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.
Find the Correct Custody System
There is no single government roster covering every jail, prison and detention facility in the United States. A county arrest, state sentence, federal prosecution and ICE detention require different searches.
This guide helps you identify the right system, search with accurate details, understand roster fields and move safely to bond, court, visitation, money, mail, records and release notifications.
Which USA Inmate Search Do You Need?
Choose by custody authority rather than searching the same name on unrelated databases.
Arrested recently
Start with the arresting police agency, municipal detention center, county sheriff or regional jail.
Open local jail guidanceServing a state sentence
Use the state’s corrections locator for prison, parole and other state-supervision records.
Open state corrections guidanceServing a federal sentence
Use the Bureau of Prisons locator for federal incarceration records from 1982 onward.
Open federal prison guidanceAwaiting federal court
A federal pretrial defendant may be held in a local, private or federal detention facility.
Open federal pretrial guidanceImmigration detention
Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator rather than a state prison or BOP search.
Open ICE locator guidanceOlder federal record
Use the National Archives when the federal incarceration predates the BOP online coverage.
Open historical record guidanceDecision shortcut: recent local arrest usually means county or city custody; sentenced state case means state corrections; federal sentence means BOP; federal pretrial custody often means U.S. Marshals; immigration custody means ICE.
Jail, Prison and Detention Records Compared
Each custody system has a different purpose, update schedule and record format.
| Custody system | Usually holds | Best search source | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| City detention | Very recent municipal arrests and short-term holds | Official police, marshal or city detention page | Searching the county before transfer occurs |
| County jail | Pretrial detainees, recent bookings and shorter sentences | Official sheriff or county corrections roster | Searching the state DOC for yesterday’s arrest |
| Regional jail | People from several participating counties | Official regional jail locator | Assuming the facility must be inside the arrest county |
| State prison | People serving state sentences | State department of corrections locator | Treating state prison data as a county booking roster |
| Federal BOP | People serving federal sentences and some federal detainees | BOP Inmate Locator | Expecting every federal pretrial defendant to appear |
| U.S. Marshals | Federal pretrial and transportation custody | Federal court case, local holding facility and USMS district | Assuming no BOP result means no federal custody |
| ICE detention | People in immigration detention | ICE Online Detainee Locator | Searching a criminal prison locator only |
How to Find an Inmate Step by Step
This process works when you know only a name and approximate arrest location.
Write down the known location
Record the city, county, state, arresting agency, courthouse, known facility and approximate arrest date.
Identify the likely custody authority
Decide whether the person is probably in city, county, state, federal pretrial, federal prison or ICE custody.
Use the official source first
Prefer a government sheriff, county, corrections, court, BOP, USMS or ICE page over a copied directory.
Search with fewer accurate fields
Begin with the legal last and first name. Add date of birth, age or identification number only when reliable.
Save every identifier separately
Record the booking number, jail ID, DOC number, BOP number, A-number, case number and facility name.
Verify custody and court status
Use the roster for location and custody. Use the court system for filed charges, hearings and disposition.
What to Do After a Very Recent Arrest
A same-day arrest may not appear immediately in a county inmate roster.
Use This Same-Day Search Order
- Call or check the arresting police agency
- Check the city detention or municipal jail
- Search the county sheriff inmate page
- Try the legal name without a middle name
- Remove an uncertain date of birth
- Ask whether transfer is pending
- Ask whether the person was cited and released
- Check whether a federal or ICE agency is involved
“I am trying to locate [full legal name], date of birth [date], who may have been arrested near [location] at approximately [time]. Can you confirm whether the person is being processed, transferred, released or held at another facility?”
How to Search a Local Jail Roster
Most recent arrests are found through a sheriff, county corrections department, city detention center or regional jail.
Find the Correct Official Website
Search for the county and state together with the responsible agency, such as “sheriff inmate search,” “county corrections inmate lookup,” “detention center current inmates” or “regional jail roster.” Confirm the agency name and government affiliation before entering personal details.
Details to Collect Before Calling
- Full legal name
- Middle name or initial
- Maiden or former name
- Date of birth or approximate age
- Approximate arrest date and time
- Arresting police agency
- Booking or jail number
- Known warrant or court case number
How to Search a State Prison Inmate
Each state maintains its own corrections database and decides which records are publicly displayed.
USAGov provides an official directory for state and territorial correction departments. Select the state, then look for wording such as inmate search, offender locator, incarcerated-person search or resident lookup.
What a State Corrections Result May Show
| Field | Useful for | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| DOC number | Separating people with similar names | Usually valid only inside that state’s system |
| Current institution | Finding mail, phone and visiting instructions | A transfer may begin before the public page updates |
| Sentence information | Understanding the listed sentence or term | It does not replace the judgment or complete court file |
| Projected release | Planning and custody-status review | Credits, holds, appeals and recalculation can change it |
| Parole or supervision | Checking some post-release state supervision | Coverage varies significantly by state |
| Photograph | Distinguishing similar names | It may be outdated, missing or not publicly released |
Recent-arrest warning: someone awaiting trial in a county jail may not appear in the state corrections locator.
How to Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons
The BOP locator covers federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present.
Search by Name or Federal Number
Release-date caution: the BOP warns that projected release dates can change while sentence and federal time-credit calculations are reviewed.
What “Not in BOP Custody” Can Mean
- The person is awaiting federal trial in USMS custody
- The person is housed in a county or private detention facility
- The person is in state rather than federal custody
- The person has been released to supervision
- The record predates online BOP coverage
- The name or number was entered incorrectly
When a Federal Defendant Is Not in the BOP Locator
The U.S. Marshals Service manages federal prisoners from court-ordered custody through acquittal or transfer to BOP after conviction.
Federal pretrial prisoners may be housed in state, local, private or BOP facilities near the federal judicial district. This is why a person can have a federal criminal case without appearing as an active BOP inmate.
Federal Pretrial Search Steps
Find the federal court case
Use PACER to identify the district court, case number, hearings and detention-related filings.
Check the likely local holding facility
Federal defendants may be housed in a county jail or contracted detention center close to the court.
Contact the USMS district office
Use the district associated with the federal court when the holding location remains unclear.
Recheck after sentencing
A sentenced person may appear in BOP only after designation, transportation and admission processing.
Facility-rule tip: when a federal prisoner is housed in a local jail, that facility’s visiting, mail, phone and property rules generally control daily contact.
How to Use the ICE Detainee Locator
ICE detention records are separate from county jail, state prison and BOP searches.
Search with an A-number
Enter the eight- or nine-digit A-number with the person’s country of birth. This is generally the most precise route.
Search with biographical details
Use the full name, date of birth and country of birth when the A-number is not available.
ICE Search Troubleshooting
- Use the exact legal spelling
- Include every part of the name
- Confirm the country of birth
- Check whether the A-number has eight or nine digits
- Try name search when the A-number fails
- Allow time for intake or transfer updates
- Check the specific detention facility page
- Contact ICE when the result remains unclear
The locator covers people currently in ICE custody and people who have been in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody for more than 48 hours. It does not provide online searches for people under age 18.
Federal Prison Records Before 1982
Historical federal records may require National Archives indexes or a formal copy request.
The National Archives provides prison indexes and research guidance for institutions including Alcatraz, Atlanta, Leavenworth, McNeil Island and other historical federal facilities.
Information to Include in a Historical Search
- Full legal name
- Middle name or initial
- Date of birth or approximate age
- Race, when known
- Approximate incarceration dates
- Known federal prison
- Federal inmate number, when available
- Sentencing court or state
Digitization warning: an index may be online even when the full inmate case file is not digitized.
What Jail and Prison Roster Fields Mean
Field names vary, but most official systems use similar identifiers and custody terms.
| Field | What it helps confirm | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Booking number | A specific local jail intake event | It may not be the court case number |
| Jail or inmate ID | The person inside that facility’s system | It may not work after transfer to another agency |
| DOC number | A person in a state corrections system | It is not a nationwide identifier |
| BOP number | A federal BOP record | It does not identify every federal pretrial detainee |
| Charge | The allegation or custody reason recorded by the facility | Guilt, conviction or the final filed charge |
| Bond or bail | The currently listed amount or release condition | That another hold will not prevent release |
| Projected release | A current estimated release timeline | That credits, appeals, holds or recalculation will not change it |
| Mugshot or photo | A possible identity match | Guilt, current appearance or case outcome |
How to Verify the Correct Person
A common name or similar photograph is not enough for a reliable match.
- Correct state, county and custody system
- Full legal first and last name
- Middle name or initial
- Suffix such as Jr., Sr., II or III
- Date of birth or approximate age
- Booking, admission or arrest date
- Arresting or holding agency
- Booking, DOC, BOP or A-number
- Charge or case jurisdiction
- Current facility and custody status
Strong match
Name, date of birth, location, custody identifier and booking or admission date all align.
Weak match
Only the name or photograph matches while age, state, facility or dates are missing or conflicting.
Why an Inmate Search May Show Nothing
No result does not automatically mean the person was released or never arrested.
Check Bond and Court Records Separately
A custody listing cannot explain the complete legal status of the case.
Before Paying Bond or Bail
- Confirm the correct person and booking
- Review every charge separately
- Ask whether any charge has no bond
- Check for another county or agency hold
- Verify the official payment location
- Confirm accepted payment methods
- Ask how long release processing may take
- Keep the receipt and all case details
Bond scam warning: do not send gift cards, cryptocurrency or payment-app transfers because of an unsolicited call or text. Verify every instruction through the official jail or court.
Use the Court System for the Case Outcome
State and county courts handle most local criminal cases. PACER provides electronic access to federal district, appellate and bankruptcy court records and a nationwide federal case index.
A roster cannot tell you: whether charges were formally filed, amended, dismissed, reduced, resolved by plea, tried, acquitted or followed by a conviction.
What to Do After You Locate the Person
Confirm the exact facility before using a vendor, mailing address or visiting schedule.
Confirm the current facility
A transfer can make an old address, payment account or visitation schedule unusable.
Open the official inmate-services page
Look for visiting, telephone, electronic messages, mail, commissary, trust fund and property instructions.
Use the exact identification number
Money or mail may fail if the booking, DOC, BOP or facility number is incorrect.
Check visitor approval rules
Some prisons require background review, an approved visitor list and advance scheduling.
Save confirmations and receipts
Keep transaction numbers, screenshots, mailing dates and visitor approvals.
USAGov advises users to contact the responsible state or local corrections agency because visiting and money procedures differ by jurisdiction.
Federal Prison Visiting Checklist
Federal visiting rules are set nationally, but each institution also publishes local schedules and procedures.
What the BOP Visiting Regulations Require
| Federal rule | Practical meaning for visitors |
|---|---|
| Local visiting schedule | Check the specific institution because each warden establishes facility hours and local restrictions. |
| Weekend and holiday access | Institutions must establish at least some visiting hours on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. |
| Minimum monthly time | Federal rules provide a minimum of four hours of visiting time per inmate per month, subject to institutional controls. |
| Approved visitor list | The inmate submits proposed visitors, and approval may require an investigation. |
| Government photo ID | Visitors generally need valid state or government-issued photo identification. |
| Local dress and item rules | The institution provides dress-code, authorized-item, child and special-visit instructions. |
- Confirm the inmate’s current facility
- Confirm that you are approved to visit
- Check the current day and time
- Review the institution dress code
- Bring valid government photo ID
- Check rules for children
- Check which items may enter the visiting room
- Recheck for lockdown or schedule disruption
Do not travel from an old schedule: a facility may restrict or suspend visiting because of security, capacity, weather, health or another operational event.
How to Receive Custody Notifications
Participating jurisdictions may provide alerts through VINE or another victim-notification program.
Possible Notification Events
- Release from custody
- Transfer to another facility
- Escape or return to custody
- Parole or supervision event
- Selected court or case events
- Telephone, text, email or app alerts
Coverage and event availability vary by state, county and agency. Register using the exact person and offender information shown by the official custody source.
Safety warning: do not rely on one automated alert for immediate personal safety. Contact the responsible agency or emergency services when there is an urgent threat.
How to Request a Booking or Arrest Record
Not every facility displays older bookings, arrest reports or photographs online.
| Record | Likely record holder | Useful details |
|---|---|---|
| Booking photograph | Booking jail or sheriff | Name, date of birth, booking date and booking number |
| Arrest report | Arresting police or sheriff agency | Incident number, arrest date and location |
| Jail custody history | Jail records division | Booking number and custody dates |
| Court case file | Court clerk | Case number, court and party name |
| Federal prison file | BOP or National Archives | Register number, institution and incarceration period |
“I am requesting the publicly releasable booking record and booking photograph for [full legal name], believed to have been booked on or about [date] by [agency] in [county and state]. The booking or case number, if known, is [number]. Please advise whether the record is available, whether fees or redactions apply and whether electronic delivery is possible.”
No guaranteed disclosure: juvenile protections, sealed records, privacy law, an active investigation or agency policy may restrict access.
How to Report an Urgent Concern
Use the facility and responsible custody agency rather than a general inmate-search website.
Immediate Medical or Safety Concern
- Identify the exact facility first
- Call the facility’s main or emergency number
- Provide the full name and inmate identifier
- State the specific medical or safety concern
- Ask for the appropriate medical or supervisory unit
- Document the time, number and person contacted
Non-Emergency Prison Complaint
USAGov recommends filing a formal complaint with the local or state facility first, then escalating unresolved issues to the state department of corrections. Federal complaints follow the relevant BOP, USMS or federal agency process.
Before You Rely on an Inmate Record
Complete this checklist before sharing information, paying money or travelling to a facility.
- I identified the correct custody system.
- I confirmed the city, county, state or federal jurisdiction.
- I used an official government or agency source.
- I matched more than the person’s name.
- I recorded the correct inmate identifier.
- I checked whether the person remains in custody.
- I reviewed every charge, bond and hold.
- I used the court record for the legal outcome.
- I verified the facility before sending money or mail.
- I did not treat an arrest as proof of guilt.
USA Jail Inmate Search FAQs
Is there one official nationwide jail inmate search?
No. County jails, state prisons, federal prisons, U.S. Marshals custody and ICE detention use different systems. Start with the arrest location and custody authority, then use the responsible official locator.
How do I find someone who was arrested recently?
Start with the arresting police agency, city detention center and county sheriff. A recent booking may still be processing or may not yet have transferred from city custody to the county jail.
How do I search a county jail roster?
Identify the county and state, then use the official sheriff, county corrections or regional jail website. Search by legal name, date of birth, booking number or jail ID when available.
How do I search for a state prison inmate?
Use the official department of corrections inmate or offender locator for the state. A state prison database normally does not replace a county jail roster for recent arrests.
How do I find a federal prison inmate?
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator for federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present. Search by name or by BOP Register, DCDC, FBI or INS number.
Why might a federal defendant not appear in the BOP locator?
A person awaiting federal trial or sentencing may be in U.S. Marshals custody and housed in a state, local, private or BOP detention facility. Check the federal court case and contact the relevant U.S. Marshals district or holding facility.
How do I locate someone in ICE detention?
Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator System. Search with the A-number and country of birth, or use the full name, date of birth and country of birth.
Why is an inmate not appearing online?
The booking may still be processing, the name may differ, the wrong custody system may be selected, or the person may have been released, transferred or placed in a restricted record category.
How can I receive inmate release or transfer notifications?
Participating jurisdictions may provide custody alerts through VINE or a local victim-notification service. Availability, covered events and delivery methods vary by state, county and agency.
How do I find federal prison records from before 1982?
Use National Archives prison indexes and record-request instructions. Include the full name, approximate age or date of birth, known institution and approximate incarceration dates.
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.