Whether your loved one committed a minor offense or a serious crime, their arrest can put them behind bars for months or even years. Keeping up with their status in the criminal justice system is essential.
Most jails and prisons have online inmate rosters where you can find information about your loved one. Some commercial databases offer additional data that is not included in the official rosters.
1. Call the Jail
If your loved one has been arrested, they will go through a process called “booking”. During booking, the police will record the individual’s identifying information and photograph. This information is logged digitally and stored in law enforcement’s databases.
This means that it’s possible to track down an incarcerated individual using just their name, date of arrest and the county where they were arrested. Many websites will allow you to search national inmate records for free. Then, you can call the jail and ask about your loved one’s status. They may be able to give you more information about their case or bail amount.
2. Check Online
When a loved one gets arrested, it can be very upsetting but knowing how to find them can help you feel more at ease.
Most jails and prisons have online rosters where friends and family members can look up inmates by name. If you know the inmate’s booking number you can also use commercial databases that offer incarcerated person locator services.
To search for an inmate, start by searching the county’s law enforcement website. You can usually find this by searching online for. You should never be charged to search these listings. Try using less information in your searches, such as a first name and last name initial or just a date of birth.
3. Visit the Jail in Person
The arrest of a loved one can be incredibly upsetting. It can also be difficult to figure out how to find information about them. Luckily, there are several different ways to find out if your loved one is in jail.
Once you know that your loved one is in jail, you can begin to work on securing their pretrial release. You can do this by paying their bail bond or contacting a bail bondsman.
Many prisons have websites where you can find out visitation schedules and other important information. Be sure to check out the Visiting Rules page and the Visitor Guide before your visit.
4. Contact a Bail Bondsman
When someone you love is arrested it can be very upsetting. Getting the information you need is essential to help them through this difficult time.
Using prisoner lookup tools is an easy way to find out where your loved one is being held and what charges they’re facing you should never be charged to access this information.
Visit the website of a Bail bond agents can post bail for your loved ones at the jail where they’re being held. All they need from you is the inmate’s full legal name, booking number and what charges they’re facing.
You also need to sign paperwork to confirm that you’ll be responsible for the defendant showing up to all of their court hearings.
5. Look Up the Inmate’s Information Online
If your loved one is arrested, it can be confusing and stressful to figure out how to find them. But with a little patience, you can use an online inmate locator to locate them. The first step is to determine where they are being held. This can be done by finding their home county’s law enforcement website online and searching for their name.
Remember that to use an inmate locator, you’ll need your loved one’s full legal name and date of birth. You’ll also need to know their case number and the location of the hearing where they were arraigned. You can also try calling the DA’s office to get this information.
6. Contact a Lawyer
A loved one’s arrest can be a terrifying and confusing experience. If your loved one is in jail, you want to know where they are so you can visit them.
Jails and prisons typically have online rosters that you can use to find an inmate’s information. In addition, there are also commercial databases that can help you locate an inmate.
However, keep in mind that your loved one’s lawyer will only be able to tell you information about their status in prison if they give them permission to do so. This is because of attorney client privilege. However, you should be able to get an idea of what’s going on by speaking with their lawyers.