Home / Facility directory / Custody systems
One country.
Six custody systems.
If they were just arrested, search the county jail. If they are already sentenced to a state term, use that state’s DOC locator. Federal and ICE are different lists again. An empty search usually means the wrong list, not a missing person.
Arrested recently? It is the county jail.
The sheriff or a regional authority runs it. Bookings post to that county’s own roster, not to any state or federal locator.- Held after arrest
- County or city jail
- Serving a state sentence
- State prison
- Federal case
- Bureau of Prisons
- Immigration hold
- ICE detention
Give a new booking a few hours to appear. If the name is still missing, check spelling, then call the jail’s booking desk.
Pick the system that holds the record.
Each system has its own directory on Jail411 and its own official locator. Operator, who is held there, and where to search.
County and city jails
People held after arrest, waiting for court, or serving a short local sentence.
- Operator
- Sheriff, city police, or a regional jail authority
- Where to search
- The county or city inmate search, often the sheriff’s “who’s in jail” page. A state prison locator will not list them.
- On Jail411
- Browse jails by state
- Also
- How to pick the right locator
State prisons
People serving a state sentence. Not the same building as the county jail that booked them.
- Operator
- The state department of corrections
- Where to search
- The state DOC offender search. Mail, money, and visiting follow that DOC’s vendor contracts, not the county sheriff’s.
- On Jail411
- Browse state prisons
- Also
- Jail vs. prison
Federal prisons and detention
People in BOP custody or held for a federal court. A county roster is the wrong list.
- Operator
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, or a contractor holding federal detainees
- Where to search
- The official BOP inmate locator. Contract facilities may still use BOP identity numbers.
- On Jail411
- Browse federal facilities
- Also
- Official BOP locator
ICE detention
People held on immigration charges. They may sit in a county jail without appearing on the sheriff’s public roster the same way.
- Operator
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, often in a contract jail or dedicated center
- Where to search
- The ICE Online Detainee Locator. Do not stop at the county inmate search.
- On Jail411
- Open the ICE detention guide
- Also
- Official ICE locator
Juvenile justice
Youths in juvenile hall, camp, or a youth correctional facility. Adult jail visiting and commissary rules do not apply.
- Operator
- County probation or a state youth corrections agency
- Where to search
- The probation department or youth authority named on the paperwork, not the adult sheriff roster.
- On Jail411
- Browse juvenile facilities
- Also
- Family guides
Community corrections and residential reentry
People in a halfway house, work-release center, or residential reentry program. This is still custody, with different doors and phone rules.
- Operator
- A state, federal, or contracted reentry operator
- Where to search
- The assigning agency (BOP, state DOC, or county). The building’s street name is not enough.
- On Jail411
- Browse reentry facilities
- Also
- Parole offices
Official searches we can link today.
County jail rosters are run by each sheriff; open that county in the directory. These are the statewide and federal searches Jail411 has verified.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locatorFederal Bureau of Prisons · checked Aug 10, 2026Official
- ICE Online Detainee Locator SystemICE detention · checked Aug 10, 2026Official
- CIRIS — California Incarcerated Records and Information SearchCalifornia · checked Aug 10, 2026Official
- Florida DC offender searchFlorida · checked Aug 10, 2026Official
- Georgia DC find an offenderGeorgia · checked Aug 10, 2026Official
- Louisiana DPSC inmate locator (VINELink)Louisiana · checked Aug 10, 2026Official
- Missouri DOC offender web searchMissouri · checked Aug 10, 2026Official
- NY DOCCS incarcerated lookupNew York · checked Aug 10, 2026Official
- Ohio DRC offender searchOhio · checked Aug 10, 2026Official
- TDCJ inmate searchTexas · checked Aug 10, 2026Official
If you only remember
one thing.
Jail411 is an independent information resource for families and friends. We are not a government agency, jail operator, law firm or live custody-records service.
The jail and the prison in the same county are the same, right?
Usually no. The county jail is the sheriff or a regional authority. The state prison is the DOC. Visiting, mail and money vendors are different. See jail vs. prison.
Someone was arrested last night. Which search?
Start with the county jail locator for the arresting county. Give booking time to post. If they do not appear, try spelling, then the sheriff’s booking desk. Guide: find someone in custody.
They said “federal.” Is that BOP or ICE?
Federal criminal custody is usually BOP. Immigration detention is ICE. The paperwork, A-number or federal register number tells you which locator to use.
What if something here needs correcting?
Send us the page and the detail that needs attention. Include the official source when you have one. Do not send inmate names or other sensitive personal information.
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