Search by AIS number or name using ADOC's free, official inmate locator.
The Alabama Department of Corrections runs one free, official inmate locator covering everyone in state prison custody, including Ventress Correctional Facility. Search by AIS number for an exact match, or by first and last name for a broader, open-ended search. Once you confirm where the person is, write down their AIS number: you’ll need it for money deposits and mail.
Find your loved one and start staying in touch - photos, letters, and calls.
If you already know the person’s AIS number, the six-digit Alabama Institutional Serial number ADOC assigns to each person in custody, go to doc.alabama.gov/inmatesearch.aspx and enter it directly. An AIS number search gives you an exact match and is the fastest way to confirm someone’s status and current location.
If you don’t have the AIS number, search by first and last name instead. This search is open-ended: entering only the first few letters of a last name, for example “char,” returns every matching last name in the system, up to 50 results. If the name is common, narrow your search by adding the first name too.
A matching record shows the person’s name, their AIS number, and their current facility. The AIS number is the single most important piece of information you’ll need going forward. It identifies the person for money deposits through Access Corrections and for addressing personal mail correctly. Write it down and keep it somewhere you can find it again, since it stays the same even if the person is reassigned to another ADOC facility.
ADOC’s own description of Ventress states its primary mission is providing alcohol and drug treatment to ADOC’s inmate population, through an eight-week Substance Abuse Program and a six-month Crime Bill drug treatment program. If a search shows someone at Ventress and you didn’t expect it, they may have been assigned there specifically for one of these treatment programs. Once a program is complete, ADOC may reassign the person to a different facility, so check the locator again if it’s been a while since your last search.
ADOC’s inmate locator only covers people currently in ADOC state prison custody. There are a few common reasons a search might come up empty or show unexpected results:
Because Ventress houses people specifically for time-limited treatment programs, its population can turn over as people complete the SAP or Crime Bill program and move to other housing. If it’s been more than a few weeks since you last confirmed someone’s location, check the ADOC inmate locator again before traveling to visit, sending money, or mailing a letter.
Call Ventress directly at (334) 775-3331 to ask staff to confirm whether someone is currently held there. Have the person’s full legal name and, if possible, their date of birth ready when you call.
Use the visitation guide to learn what to ask before you plan a visit, the send money guide to deposit funds through Access Corrections, and the mail guide for the correct digital-mail address.
6 of 11 questions
The ADOC inmate locator at doc.alabama.gov/inmatesearch.aspx. It's free and covers everyone currently in Alabama Department of Corrections custody, including Ventress.
Inmate SearchAIS stands for Alabama Institutional Serial number, a unique six-digit ID ADOC assigns to each person in custody. You need it for money deposits and to correctly address mail, and it stays the same even after a transfer.
Inmate SearchThe name search accepts partial entries. Typing only a few letters of a last name returns every matching name in the system, up to 50 results. Add the first name too if the last name is common.
Inmate SearchADOC's own facility description states Ventress's primary mission is alcohol and drug treatment, running an eight-week Substance Abuse Program and a six-month Crime Bill program. Someone may have been assigned there specifically to complete one of these programs.
Inmate SearchThis isn't guaranteed. ADOC may reassign someone to a different facility once a treatment program is complete. Recheck the ADOC inmate locator periodically to confirm their current location.
Inmate SearchA few common reasons: they were sentenced under Alabama's Youthful Offender Act (which excludes them from search results entirely), they were very recently transferred and the system hasn't updated yet, or their name is spelled differently in the system than you expect.
Inmate SearchNo. It only covers people in ADOC state prison custody. For county jail, contact that specific county sheriff's office. For federal inmates at Alabama BOP facilities, use bop.gov/inmateloc/ with the Register Number.
Inmate SearchInmates sentenced under Alabama's Youthful Offender Act are excluded from ADOC's search results and population totals by design, so you won't find them through this tool even if they're in ADOC custody.
Inmate SearchNo. It's a free, official tool run by the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Inmate SearchADOC's facility directory lists Ventress as Medium security, security level four.
Inmate SearchCall Ventress directly at (334) 775-3331 with the person's full legal name and, if possible, their date of birth, and ask staff to confirm their current status and location.
Inmate SearchUse the AIS number you found to deposit through Access Corrections.
View ArticleADOC doesn't publish hours online. Call (334) 775-3331 to confirm.
View ArticleSet up a phone or tablet account so the person can call or message you.
View ArticleSend letters through the digital mail system.
View ArticleSearch for your loved one and start sending photos, letters, and messages today.
Search for Your Loved OneFree Inmate Search
All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 21, 2026.