It is the duty of the Board of Corrections, upon the reception of any convict into the penitentiary, to take his height, name, age, complexion, color of his hair and eyes, fingerprints, photograph, the place of his birth, the county in which he was convicted, the nature of the crime and the period of imprisonment, all of which, together with the statement of the time when such convict was received, must be entered upon a permanent record. The baggage and person of every convict must be carefully searched, and every instrument by which he may effect his escape shall be taken therefrom.
Ala. Code § 14-3-35 (1975)