FAQ About the Hoover City Jail

If your friend or family member was arrested in the city, chances are good they are being housed at the Hoover City Jail Alabama. Here is some information about the facility and FAQ’S.

The Hoover Jail is a medium-security facility that houses inmates temporarily. Most of the inmates who are at the facility were arrested in the area or surrounding cities.

The detention center is part of the city police department. Police officers process the intake of all inmates. They fingerprint the inmates, take pictures, and secure the inmate’s belongings.

The detention center is part of the Hoover Public Safety Center. This center also houses the police records department, the city jail, the police communications department and the city’s Municipal Court.

In 2006, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences moved its location from the University of Alabama to a new office inside the public safety center. The U.S. secret service runs a training center inside the center that trains law enforcement officers in computer forensics.

A newly updated communications center provides emergency dispatches to the city’s police and fire departments. It is one of the most advanced 911 centers in the state.

Hoover City Jail Inmates Population

The Hoover City Jail houses both male and female inmates. It can house 72 inmates, but it normally only houses 48 at a time.

Inmates spend anywhere from a few days to a full year at the Hoover City Jail. Most sentences are short.

Most inmates in the facility are waiting to go to trial. If they’re released on their own recognizance or bailed out, they can leave right away. Some inmates will transfer to the county, state or federal prison system if they’re convicted and sentenced.

If bail is denied, Hoover Al Jail inmate might be transferred to the Jefferson County holding facility. This is a larger facility that houses different types of offenders for longer sentences.

A few inmates who receive short sentences will complete their sentence at the Hoover City Jail. These are typically offenders who have been convicted of misdemeanors and low-level, nonviolent crimes.

Contact Information

Hoover Public Safety Center
100 Municipal Lane
Hoover, AL 35216
Phone: 205-444-7737

Locating an Inmate

The Hoover City Jail has a search function to help you locate an inmate. You can click on the jail’s inmate search function https://www.inmateaid.com/inmate-locator/hoover-jail.amp and enter the person’s last name.

The records will show when police arrested the person. It will also tell you if they’re being held at the Hoover City Jail.

If the website is down or you don’t have access to the internet, you can call or visit the Hoover Jail directly. Keep in mind that you’ll need patience getting this information. Hoover City Jail is part of a busy police department that fields hundreds of telephone calls each day.

Guidelines for Visiting the Hoover City Jail

You may visit if you are 18 or over. Minors may visit their parents if they bring a birth certificate.

Bring a valid form of identification.
You will be searched before you enter the building. If you drove your own car, it may also be searched.

Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled visit.
Do not wear revealing, offensive or tight clothing.

Hoover City Jail Visiting Hours

Female inmates: Sunday 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Male inmates: Sunday 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Federal detainees: Saturday 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

General Rules of the Detention Center

Do not bring the following items to your inmate visit:

• Cell phones, pagers and recording devices
• Books, magazines or papers
• Writing instruments
• Drugs, medications or alcohol
• Food or drinks

Delivering Clothing for Inmates

You may deliver clothing for an inmate at the Hoover City Jail. Call the center ahead of time to set a time when you can bring it. They can advise you about what type of clothing is acceptable.

The Hoover police department oversees law enforcement for the city, surrounding towns and parts of Jefferson County.

It operates four divisions:

Field Operations Bureau.
Administrative Services Bureau.
Investigative Services Bureau.
Special Ops and Emergency Preparedness Bureau.

The Police Department has the nation’s biggest fleet of police vehicles that run on E85. This is a fuel that is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

Layout of the Hoover City Jail

Like many detention centers today, the Hoover City Jail comprises several “pods.” Each pod includes several individual cells, large common areas and a recreation area. Inmates can spend time in the common areas and recreation areas during designated hours.

Most of the time, they must remain in their pods. During scheduled times, they can leave the pod to visit the library, commissary, outdoor area and visiting area. They can only leave the pod to visit these areas if they’re under supervision by a guard.

Bail Bonding Procedures

If you want to bail out an inmate, there are three ways you can do it. Please note that if an inmate’s arrest was for a parole violation or a failure to appear, you can only pay the bail in cash.

Cash bond: You pay the full bail amount in cash. You can pay directly at the Hoover City Jail. If you have any questions you can contact the jail directly.

Property bond: If the magistrate sets a “good bond,” you can post property as a bond. This requires two people to post the bond. Both must own land or property that is assessed at the value of the bond. You must show proof of current tax assessment and a valid form of identification. Contact them to get information on posting a property bond.

Surety Bond: You can hire a bail bondsman in Hoover to post the bond for you. Most Bail bonding agents operate 24-7. There is a list of local agents posted in the lobby.