Florida Inmate Search
FDC Offender Network, All 67 County Jails and Free Official Tools (2026)Florida runs two completely separate incarceration systems through the Florida Department of Corrections for state prison and 67 independent county sheriff offices for local jails. County jails and state prisons use completely separate databases. This guide shows exactly which tool to use, explains why searches fail, and covers the one critical FDC search mistake most families make.
To find someone in a Florida state prison, use the FDC Offender Search at fdc.myflorida.com. Always choose “Search All Corrections Offender Databases,” not just Inmate Population. Enter the full legal name or DC number. For county jails, each of Florida’s 67 counties runs its own roster through the local sheriff’s office. If you are unsure which system applies, see the county vs state guide in the related resources below.
FDC main line: (850) 488-5021. For offender information and records: (850) 488-9859.
Why Your Florida Search Returned Nothing
| What Happened | Why It Happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Searched FDC but person is in county jail | FDC generally covers state prison sentences. Shorter sentences typically remain in county custody, though custody rules can vary by case. | Search the county sheriff roster for the county where the arrest happened. |
| Used “Inmate Population” instead of “Search All Databases” | FDC has five separate databases. “Inmate Population” misses released offenders, people under supervision, absconders, and escapees. | Always choose “Search All Corrections Offender Databases” on the FDC search page. |
| Person recently sentenced, not yet in FDC | Transfer from county jail to state prison can take several weeks to a few months. During that time neither database may show a result. | Check both county and FDC. Call the FDC public records line at (850) 488-9859 for records not yet online. |
| Name entered does not match FDC record | FDC uses the exact legal name from court records. A nickname, maiden name, or spelling variation returns nothing. | Use the full legal first name and last name. Add date of birth to narrow results if common name. |
| Person is in Miami-Dade county jail but searched sheriff | Miami-Dade is unusual. Its jails are run by the county Corrections and Rehabilitation Department, not the sheriff’s office. | Search the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department portal, not the sheriff site. |
| Did not check federal custody | Florida has eight federal prisons. Federal charges route people to BOP, not FDC. | Search bop.gov if charges involved federal crimes or if county and FDC both return nothing. |
Which Florida System Should You Search?
| Your Situation | Where to Search | Database |
|---|---|---|
| Arrested within the last few days | County Jail | County sheriff website for the arrest county |
| Awaiting trial, bail hearing, or arraignment | County Jail | County sheriff roster (not FDC) |
| Sentenced to 364 days or less (generally) | County Jail | In most cases, shorter sentences remain in county custody. Verify with FDC if transfer occurred. |
| Sentenced to a felony term over one year, transferred to prison | State Prison | FDC Offender Search (Search All Databases) |
| Recently sentenced but not in either database yet | County + FDC | Check both. Call (850) 488-9859 if neither returns a result. |
| Released from Florida prison, looking for supervision status | FDC Supervised | FDC Supervised Population Search or Search All Databases |
| Federal crime (drug trafficking, bank robbery, federal charges) | Federal BOP | bop.gov federal inmate locator |
| Possible immigration hold or ICE detention | ICE / Federal | ICE Detainee Locator at ice.gov |
Florida Inmate Search by Name
Searching FDC by Name
Enter last name first, then add a first name to narrow results. FDC also lets you filter by sex, race, and birth year range, which helps with common names. If you have a DC number from court documents, use it. A DC number search is instant and exact. No partial matches or spelling issues.
Searching County Jails by Name
Each county system is different. Most accept last name plus first name. Some also accept a booking number or date of birth. Miami-Dade requires its own portal. Broward uses the BSO Arrest Search tool. Orange and Hillsborough counties have their own sheriff roster systems. Search the county where the arrest happened.
When the Name Does Not Match
FDC matches on exact legal name. Try the full first name, not a nickname. Try maiden names or previous married names. Try alternate spellings of the last name. If still nothing, call the FDC public records line at (850) 488-9859 with the person’s date of birth for a manual check. The person may also appear under an alias in FDC’s records.
Searching by Booking Number
Booking numbers are assigned at county jail intake and are county-specific. They do not work in FDC’s state prison search. If you have a booking number, enter it in the county jail roster for the county where the arrest happened. Most Florida county systems accept a booking number alongside a name. For FDC state records, use the DC number instead.
Florida FDC State Prison Search
What FDC Search Shows You
- Full name, DC number, and aliases
- Photo and physical description
- Current facility and custody level
- County of conviction and offense details
- Sentence dates and projected release date
- Probation/parole supervision status
What FDC Search Does Not Show
- County jail inmates (separate system)
- Federal prison inmates (BOP, not FDC)
- Juvenile records (restricted by law)
- Real-time facility housing unit detail
- Results for very recent admissions (24-48 hr delay)
How Florida Custody Works
Arrest
Arrested and booked into county jail. A booking number is assigned. Booking data generally posts online within a few hours to a day under Florida’s Sunshine Law, though timing varies by county.
County RosterPre-Trial
Arraignment, bond hearing, and trial occur in county court. Person remains in county custody throughout this stage.
County SheriffSentenced
Shorter sentences typically remain in county. Longer felony sentences are generally routed to FDC state prison under Florida sentencing guidelines.
County or FDCState Prison
Transferred to an FDC reception center, tested, classified, then assigned to a permanent FDC institution.
FDC Offender SearchStep-by-Step: Find Anyone in Florida Custody
Determine which system holds them
Was the arrest recent? Start with the county jail. Was the person sentenced to a felony term over one year and transferred? Use FDC. Not sure which applies? The 364-day rule is the key boundary in Florida. The 364-day boundary is the general rule in Florida: shorter sentences typically stay in county custody, longer felony sentences go to FDC.
Search the county roster for recent arrests
Find the sheriff’s website for the county where the arrest happened. Many Florida county jails publish booking information relatively quickly under the Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, Fla. Stat.), though posting times vary by county and facility. Enter the full legal name or booking number. Miami-Dade is an exception: use the Miami-Dade Corrections portal, not the sheriff’s site.
Search FDC using Search All Corrections Offender Databases
Go to pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch. On the menu, select “Search All Corrections Offender Databases,” not just Inmate Population. Enter the last name and first name. Add date of birth, sex, or race to narrow results if the name is common. FDC updates daily, typically overnight.
Try name variations and use DC number if available
If the name search returns nothing, try alternate spellings. Check if the person has aliases on file. If you have a DC number from court paperwork, use it. DC number searches are exact and skip all name-matching issues. Still no result? Call the FDC public records line at (850) 488-9859 during business hours for a manual check. Recent admissions may take time to appear while intake records are processed.
Check federal custody if both searches return nothing
Florida has eight federal prisons. If both FDC and county searches fail, the person may be in federal custody. Use the Bureau of Prisons locator at bop.gov to search by name or register number. If an immigration hold is involved, use the ICE Detainee Locator at ice.gov. Federal charges such as drug trafficking across state lines or interstate crimes go through BOP, not FDC.
What Information Florida Inmate Records Contain
FDC State Prison Records
- Full legal name, aliases, DC number
- Photo and physical description
- Current facility and custody level
- County of conviction
- Offense details and sentence dates
- Projected release date
- Probation or parole supervision status
County Jail Records (Varies by County)
- Full name and booking number
- Booking date and charges
- Bail or bond amount
- Current custody status
- Facility location
- Mugshot (where published)
- First appearance court date
Florida Mugshot and Booking Records
Whether a mugshot appears in a Florida inmate search depends on the county or agency involved. Most Florida county sheriff systems publish booking photos as part of the booking record. Miami-Dade’s MDCR portal, Broward’s BSO Arrest Search, and Jacksonville’s JSO system all include photos for recent bookings. Smaller counties may not publish photos online at all.
For FDC state prison records, the Offender Search includes a photo for current inmates. This is the inmate’s most recent FDC photo, not necessarily the original county booking photo.
If you are specifically looking for a recent arrest booking photo, search the county jail roster for the county where the arrest happened. Florida’s Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, Fla. Stat.) requires law enforcement agencies to make booking records publicly accessible, which is why most county rosters publish this information. Avoid paid third-party mugshot websites that charge fees for access to information freely available through official county sources.
Florida County Jail Search by County
Florida has 67 counties, each with its own jail roster. High-volume counties are highlighted in gold. Click a county to go directly to the official inmate search tool for that county.
Phone Only counties require a direct call to the sheriff’s office. Always verify at the official county sheriff website before calling. External links verified August 2026.
Major FDC Facilities
Key Florida Department of Corrections institutions. Verify current status and visiting hours at fdc.myflorida.com before travel.
Three Florida Search Rules That Matter
The “364-Day Rule” Keeps Most People Out of FDC
Florida generally uses a 364-day boundary: sentences at or below that threshold typically remain in county custody, while longer felony sentences go to FDC state prison. This means a large number of families searching FDC will never find their person there, because the sentence is under the cutoff and the person remains in county custody. This distinction is not explained on most competitor pages and is the most common reason Florida searches fail entirely.
FDC Has Five Separate Databases. Most Families Use the Wrong One.
The FDC Offender Search menu offers several options including: Inmate Population Search, Inmate Release Information, Supervised Population Search, Absconders, and Escapees. Most families choose “Inmate Population” and see no result, then assume the person is not in the system. The correct choice is “Search All Corrections Offender Databases,” which checks all five categories at once. A person who was released last month, is on probation, or has absconded from supervision will not appear in Inmate Population but will appear in the full search.
JPay is No Longer Florida’s Money Provider. Correct Pay Replaced It in May 2024.
On May 1, 2024, FDC switched inmate money deposits from JPay to Correct Pay. Many websites and guides still list JPay as the way to send money to Florida state inmates. Those instructions are outdated. To send money to an FDC inmate, use Correct Pay at 855-836-3364 (available 24/7) or mail a money order to FL DOC Inmate Deposits PO Box 25900 Bradenton FL 34206-5900. Personal checks are not accepted. County jails use separate money systems and may still use JPay or other providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the FDC Offender Search at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch. Choose Search All Corrections Offender Databases, not just Inmate Population. Enter the person’s last name or DC number. Results include current facility, sentence details, projected release date, and a photo. The tool is free and requires no registration.
A DC number is the unique identifier assigned by the Florida Department of Corrections to every person who enters the state prison system. It is a six-character alphanumeric code. Having the DC number makes any FDC search instant and exact. You can find it on court documents, commitment papers, or by calling FDC at (850) 488-5021.
Common causes: the person may still be in county jail (FDC only covers state prison), they may be under county supervision for a sentence of 364 days or less, or you searched only Inmate Population instead of Search All Databases. Try the full database search. If still not found, call FDC at (850) 488-5021 or check the county sheriff’s roster.
Transfer timing varies by case and classification. Generally the process takes several weeks to a few months after sentencing. During this time the person may disappear from the county jail roster before appearing in the FDC database. Keep checking both systems and call the FDC public records line at (850) 488-9859 if neither returns a result.
Yes. The FDC Offender Search is completely free and requires no account. Most Florida county sheriff inmate rosters are also free under the state’s Sunshine Law. Avoid third-party sites that charge fees for basic Florida inmate location information.
Yes. Most of Florida’s 67 counties provide free online inmate rosters through their sheriff’s office websites. Miami-Dade is an exception: its jails are run by the county Corrections and Rehabilitation Department, not the sheriff. Each county system is entirely separate from the FDC state prison database.
Florida FDC switched from JPay to Correct Pay on May 1, 2024. Use Correct Pay to send funds. Call 855-836-3364 (available 24/7) or mail a money order to FL DOC Inmate Deposits PO Box 25900 Bradenton FL 34206-5900. Personal checks are not accepted. County jails use their own separate money systems. See our how to send money guide for more detail.
The FDC search returns the person’s full name, DC number, photo, date of birth, current facility, custody level, county of conviction, offense details, sentence dates, projected release date, and supervision status. It also includes known aliases. Results are generally more detailed than most other state inmate search tools.
Official Florida Inmate Search Sources
Official Florida Department of Corrections inmate locator. Free. Covers current inmates, released offenders, supervised population, absconders, and escapees.
Official directory of all Florida state correctional institutions. Use to verify facility addresses before visiting or mailing.
Official Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department inmate search. Note: not the sheriff’s office for Miami-Dade.
Official Broward County Sheriff’s Office inmate and arrest search tool.
Register for automated release alerts for Florida state inmates. Available for county and state facilities.
Florida Department of Corrections official site. FDC public records: (850) 488-9859. Main line: (850) 488-5021.