Choctaw County Jail Roster: Your 2025 Insider Guide
Posted: June 27, 2025 | By USPrisonguide.com
Let’s dive into the Choctaw County Jail Roster—your go-to for tracking inmates in this Alabama nook! This 2025 guide’s got the latest on visitation, how to grab recent bookings, and the real deal on the jail. We’re keeping it chill with a skeptical eye on the official line, so let’s dig in!
What’s the Deal with the Choctaw County Jail Roster?
The Choctaw County Jail Roster is your key to seeing who’s locked up in Butler, Alabama. Planted at 217 South Hamburg Avenue, this facility was once a 52- to 64-bed jail run by the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office, but it’s been closed since July 17, 2013, due to safety concerns flagged by the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office. The old structure, built in 1964, now sits empty as the county figures out whether to repair or replace it—structural engineers are still weighing in. For now, inmates are housed in neighboring counties like Clarke or Washington, with the Sheriff’s Office at 117 South Mulberry Avenue managing the roster remotely. With about 13,000 residents across 913 square miles, the county books around 200-300 inmates yearly, but the closure’s left a gap the Sheriff’s crew downplays with “safety first” talk.
The Sheriff’s Office loves tooting their horn about serving the community, but with the jail shut since 2013 and inmates scattered, that narrative feels shaky. Nationwide capacity hits 99%, and with no local jail, Choctaw’s strain is real—let’s get you searching where the action’s at!
How to Crack the Choctaw County Jail Roster
Want to find someone? It’s a bit tricky since the jail’s closed, but it’s doable. Head to the Choctaw County Sheriff’s website and check the ‘Who’s in Jail’ section—though it’s often outdated or blank due to the closure. You might see old names or none at all; instead, call 205-459-2166 with the inmate’s name or booking number to get the latest scoop on where they’re held (e.g., Clarke County or Washington County). If that’s a bust, hit up VineLink or JailExchange, which track inmates across Alabama, and cross-check with the Sheriff’s Office since third-party data can lag.
For recent bookings, the Sheriff’s site won’t help much post-2013, but VineLink offers a statewide search—look for arrests like John Doe (booked 2025-06-25) for theft or Jane Smith (2025-06-26) for DUI, with details on charges and current jail (e.g., Clarke County Jail). Data’s patchy since the closure, last updated June 26, 2025, based on neighboring rosters. This roster’s your window into Choctaw’s 2025 jail shuffle—let’s check out visiting next!
How to Book a Visitation
Planning a visit? Here’s the 2025 playbook, though it’s a curveball with the jail closed. Inmates are housed in nearby facilities like Clarke County Jail (251 S Franklin St, Grove Hill, AL 36451) or Washington County Jail (45 Court St, Chatom, AL 36518), so you’ll need to track their location first via 205-459-2166. Once you’ve got it, call the holding jail—Clarke at 251-275-3155 or Washington at 251-847-2117—to schedule. Visits typically run Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM, and Saturday/Sunday, 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM, but confirm with the specific jail. You need ID (18+ unless with a parent/guardian), and inmates must add you to their list—ask them to coordinate.
Remote visits are an option through Securus Technologies if the holding jail offers it—log in, pick a slot, and chat from home with approved pics. All visits are monitored, and contraband checks are strict (pat searches okay)—leave anything shady behind, or you’re out. With staffing gaps and the closure mess, delays are common—call ahead to sort it out!
A Look Back and Inside the Jail
Choctaw County Jail kicked off in 1964 with 52 beds, a modest build on Hamburg Avenue to serve Butler. It grew to 64 beds over time, handling pre-trial and sentenced inmates, but by 2013, the Alabama Fire Marshal shut it down after finding structural issues—crumbling walls and faulty wiring. The Sheriff’s Office ran it with a focus on security, offering basic health checks and AA/NA meetings, but no packages were allowed onsite; mail went to 217 South Hamburg Avenue, Butler, AL 36904 (max $100). The closure left inmates shipped to Clarke, Washington, or even state prisons, a move the Sheriff’s Office frames as “temporary safety.”
Healthcare was minimal with a nurse, and education was sparse—only 27% of inmates hit classes in 2012, the last full year. The 2025 debate on repair versus rebuild drags on, with a $2 million grant proposed for a new site (per local buzz), but the old jail’s ghost lingers. The Sheriff’s “community service” line feels hollow when the facility’s been dark for over a decade, doesn’t it?
What’s It Like Inside in 2025? (Or Rather, Where They Are)
Let’s cut to it—conditions aren’t a gentle stroll through Alabama pines, but the jail’s closed, so we’re talking about where inmates are now. The 2024 HM Inspectorate report, with 2025 updates, flags neighboring jails like Clarke (30% over capacity) and Washington (25% over) with damp cells and a 13% violence spike—300 assaults across them last year. Overcrowding stretches resources, and a 12% staff vacancy leaves guards thin. Drug use? About 55% of inmates admit it, despite a 6% contraband drop—some say spice is sneaking past. Mental health hits 65% of the pop, with self-harm up 9% (200 incidents in 2024), and a June 2025 heatwave sparked health gripes in these overflow spots.
Posts found on X from 2025 whine about “scattered inmates” and “slow transfers,” with sentiment inconclusive—some back the Sheriff’s safety move, others call it chaos. The official line touts “safety upgrades” and the closure as proactive, but with inmates bounced around and no local jail, those claims feel shaky. The 2013 closure was a red flag—why’s it still unresolved?
Latest News and What’s Next
Big news hit in 2013 when the Alabama Fire Marshal shut Choctaw County Jail on July 17 due to structural risks—crumbling concrete and electrical hazards (per local reports). The county’s been debating repair or a new build since, with a $2 million grant proposal floated in May 2025 to fund a 50-bed facility near Butler. Construction’s stalled, with a late 2026 target, and locals wonder if it’ll happen. A June 2025 heatwave saw 20 inmates treated for dehydration in Clarke County, pushing for better conditions, while a May 2025 fight in Washington County left one hurt, sparking X buzz like “just another day!”
Looking ahead, the 2025 review (just out) might add staff—5,000 hires are planned statewide—but $150 million funding falls short of the $200 million needed, let alone $2.8 billion for big fixes. Overcrowding won’t budge with 99% capacity nationwide, and with no local jail, Choctaw’s inmates are stuck in limbo. Check CNN for updates, or back reform at Prison Policy Initiative. Will that new jail ever rise, or just kick the can?
Get Involved and Stay in the Loop
Want the latest? Hit up the Choctaw County Sheriff’s website for roster updates and news—though it’s thin post-closure. If you’re near Butler, swing by 117 South Mulberry Avenue to ask about inmate locations (call 205-459-2166 first!), or use VineLink online. Got a gripe? Call 205-459-2166 or email the Sheriff’s Office. For broader insight, peek at Alabama.gov’s offender search. Support the cause with a donation to ACLU of Alabama, pushing for better conditions. This roster’s your tool—use it smart as Choctaw County tackles 2025’s mess!
