much more reliably.
Tip: If you have the booking number, use it. It’s the quickest way to avoid mix-ups when multiple people have similar names.
- Click Submit (or Search) to run the inmate inquiry after you enter the last name or booking number.
- If you get no results, adjust and submit again by double-checking spelling, trying just the last name, or switching to the booking number if you can get it.
When the search returns a match, the results page helps you confirm identity and understand the person's current status. You may see basic identifiers like their full name and a booking photograph, along with details that change over time: current charges, custody status, and housing assignment.
- ✓ Full name
- ✓ Booking photograph (mugshot)
- ✓ Booking date
- ✓ Current charges (criminal charges listed for the person)
- ✓ Custody status
- ✓ Housing location
- ✓ Booking number (a unique identifier assigned at booking)
- ✓ Date of birth
- ✓ Release date
Note: A photo or certain fields may not always appear. When possible, verify using more than one detail (for example, name plus booking number or date of birth).
If the person doesn't come up right away, simplify your search. Double-check the spelling, search by last name only, and click Submit (or Search) again. If you later find the booking number, rerun the search with that for a cleaner match.
Still no results? They may not be in Winston County custody, or they may have been transferred into the Alabama Department of Corrections system. The Alabama DOC statewide inmate search page has returned an error indicating it may be removed or temporarily unavailable, so if that happens, try again later. If timing is urgent, calling the sheriff's office directly is often the quickest way to confirm where someone is being held.
Find an Inmate at Winston County Jail, AL
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
