Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
Independent records-search resource. This website is not a government agency, police department, sheriff's office, jail, prison or courthouse. Search coverage varies by source and jurisdiction. Some links may lead to third-party services, and compensation may be received when a partner service is used.
Start With the Agency That Booked Them
Finding a mugshot is much easier when you first identify where the arrest happened. Recent booking photos usually begin with a county jail or sheriff, while state prison, federal custody and historical records use different systems.
This guide helps you find current jail records, recent booking photos, state or federal inmate information, old mugshots and court follow-up without relying on a copied image as proof of guilt.
Which Mugshot Search Should You Use?
The correct source depends more on custody level than on the person’s name.
Simple rule: local arrest = local jail first. State prison = state corrections. Federal custody = BOP. Old record = archive or records request.
How Do You Find Mugshots Online?
Use these steps before paying for a search or trusting a photo copied onto another website.
Find the arrest location
Write down the city, county and state if known. The arrest location is often more useful than another name search because booking systems are highly local.
Identify who likely handled the booking
A city police department may make the arrest while a county jail handles the actual booking. Search both agency names when you are unsure.
Open the official jail or sheriff website
Look for labels such as Inmate Search, Jail Roster, Current Inmates, Booking Search, Arrest Inquiry, Who’s in Jail or Recent Bookings.
Search the last name first
Start broad. Add a first name, date of birth, booking date or inmate number only when the official system supports those filters.
Open the detailed record
Look beyond the photograph. Record the booking date, arresting agency, charges, booking number, facility and custody status.
Check released or historical views
If the person vanished from the current roster, look for Recent Releases, Previous Bookings or a public-records route before assuming the arrest did not occur.
Use the court record for the outcome
Once the booking is confirmed, court records are better for filed charges, hearings, dismissal, plea, conviction and disposition.
Try “[county] sheriff inmate search,” “[county] jail roster,” “[city] recent bookings,” or “[state] department of corrections inmate locator.” Prefer the government result over a repost page.
Current Jail, State Prison or Federal Custody?
A missing result often means the wrong database was searched rather than the person having no record.
| Situation | Best first source | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Arrested today or recently | County jail or sheriff inmate search | A state prison database will already contain the person |
| Recently released | Released-inmate view, court record or records request | The current roster preserves every former booking |
| State prison sentence | State Department of Corrections | The county jail page is still current |
| Federal custody | Federal Bureau of Prisons | BOP is a nationwide mugshot gallery |
| Need the case result | Court or clerk search | The booking charge remained unchanged |
| Old historical record | Archive or records custodian | Modern jail searches retain the image indefinitely |
How to Find County Jail Mugshots and Booking Photos
For a recent local arrest, the booking jail is usually the strongest source because that is where intake information is created and updated.
Look for More Than One Roster View
County Name Confusion Can Create Wrong Matches
Many county names occur in several states. Before trusting a mugshot, match the state, city, facility and arresting agency. A practical example is our Morgan County jail mugshot guide, where the same county name can point to multiple independent jail systems.
Wrong-person warning: a matching first and last name is not enough. Compare location, age, booking date, booking number and agency whenever available.
What If You Know the City but Not the County?
You do not need to guess randomly between jail websites. First identify which local government and detention system serves that city.
Search the city police website
Look for jail, detention, arrest records or records-division guidance. The police site may tell you which county jail accepts its arrestees.
Identify the surrounding county
Use an official local-government directory rather than assuming a city has its own independent jail.
Open the county sheriff or corrections site
Search the inmate tool there using the legal last name first.
USA.gov provides a state-by-state directory for finding local government contacts when you do not know the correct county or municipal website.
How to Find State Prison Mugshots
Once someone has entered state correctional custody, the state Department of Corrections becomes more useful than the original county jail search.
USA.gov maintains a directory of state departments of corrections. Search the appropriate state’s official locator by name or offender number when available. Whether a photograph appears depends on that state’s system.
Do Not Use State DOC for Every Fresh Arrest
- Use the county jail first for a same-day local booking
- Use DOC after a transfer or state sentence becomes relevant
- Search the legal name exactly as the state system requires
- Use an offender number when available
- Compare facility and custody status
- Remember that state photo publication policies differ
For a real local-to-state example, our Crawford County Illinois mugshot guide shows why a county jail roster and Illinois state-custody search answer different questions.
How to Find a Federal Inmate Record
The Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator covers federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present. It is useful for identifying federal custody and location, but it should not be treated as a national federal mugshot archive.
Search by Name or Federal Number
The BOP locator supports name searches and federal identification numbers. Results can include register number, age, race, sex, release information and facility location.
BOP timing note: federal release dates may change as sentence calculations are updated. A person marked “Released” or “Not in BOP Custody” may also be under another criminal-justice or supervision system.
If the Federal Locator Returns Nothing
When a Federal FOIA Request Is Actually Appropriate
Federal FOIA applies to federal agency records. It does not govern records held by a county sheriff, city police department, state jail or state court.
If the information you need about a current or former federal inmate is not available through the BOP locator, BOP says you may submit a FOIA request. Requests should reasonably describe the records sought.
If You Are Requesting Your Own Federal Prison Records
USA.gov directs people requesting their own federal prison records to submit a BOP FOIA request and use DOJ Form 361 for identity certification.
Do not use “FOIA” as a universal term for local mugshots. County and state agencies follow their own state public-record, open-record or freedom-of-information laws.
How to Find Old or Historical Mugshots
An old booking photo often requires a different search because current jail systems are designed for active or recent custody rather than permanent photo archives.
Identify the original jail or prison
Find the facility, agency, county and state connected to the arrest or incarceration.
Estimate the year
An approximate time period helps determine whether you need a live inmate system, local archive or historical repository.
Find an inmate or case number
Older archives can be much easier to search when you provide an identification number rather than only a common name.
Ask for the specific photograph or inmate file
Do not request “all criminal records” when you only need a historical booking or prison identification photograph.
Federal Prison Records Before 1982
USA.gov directs researchers seeking federal prison records from 1870 through 1981 to the National Archives. NARA maintains indexes and records for facilities including Alcatraz, Leavenworth and other former federal prisons.
For an archive request, useful identifying details include the inmate’s full name, date of birth or approximate age, race and approximate dates of incarceration.
Use Court Records to Find What Happened Next
The arrest photo is the beginning of the record trail, not the end. Once you have the case number or arrest information, switch to the appropriate court system.
| Your question | Better source |
|---|---|
| Was the person booked? | Jail or sheriff booking record |
| Are they still in jail? | Current custody locator |
| What charge was filed in court? | Court docket or clerk |
| Was the charge dismissed? | Court case history |
| Was there a conviction? | Official disposition or judgment |
USA.gov provides a directory for federal, state, county and municipal courts when you do not know which court system to search.
Federal Cases: Use PACER
If the matter is federal, PACER provides federal court case information. Search the specific federal court when you know it. If you do not know the court, use the PACER Case Locator, which searches a nationwide federal case index.
PACER is not a mugshot search: it helps confirm federal filings, docket entries, case numbers and court activity. Do not assume a federal court docket contains a booking photograph.
How to Request a Booking Photo From a Local Agency
When an official jail record exists but no photograph is displayed, identify which agency actually holds the booking image before submitting a request.
Confirm the record holder
The sheriff, jail and arresting police department may maintain different records. Ask which office keeps the booking photograph.
Gather useful identifiers
Prepare the full legal name, booking date, facility, booking number and case number when available.
Request one specific record
Ask for the publicly releasable booking photograph instead of requesting every record connected with the person.
Ask about availability, redaction and fees
Publication rules vary. Confirm whether the photograph can be released and whether search, copying or delivery fees apply.
I am requesting the publicly releasable booking photograph for [full legal name], believed to have been booked by or at [agency/facility] on or about [date]. The booking or case number is [number, if known]. Please advise whether your office holds the photograph, whether any restrictions or redactions apply, and the current fee before processing.
Access varies by jurisdiction: do not assume every booking photograph is legally required to be displayed online or released to every requester.
Why You May Find an Arrest but No Mugshot
A missing photo can have several explanations. Work through them before assuming the arrest record is wrong.
Verify a Mugshot Before You Trust or Share It
A real photograph can still be old, attached to the wrong person, missing case context or reposted long after the underlying case changed.
- Correct state
- Correct county or city
- Full legal name
- Middle name or suffix
- Age or birth year
- Booking date
- Arresting agency
- Booking or inmate number
- Case or warrant number
- Current custody status
If You Found the Mugshot on Facebook or Social Media
Use the post only as a clue. A screenshot can be old, cropped, mislabeled or missing the release and court outcome. Our Facebook mugshot verification guide explains how to separate official law-enforcement posts from private reposts and then verify the claim through jail and court sources.
Do not repost an unverified mugshot: a booking photo is not a conviction and an inaccurate same-name match can seriously harm the wrong person.
Before You Rely on Any Mugshot Result
Run through this check before using a booking photo as evidence of anything beyond the booking itself.
- I identified the correct jurisdiction.
- I used an official custody source.
- I matched several identity details.
- I recorded the booking or inmate number.
- I checked whether the person remains in custody.
- I checked the court record when the outcome matters.
- I did not treat the arrest charge as a final charge.
- I did not treat the mugshot as proof of guilt.
- I recorded the source and date checked.
- I am not using this page as a consumer background report.
How to Find Mugshots FAQs
How do you find someone’s mugshot online?
Identify where the arrest occurred first. For a recent local arrest, search the official county sheriff, jail or detention-center website. Use the state Department of Corrections for state prison custody and the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator for federal inmates.
Is there one official nationwide mugshot database?
No. Local jails, sheriff offices, state correctional agencies and federal systems maintain separate records. Some publish photographs and some provide custody information without photos.
How do I find recent booking photos for free?
Start with the official sheriff or jail website for the county where the arrest occurred. Look for current inmates, recent bookings, arrest inquiry, jail roster or released-inmate views. Online searches are often free, although record copies may carry fees.
What if I know the city but not the county?
Use an official local-government directory or search the city police and surrounding county sheriff websites to identify which jail handles bookings for that location. Once the county is confirmed, use that jail’s official inmate search.
Why is an inmate listed but there is no mugshot?
Not every agency publishes booking photographs online. The image may also be delayed, removed after release, restricted by local policy or available only through a public-records request.
How do I find state prison mugshots?
Use the state’s Department of Corrections or equivalent inmate locator. Some state systems display inmate photographs while others provide only custody, sentence, offender-number or facility information.
Does the BOP Inmate Locator show federal mugshots?
The Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator is primarily a federal custody and location search, not a nationwide federal mugshot archive. It covers federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present.
How do I find an old historical mugshot?
Identify the jail or prison and approximate date first. For federal prison records before 1982, USA.gov directs users to the National Archives. Older state and local photos may require the responsible agency’s archive or public-records process.
How do I request a booking photo that is not online?
Identify the agency that holds the booking record and submit a narrow request for the booking photograph. Include the full name, approximate booking date, location and booking or case number when known. State and local requests follow the applicable state public-records law rather than federal FOIA.
Does a mugshot mean someone was convicted?
No. A mugshot normally documents an arrest or booking event. It does not prove guilt or conviction. Check the official court record for later charges, dismissal, plea, acquittal, conviction or other disposition.
Mugshot Record Excavator: Official Jail, Court & Booking Verification Tool
Use this tool to build a safer official-record search plan, generate better search queries, decode booking terms, score match confidence, prepare a records request, and avoid wrong-person mistakes. It runs in your browser and does not submit your entries.
Build a practical official-record search plan
This does not search hidden records. It creates a safer step-by-step path to find the right official jail, sheriff, court, state, or federal source.
Match confidence calculator
Use this before assuming a mugshot, arrest listing, or booking entry belongs to the right person.
Booking and jail-record field decoder
Select a term commonly found on jail rosters, inmate searches, booking pages, and court follow-up records.
Generate a records request note
Create a clean, polite request note for a sheriff’s office, jail, court clerk, police department, or public-records office.
Problem solver: missing, old, or confusing results
Choose the issue you’re facing and get a practical next-step checklist.
Generated result
Your plan, links, decoded explanation, request note, or checklist will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Add a state, county/city, name, date, and goal. The tool will create an official-source search path and copyable verification log.
Browser-only privacy note: this tool does not send your entries to this website.