Bessemer County, Alabama sentencing data
In the latest Alabama Department of Corrections public release loaded into Justice Audit, 637 people sentenced in Bessemer County were held in Alabama state prisons. Their median sentence is 5 years, shorter than the statewide median of 10 years. 43% are serving 20 years or more, compared with 45% statewide. The most common offense is murder.
Sentences by offense: Bessemer County vs. Alabama
Offenses with 10+ people. Median of the longest sentence from each person's most recent sentencing; life and death sentences not included.
| Offense | People | Bessemer median (yrs) | Alabama median (yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 71 | 20 | 25 |
| Poss/Rec Control Substance - Classd | 34 | 2 | 3 |
| Robbery I | 32 | 20 | 20 |
| Manslaughter | 29 | 14 | 20 |
| Attempted Murder | 28 | 5 | 20 |
| Dist Control Substance | 18 | 2 | 5 |
| Theft Of Property I | 18 | 5 | 7 |
| Rape I | 17 | 20 | 21.5 |
| Assault I | 17 | 5 | 15 |
| Burglary Iii | 15 | 2 | 8 |
| Theft Of Property Iii - Classd | 14 | 2 | 4.5 |
| Robbery Iii | 13 | 10 | 15 |
Race
| Group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 462 | 73% |
| White | 169 | 27% |
Groups with fewer than 10 people are not shown.
Other Alabama counties
About this data
Source: Alabama Department of Corrections public inmate records. People currently in state prison custody whose longest sentence was imposed in Bessemer County, one record per person, using the longest sentence from their most recent sentencing. Criminal history is not in the data, so differences between counties can reflect prior records as well as sentencing practice.