Find Florida Inmate Records

The Florida Department of Corrections keeps track of inmates in state prisons across Florida. County jails hold their own records for local inmates. You can search for current inmates, recent releases, and those on supervised release. The state refreshes its online database each week. County systems update more often. These records are public and free to search in Florida.

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Florida Department of Corrections Offender Search

The Florida Department of Corrections runs the main inmate search system for the state. The FDC keeps an online database that lets you look up inmates in state prisons. This system also shows people who have been released or are on probation. You can search by name or ID number. The database covers all state inmates in Florida.

The Inmate Population Information Search shows current inmates in Florida state prisons. Enter a last name and first name to find someone. The search returns basic info like the inmate's DC number, current location, and custody status. This tool is updated each week with new data. The FDC notes that inmate information is completely refreshed weekly, with the exception of release dates and location changes which are nightly.

Florida Department of Corrections inmate population search page

Florida offers six different search tools for offender records. The All Corrections Offender Databases search performs a comprehensive search of all databases at once. This single search covers inmates, releases, escapes, supervised population, and fugitives in Florida. For focused searches, use the specific tools listed below.

The Inmate Release Information Search helps you find people who were recently let out of Florida prisons. The Supervised Population Information Search shows offenders on probation or parole in Florida. The Inmate Escape Information Search displays inmates who have escaped since 1990 and have not been recaptured within the past 15 days. The Absconder/Fugitive Information Search tracks people who have left supervised release without permission.

These search tools are free to use. You do not need to make an account. The FDC website states that incomplete entries are allowed and searches are not case sensitive. You can search as many times as you want at no cost in Florida.

County Jail Inmate Rosters in Florida

Each of Florida's 67 counties runs its own jail system. County jails hold people who are waiting for trial or serving short sentences. Most county sheriffs maintain online inmate search tools. These update daily or even hourly in some Florida counties.

County jail rosters typically show more current data than the state system. If someone was just arrested, check the county jail first. The sheriff's office in each county posts booking info online. This usually includes the person's name, booking date, charges, and bond amount. Some counties show mug shots and court dates in Florida.

Search methods vary by county in Florida. Larger counties have robust online databases. Smaller counties may only post a daily booking report as a PDF file. A few rural counties require you to call the jail directly for inmate information. Most Florida counties now offer some form of online inmate lookup.

Major county jail systems in Florida include Miami-Dade Corrections, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and Broward Sheriff's Office. These agencies each hold thousands of inmates. Their search systems are updated multiple times per day. Smaller county jails may hold fewer than 100 people at a time in Florida.

Information in Florida Inmate Records

Florida inmate records contain different types of data based on where you search. State prison records show an inmate's DC number, which is the state ID assigned by the Florida Department of Corrections. This number stays with a person through all their time in the state prison system.

Current inmate records in Florida usually include these details:

Full name and any known aliases
Date of birth and physical description
Current facility and location
Custody status and security level
Projected release date
Conviction charges and sentence length
Booking photo if available

County jail records often show charge details and bond amounts. You can see if the person is still in custody or has been released. Some counties list court dates for upcoming hearings. Arrest reports may be available through the sheriff's website in Florida. Note that arrest records are different from conviction records and do not prove guilt.

The FDC states that in the interest of public safety, the Florida Department of Corrections makes available to the Department of Corrections staff and the criminal justice community, information and photographs of inmates who are incarcerated. The public can access this same information through the online search tools.

Florida Public Records and Inmate Information

Florida has strong public records laws. Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, is the Public Records Act. It governs the inspection and copying of public records across the state. This includes inmate records held by the Florida Department of Corrections and county jails.

Section 945.10, Florida Statutes, specifies what information about inmates is confidential. Most basic inmate data is public. Confidential information includes medical records, mental health records, and some security details. The public can access an inmate's name, location, charges, and sentence information in Florida.

If you want more than what appears in the online search, you can file a formal public records request. The Florida Department of Corrections processes public records requests in accordance with Ch. 119 and s. 945.10, F.S. This includes the provision of cost estimates for production of records. The Public Records Custodian for the FDC is James Best, located at 501 S. Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399.

The FDC notes that public records law does not require that an agency create records, give out information from their records, answer questions about their records, perform gratuitous research, reclassify their records into the manner requested, or produce records in a format other than that in which they are maintained. Generally, cost estimates can be minimized by greater specificity of the request.

For medical records of a current or former inmate, requests must be specific, in writing, and accompanied by a properly executed Department of Corrections Release form DC4-711B. Education records are handled under Section 1002.22 and 1002.221, Florida Statutes, and require a signed release form DC5-165.

Contact Florida Department of Corrections

The main office of the Florida Department of Corrections is in Tallahassee. The address is 501 South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2500. The main phone line is 850-488-7052. For help with public records, call 850-717-9774. The fax number is 850-488-4534.

For classification and central records questions, email central.classification@fdc.myflorida.com. The FDC website at fdc.myflorida.com has more contact options and resources. The public records page explains how to submit formal requests for inmate information in Florida.

If you have information about an escaped inmate, contact your local law enforcement agency or the facility from which the inmate escaped. You can also call the Florida Department of Corrections at 850-922-6867 or the toll-free line at 1-866-850-0355. These numbers are for reporting escapes only.

How to Search for Florida Inmates

Start with the inmate's full name. Last name and first name work best. If you know the DC number, use that for the fastest results. The DC number is unique to each person in the state prison system in Florida.

Enter the last name, first name and/or booking number. Incomplete entries are allowed and are not case sensitive. You can also search for all inmates in the facility by leaving all fields blank. This works for some county jail searches but may not be available on the state system in Florida.

If the search returns no results, try different name spellings. Use nicknames or common variations of the first name. Check for middle names or initials. Some people use their middle name instead of their first name in records. Try both the state system and the county jail where you think the person might be held in Florida.

For recent arrests, check the county jail roster first. It takes time for new inmates to appear in the state database. County systems update faster. If you know when someone was arrested, look at the booking date in county records. State prison records are better for people serving longer sentences in Florida.