Tuscaloosa County Jail

Tuscaloosa County Jail basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 205-349-4511

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Tuscaloosa County Jail is a medium-security detention center located at 1600 26th Ave Tuscaloosa, AL which is operated locally by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Tuscaloosa County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Tuscaloosa Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

This facility houses all inmates both minimum and maximum security for the misdemeanor as well as felony arrest issued by the courts. The jail handles prisoners for all jurisdictions in Tuscaloosa County. Included in the jail is a Drug Court and an Identification and Extradition unit. The technology, kitchen, medical and dental as the living quarters are among the most modern in the state. Inmates are provided a copy of the Tuscaloosa County Jail Inmate Handbook before being escorted to their assigned housing unit. Upon release, inmates are required to return the Handbook to the Officer processing their release from the Tuscaloosa County Jail. Any inmate that does not return their handbook, which was issued to them, is subject to a monetary fine.

This handbook does not contain all rules and regulations that govern the inmate population but does contain guidelines for the conduct and general expectations of the incarcerated in the Tuscaloosa County Jail. Because a rule or regulation does not appear in this handbook does not mean that it does not exist and that it doesn’t apply to the incarcerated population.

INMATE INTAKE PROCEDURE

Inmate Funds – Upon committal to the Tuscaloosa County jail, you will be required to surrender any and all forms of money in your possession. Upon surrendering all monies it will totaled, logged, and a receipt issued to you. During your incarceration, you may use this money to purchase items from the commissary, or release it to an outside source. After your release from the Tuscaloosa County Jail, you may return and pick up your funds or remaining funds from the commissary clerk on the scheduled days and times which are: Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. 4 p.m.

Inmate Property – Upon entering the Tuscaloosa County Jail you were patted down. This was to ensure that you will not introduce contraband into the facility. Before you will be booked all property that you have will be surrendered to the on-duty booking rover to be inventoried. During this process, you will be issued a “tote” with a number. Your property will be safely stored until your release from this facility. After the completion of the inventory sheet and your signature stating that all property has been surrendered and properly logged, you will begin the booking procedure. Depending on the situation this process can take up to an hour. If you are unable to post bail, you are encouraged to release your property to a relative or friend. Unless you are sentenced to state time your clothing will be the only items not released.

County Issued Items – Upon your committal and before being escorted to your assigned housing unit, the following items will be issued to you.

• 1 uniform shirt
• 1 uniform pant
• One mattress
• One blanket
• Two sheets (one fitted and one sheet)
• One pillow
• One pillowcase
• One Towel
• One Face towel
• One toothbrush
• One tube of toothpaste
• One bar of soap
• One roll of toilet paper
• One cup
• One inmate handbook
• One property bag

Permitted Items – Personal clothing can be purchased from the commissary. You are allowed up to three of any clothing item listed. Other permitted items are:

• Contact lenses
• Prescription eyeglasses (approved by medical staff)
• One (1) Religious Text such as Holy Bible, Quran, Torah etc.
• Three (3) Photos
• Legal documents pertaining to your case

If incoming mail includes items you have already met your limit on you may return them to sender or have them placed in your personal property or surrender them to staff for disposal. Any items found in excess of allowed limits will be confiscated. You may have approved white underclothing brought to you within the first 72 hours of your incarceration seven days a week between the hours of 8 am and 4pm

Contraband – Any item not approved for entry into housing units, listed on the inmate commissary order form, or not issued by the facility are considered contraband. This includes articles of clothing such as undergarments, foot ware, tobacco products, etc..

INMATE COMMUNICATIONS

Inmate Request Forms – To ensure quick and effective communications with the facility staff, an inmate request form is available to you. Inmate request forms are kept on each individual post and can be obtained from asking the on-duty officer assigned to your post. All inmates request forms should be submitted to the post office. Forms submitted that are non-legible and unsigned will be discarded.

Inmate Medical Forms – Inmate medical request forms can be obtained by medical staff and or post officers. To obtain medical assistance a medical request form must be filled out completely and returned to the on-duty roving officer assigned to your post. However, you will be required to pay a co-payment charge. Any request for non-prescribed medication must also be submitted on a medical request form (NO EXCEPTIONS). There is a fee for non-prescribed medications.

Inmate Correspondence – During your incarceration you have access to the U.S. Postal Service, and may correspond with persons and organizations subject only to the limitations necessary to maintain order and security however, all incoming and outgoing mail is checked by staff for content, cash, money orders, and any unauthorized items considered to be contraband before being delivered to the appropriate person. Prohibited items received through the mail are returned to the sender at the sender’s expense, or discarded. Any items that violated federal, state, local statutes, or poses any threat to the safety security or orderly running of the facility are prohibited and subject to criminal prosecution.

You have the right to correspond with counsel and courts without having correspondence read, but keep in mind that all mail is checked for contraband. Any Correspondence from inmates of the Tuscaloosa County Jail with inmates of other facilities must be approved by the Chief Jail Administrator.

All out-going mail is stamped “Inmate Tuscaloosa County Jail”. Incoming mail must have your full name that was used during the time of booking, and your housing location.

INMATE PRIVILEGES AND SERVICES

Telephones – During your stay, you have access to telephones which are located in each housing unit and are made available daily excluding meal times and lockdown status. To place a telephone call from this facility you will be required to use a special PIN number given to you during the booking process. This number is the same as your commissary number. All calls are outgoing and collect calls. There will be a toll charge billed to the party accepting the call. All calls are subject to monitoring and recording.

You should be respectful of others by keeping calls to fifteen minutes and staying an arm's length away from anyone using the telephone. Staff members will not transfer calls and will not take messages. If you damage the telephones in any manner you will be subject to disciplinary action and or criminal prosecution.

Three-way calls and inmate to inmate calls are strictly prohibited and may lead to disciplinary action such as having your telephone privileges suspended and or telephone numbers blocked.

Commissary – Commissary Services are made available to you once a week. Commissary order forms are passed out weekly. There is a one hundred dollar limit on purchases.. You are not allowed to make exchanges on store items after your transaction has been processed. To ensure that you received all items ordered, do not exceed the amount of money you have in your account and check your order once you receive it for its accuracy. Any adjustments needed, will be made by the commissary officer. If you are housed in any form of special housing your order will be evaluated before being processed. All items must be kept in an orderly fashion, keep this in mind when ordering. Any inmate who is found to be ordering and or receiving commissary in another inmates name will have their commissary privileges suspended and may face criminal prosecution. The Tuscaloosa County Jail offers a KIOSK located in the Front Lobby of the Facility for Family and Friends to deposit funds on your commissary account. This KIOSK is able to take cash and credit cards. For each cash transaction, there is a service fee charge. All monies taken in by this method are immediately placed on your commissary account for your use.

If you want to make a purchase from commissary the money will need to be posted to your account no later than Wednesday of that week by 8:00 am.

INMATE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS

Meals – You will be served at least three meals a day with two of those being hot. All meals are served at regular times during 24-hour periods. You will be required, during this time, to be properly dressed in the required uniform for that day and to line up against the wall and receive your tray in an orderly fashion. Any inmate caught taking more than one tray, will be subject to disciplinary action. After completion of each meal, you will be required to return your food tray. Any person who damages food service items will be subject to disciplinary action and any fees acquired for replacement of the damaged items.

Health Care – Medical care is available twenty –four hours a day for emergencies and on a regular scheduled basis for non-emergencies.

Sick call is conducted Monday thru Saturday. You must submit a request for medical evaluation to be seen during sick call. If you fail to turn in a request, or miss sick call for any reason you must wait until the next scheduled sick call. Sick slips are distributed daily by jail staff. Sick call is conducted by a licensed nurse. To see the doctor, a nurse must refer you. If you become ill, you should notify the on-duty rover for your post in order to receive prompt medical care.

Inmate Worker Program – Inmates who are interested in becoming an Inmate Worker can obtain an application from any on-duty post rover. Inmates selected are those that are considered to be low-security risks and show a promise of good behavior and consistent work habits.

Inmate Work Release Program – The Tuscaloosa County Jail offers an Inmate Work Release Program for those that are qualified. This program allows you to work your current job while being incarcerated. To apply for participation in this program you will need to obtain a Work Release Application from your Pod or Post Rover. There will be a 25% charge taken from the gross of each paycheck if selected for this program.

visitation Info

Tuscaloosa County Jail – Visitation

VISITING SCHEDULE & INFORMATION

The Tuscaloosa County Jail now has Video Visitation which allows the inmate to visit via video from within their cell. This cuts down on movements in the jail thus providing a safer environment for the staff. Funds for commissary can be added to an inmates account via a kiosk located in the lobby of the Tuscaloosa Co. Jail.

Telephone: (205) 349‐4511

I. To Schedule an Appointment

a. Visitation is held seven (7) days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

b. Call between the Hours of 7am – 4pm the day BEFORE you want to visit an inmate.

II. Visitation Rules and Guidelines

a. Only ONE (1) visit per week. Sunday starts the new week

b. Only TWO (2) people per visit. You must be listed on the inmates visitation list to make a visitation appointment.

c. Must be at least sixteen (16) years of age to visit. Anyone under the age of eighteen (18) must be accompanied by an adult with a valid I.D.

d. All persons arriving for a scheduled visitation must check in at the front desk no later than fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled time.

e. Purses, Bags and or cell phones are not allowed in the facility. Please leave them in your vehicles.

f. Anyone caught visiting with an unauthorized inmate on restrictions will have their visitation privileges revoked by the facility for period determined by the Chief Jail Administrator.

III. Dress Code

a. Appropriate dressing is required for any and all visitations. Please follow the following guidelines.

I. NO SHORTS, NO SHORT SKIRTS OR SKIRTS WITH SLITS

II. NO SLEEVLESS SHIRTS

III. NO SHORT SHIRTS OR LOW CUT TOPS

IV. NO LOW CUT JEANS

V. STOMACH AND CLEAVAG WILL BE COVERED AT ALL TIMES

b. Dress code is strictly enforced. Failure to follow dress code guidelines will prevent you from being allowed into the visitation area.

IV. Prior Arrests and or Convictions of Visitor

a. All visitors that have been incarcerated at the Tuscaloosa County Jail charged with a Misdemeanor will be denied visitation for a period of six (6) months from the date of your release.

b. All visitors that have been incarcerated at the Tuscaloosa County Jail charged with a Felony will be denied visitation for a period of one (1) year from the date of your release.