Jail & Prison Information Lookup

Find Someone in Jail or Prison

Trying to locate someone who was arrested or incarcerated? Start with the county where the arrest happened or determine whether the person is in a county jail, state prison, or federal facility. Our guides connect you with official inmate searches and explain what to do next.

Official inmate-search links • County jail guides • Court & release information

Search our county jail guides

Search by city, county, state or jail name. GotLockedUp links to the official inmate locator inside each guide.

Where Should You Search?

The right inmate search depends on what happened to the person. Someone who was arrested yesterday is usually searched through a local jail system, while someone already sentenced to prison may be found through a state or federal corrections database.

Recent Arrest

City or County Jail

Start here if the person was recently arrested, is awaiting court, awaiting pretrial release or bond, or is being held by a sheriff or local law-enforcement agency.

State Custody

State Prison

Use the state's Department of Corrections inmate locator after the person has been sentenced and transferred from county custody into the state prison system.

Federal Custody

Federal Prison

People serving federal prison sentences are generally located through the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator rather than a county sheriff's database.

County Jail Directory

Find an Inmate by County, City or State

Choose the location where the person was arrested. Each GotLockedUp guide links directly to official jail and court resources and explains the local procedures families commonly need after an arrest.

California Jail & Inmate Searches

Los Angeles • San Diego • Riverside • Orange • Sacramento • Alameda • San Bernardino

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles County Jail

Find someone in Los Angeles County custody, access the official LASD inmate search, identify the current jail facility, and find bail, court, visitation, phone, money, mail and release information.

Official LASD inmate search
Men's Central Jail & Twin Towers
Bail & court information
Visitation & release information

Los Angeles County Jail & Inmate Search →

San Diego, California

San Diego County Jail

Find current San Diego County custody information and access jail, court, visitation, communication and release resources.

Official inmate search
Jail facilities
Court information
Release information

San Diego County Jail & Inmate Search →

Riverside, California

Riverside County Jail

Search Riverside County custody and find practical information about detention facilities, court, visitation, money and release.

Inmate search
Detention facilities
Court resources
Release guidance

Riverside County Jail & Inmate Search →

Orange County, California

Orange County Jail

Find Orange County custody information and current inmate, facility, court, visitation and release resources.

Orange County inmate search
Custody facilities
Court information
Visitation & release

Orange County Jail & Inmate Search →

Sacramento, California

Sacramento County Jail

Find Sacramento County inmates and information about Main Jail, RCCC, deposits, mail, courts and release.

Official inmate search
Main Jail
RCCC
Court & release information

Sacramento County Jail & Inmate Search →

Alameda County, California

Alameda County Jail

Search Alameda County custody and find Santa Rita Jail, visitation, court and release information.

Official inmate search
Santa Rita Jail
Visitation information
Court records

Alameda County Jail & Inmate Search →

San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino County Jail

Find someone in San Bernardino County custody and access current jail, bail, visitation, court and release information.

Official inmate locator
West Valley Detention Center
Bail information
Visitation & release

San Bernardino County Jail & Inmate Search →

Texas Jail & Inmate Searches

Dallas • Houston • Fort Worth • San Antonio

Dallas, Texas

Dallas County Jail

Find someone arrested in Dallas County and get official inmate, bond, visitation, phone, commissary, mail, court and release information.

Dallas County inmate search
Lew Sterrett jail information
Bond & court information
Visitation & release

Dallas County Jail & Inmate Search →

Houston, Texas

Harris County Jail

Find someone in Harris County custody, check charges and court information, locate the housing facility and learn current bond, visitation, phone, money, mail and release procedures.

HCSO inmate search
Offense inquiry
Bond & court information
Joint Processing Center release

Harris County Jail & Inmate Search →

Fort Worth, Texas

Tarrant County Jail

Search for someone arrested in Fort Worth or elsewhere in Tarrant County and find bond, court, visitation, phone, money, mail, medical and release information.

Tarrant County inmate search
Recent booking reports
Bond information
County & district courts

Tarrant County Jail & Inmate Search →

San Antonio, Texas

Bexar County Jail

Find someone arrested in San Antonio or elsewhere in Bexar County, search recent arrests, check inmate and bond information, and find court, visitation, phone, money, mail, medical and release information.

Central Magistrate recent arrest search
BCSO jail activity reports
Bond & court information
Visitation & release information

Bexar County Jail & Inmate Search →

Florida Jail & Inmate Searches

Orlando • Miami • Fort Lauderdale • Tampa • Palm Beach

Orlando, Florida

Orange County Jail

Find someone arrested in Orlando or elsewhere in Orange County and access current jail and court information.

Inmate search
Booking information
Court information
Release guidance

Orange County FL Jail & Inmate Search →

Miami, Florida

Miami-Dade County Jail

Search Miami-Dade custody and find booking, court, visitation, communication and release information.

Miami-Dade inmate search
Jail information
Court resources
Release information

Miami-Dade County Jail & Inmate Search →

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Broward County Jail

Find Broward County custody information and current jail, court, visitation and release resources.

Official inmate search
Booking information
Visitation information
Court & release guidance

Broward County Jail & Inmate Search →

Tampa, Florida

Hillsborough County Jail

Search Hillsborough County custody and find jail, court, visitation, communication and release information.

Inmate search
Jail facilities
Court information
Release resources

Hillsborough County Jail & Inmate Search →

Palm Beach County, Florida

Palm Beach County Jail

Find Palm Beach County inmates and current booking, jail, court, visitation and release information.

Inmate search
Booking information
Visitation
Court & release information

Palm Beach County Jail & Inmate Search →

Arizona Jail & Inmate Searches

Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona

Maricopa County Jail

Search MCSO custody, determine the current Phoenix jail location, check court and release information, and learn current visitation, phone, money and mail procedures.

MCSO inmate information
Fourth Avenue Jail
ITR release information
Superior Court case search

Maricopa County Jail & Inmate Search →

Illinois Jail & Inmate Searches

Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Cook County Jail

Find someone in the Cook County Department of Corrections, access the official custody locator, check court information and learn current visitation, calls, commissary, mail and release procedures.

Individual in Custody Locator
Cook County court search
Illinois pretrial release
Visitation & discharge information

Cook County Jail & Inmate Search →

Nevada Jail & Inmate Searches

Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Clark County Detention Center

Find someone arrested in Las Vegas or Clark County and access current detention, court, visitation and release information.

CCDC inmate search
Detention information
Court resources
Release information

Clark County Detention Center & Inmate Search →

Washington Jail & Inmate Searches

Seattle • Kent

Seattle, Washington

King County Jail

Search King County custody and find KCCF, MRJC, communication, money, court and release information.

King County inmate search
KCCF
MRJC
Court & release information

King County Jail & Inmate Search →

Michigan Jail & Inmate Searches

Detroit

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne County Jail

Find someone in Wayne County custody and access current Criminal Justice Center, court, deposit and inmate information.

Official inmate search
Criminal Justice Center
Court information
Deposits & release

Wayne County Jail & Inmate Search →

Pennsylvania Jail & Inmate Searches

Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Jail

Locate someone in Philadelphia Department of Prisons custody and find visitation, money, communication and release information.

Locate an incarcerated person
Philadelphia prison facilities
Visitation information
Custody notifications

Philadelphia Jail & Inmate Search →

Georgia Jail & Inmate Searches

Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia

Fulton County Jail

Search Fulton County custody and find current jail, court, visitation and release information.

Inmate search
Booking information
Court resources
Visitation & release

Fulton County Jail & Inmate Search →

Ohio Jail & Inmate Searches

Columbus

Columbus, Ohio

Franklin County Jail

Find Franklin County inmates and current corrections, visitation, mail, court and release information.

Official inmate information
Karnes Corrections Center
Virtual visitation
Mail & release information

Franklin County Jail & Inmate Search →

Tennessee Jail & Inmate Searches

Nashville

Nashville, Tennessee

Davidson County Jail

Search Davidson County custody and find detention, communication, money, court and release information.

Active inmate search
Downtown Detention Center
Phone & deposit information
Release notifications

Davidson County Jail & Inmate Search →

We don't have a detailed guide for that location yet. Try searching the county name instead of the city. If the arrest was recent, the county sheriff's office or local corrections agency is usually the best place to begin.

Don't Know the Jail?

How to Find Out Where Someone Was Taken After an Arrest

If you know someone was arrested but do not know where they are, work through these steps in order.

Start with where the arrest happened. Identify the city, county or general area where the person was arrested. The person's home address is less important than the location of the arrest.
Identify the county. Many large jail systems are operated by county sheriffs rather than the city police department.
Search the official inmate or booking resource. Use the sheriff, county corrections department, magistrate system or other responsible government's official search whenever one is available.
Allow time for booking. Someone arrested very recently may not appear immediately. Transportation, fingerprints, photographs, medical screening, classification and database entry can take time.
Check the arresting agency. A person may initially remain in a city holding facility, suburban police department, hospital or another local facility before transfer to county custody.
Check court records if necessary. Court or magistrate information may help identify the responsible agency, case number, charge or custody status when the jail search does not.

Search Troubleshooting

Why Can't I Find Someone in the Inmate Search?

An unsuccessful jail search does not necessarily mean the person was never arrested or has already been released.

The Arrest Was Recent

The public inmate database may not update until booking and processing are substantially complete.

Wrong County

Search the county where the arrest happened rather than simply the county where the person lives.

Different Name Format

Try the full legal name, alternate spellings, middle name, hyphenated names and date of birth when permitted.

They Were Transferred

The person may have moved from a city holding facility to county custody, another county, state custody or federal custody.

They Were Released

Some systems show only people currently incarcerated and remove released individuals from the active list.

No Standard Live Search

Some counties use recent-arrest lists, magistrate records or booking reports rather than a conventional real-time inmate locator.

Jail or Prison?

Should You Search a County Jail or a Prison?

Jail and prison are not interchangeable. Searching the wrong system is one of the most common reasons people cannot locate someone.

Search a County Jail When...

The person was recently arrested, has a pending criminal case, is waiting for a court hearing, is being held on a local warrant, is awaiting pretrial release or is serving certain shorter local sentences.

Search a Prison When...

The person has been convicted and sentenced to state or federal imprisonment and has already been transferred out of local county custody.

A felony charge does not automatically mean state prison.

A person facing a serious felony may remain in a county jail for months or longer while the criminal case is pending. Start with the county system after a recent arrest unless you know the person has already been sentenced and transferred.

Before You Search

Information That Helps With an Inmate Search

Full Legal Name Use the person's name as it is likely to appear in official records.

Date of Birth Useful for distinguishing people with similar names.

County of Arrest Often the most important clue to the correct jail system.

City of Arrest Helps identify the county and arresting agency.

Booking Number Use it whenever the official jail search accepts it.

SID / Inmate ID Some counties use a unique inmate identification number.

Arresting Agency City police, sheriff, state police or federal agency can matter.

Approximate Arrest Time Helps determine whether booking may still be processing.

After You Find Them

Our Jail Guides Go Beyond the Inmate Search

Finding the person is usually just the first question. Each detailed GotLockedUp county guide is designed to help with what families and friends typically need next.

Official Inmate Search Government custody and booking resources.

Jail Location Current facilities and important phone numbers.

Charges & Court Where to find court records and upcoming hearings.

Bond / Release How local pretrial or bond procedures work.

Visitation Approval, scheduling and current visiting procedures.

Phone & Video Current jail communication systems.

Money & Commissary How to safely fund an inmate account.

Mail Current mailing procedures and restrictions.

Common Questions

Find an Inmate FAQ

How do I find out if someone is in jail?

Start with the county where the person was arrested and search the responsible sheriff, corrections agency or official booking system. GotLockedUp's county guides provide direct links to those official resources whenever available.

Can I look up someone in jail for free?

Many sheriff and county corrections agencies provide free public inmate searches or booking resources. You generally do not need to purchase a background report simply to check current county-jail custody.

Why isn't someone showing up after being arrested?

Booking information can take time to appear. The person may still be with the arresting agency, being transported, fingerprinted, medically screened, appearing before a magistrate or judge, or being processed for release.

Should I search the city jail or county jail?

Many people arrested by a city police department ultimately enter a county-operated jail system. Start by identifying the county where the arrest happened.

Is jail the same as prison?

No. Jails usually hold people after local arrests, while cases are pending, and for certain shorter sentences. State and federal prisons generally hold people who have been convicted, sentenced and transferred into a prison system.

25 Detailed Jail Guides Across 12 States

GotLockedUp is expanding its jail directory one location at a time. Each guide is researched separately because inmate searches, visitation, pretrial release, phone services, mail and release procedures are not the same everywhere.

Important: GotLockedUp.com is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with any jail, sheriff's office, police department, court, county, state, Department of Corrections, Federal Bureau of Prisons, communications provider or government agency. Custody status, housing location, visitation, phone services, mailing procedures, court information and release status can change without notice. Always confirm important information with the official agency responsible for the person in custody. An arrest or criminal charge is an allegation and does not establish guilt. Nothing on this site is legal advice.