Find Arrest Records Online | Public Jail & Police Reports
United States · Free county bookings, court outcomes and federal record tools
Find an Arrest Record Without Confusing a Booking With a Conviction
Start in the county where the arrest occurred, verify the person with more than a name and then open the criminal court case to determine what happened. This guide covers recent bookings, released inmates, mugshots, police reports, warrants, court dispositions, federal custody, FBI history checks and record corrections.
ARREST RECORD FINDER
ACTIVE
COURT DISPOSITION
VERIFIED
COUNTY
BOOKING
COURT
CASE
FINAL
OUTCOME
CORRECT PERSON + RESULT FOUND
Arrest is not conviction. A jail record usually reflects allegations supplied during arrest or intake. Charges can be declined, replaced, reduced, dismissed or resolved without conviction.
Start locallySearch the county where the arrest occurred.
Search broadlyBegin with the surname, then add birth date.
Verify identityMatch two or more independent identifiers.
Check courtThe docket shows filed charges and outcomes.
Official reviewProcedures checked July 24, 2026.
Choose the record that answers your question
COUNTY JAIL
Is the person held?Booking number, custody, charges, bail, holds, facility and release information.
Use first for a new arrest.
ARRESTING AGENCY
What did officers report?Incident report, arrest report, probable-cause narrative and supplements.
Request from the agency that created it.
CRIMINAL COURT
Were charges filed?Complaint, amended charges, hearings, warrants, plea, dismissal and judgment.
Use for the final legal outcome.
STATE REPOSITORY
What appears statewide?State criminal-history information and personal fingerprint-review procedures.
Access rules differ by state.
FEDERAL SYSTEM
Was it a federal matter?BOP custody, PACER federal court records and FBI personal history summaries.
Federal tools do not search county cases.
How to find arrest records step by step
Identify the arrest location
Determine the city, county and state where officers took the person into custody.
Identify the arresting agency
Look for city police, county sheriff, state police, highway patrol, campus police or a federal agency.
Find the official local government
Use the government directory when the county or agency is uncertain.
Find the official county or city
Open the official jail search
Look for Inmate Search, Jail Roster, Who Is in Custody, Recent Bookings or Arrest Search.
Start with the last name
A surname-only search reduces missed records caused by middle names, suffixes or spelling variations.
Add the birth date carefully
Use it to separate people with identical or similar names.
Open every possible result
Compare the booking date, arresting agency, facility, age and identifying numbers.
Save the official identifiers
Record the booking number, jail ID, arrest report number, court case number and federal or state number.
Read every charge and hold
A booking may include several allegations, warrants or detainers.
Search the criminal court
The court case shows what the prosecutor filed and how the matter ended.
Find the official court system
Locate the final disposition
Look for dismissal, acquittal, plea, conviction, judgment or sentence for each count.
Request missing documents
Obtain the arrest report or certified disposition when the online summaries are incomplete.
Most reliable sequence: County booking → arresting agency → criminal court → state or federal history only when needed.
Collect these details to avoid a wrong-person match
Full legal first and last name
Middle name, suffix and known aliases
Approximate age or date of birth
City, county and state of arrest
Approximate arrest date and time
Arresting police or sheriff agency
Booking or inmate number
Police report or incident number
Criminal court case number
State, FBI or BOP number when applicable
Best identifier: Use a booking or court case number whenever available. A common name can return several unrelated people.
Find the correct county and official search page
Northeast
CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI and VT
Southeast
AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA and WV
Midwest
IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD and WI
Southwest
AZ, NM, OK and TX
West
AK, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA and WY
Search where custody started
Use the county of arrest instead of relying only on the person’s residence.
Check the county sheriff
Sheriffs commonly operate county jails and inmate locators.
Check county corrections
Some jurisdictions use a separate corrections or detention department.
Verify the official website
Confirm the government identity before entering personal information or paying a fee.
Find the related court
Use the official state or local court directory for the filing jurisdiction.
Find state and local courts
City police made the arrest
Search the county jail for custody but request the arrest report from the city police department.
The sheriff made the arrest
The sheriff may control both the booking and arrest report through different divisions.
State police made the arrest
Search the county jail where booking occurred and request the report from the state agency.
An outside warrant caused the arrest
The holding jail, arresting agency and issuing court may be in different counties or states.
Understand what the arrest-search result actually means
| Field | What it identifies | What it does not prove | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking number | One jail intake or custody event. | The final criminal outcome. | Use it for jail questions and record requests. |
| Inmate or jail ID | The person in that detention system. | Guilt or conviction. | Use it for mail, visits and deposits. |
| Arrest date | When officers initiated custody. | When the alleged offense occurred. | Compare it with the police report. |
| Booking date | When jail processing began. | When charges were filed in court. | Use it to separate multiple bookings. |
| Arresting agency | The department responsible for the arrest. | The jail created the arrest report. | Request the report from this agency. |
| Booking charge | An allegation received during arrest or intake. | What the prosecutor later filed. | Read the court charging document. |
| Bail or bond | A release amount or condition. | Payment clears every charge or hold. | Confirm all cases and detainers first. |
| Hold or detainer | Another agency or court may control release. | The local bond controls custody. | Ask which agency owns the hold. |
| Release date | When the listed custody event ended. | Dismissal, acquittal or innocence. | Search the court disposition. |
| Mugshot | A photograph created during booking. | Identity alone, prosecution or guilt. | Match stronger official identifiers. |
Confirm the correct person before using the record
First and last names match
Middle name, suffix or alias is consistent
Birth date or age matches
Arrest date matches the known event
Agency matches the arrest location
Booking number matches another record
Court case follows the same incident
Physical description is reasonably consistent
Minimum standard: Confirm at least two independent identifiers before sending money, publishing an allegation or treating the booking as belonging to a specific person.
Same name, different birth date
Treat the records as different people unless the record custodian confirms an error.
Similar mugshot, different number
The official booking or court identifier is stronger than visual resemblance.
Matching name but different county
Do not combine separate incidents without matching dates and official numbers.
Old or unfamiliar address
An address may be outdated or protected and should not be the only identity match.
Why an arrest may not appear in the search
Intake is incomplete
Fingerprinting, medical screening and data entry can delay a recent booking.
The wrong county was searched
Search where the arrest happened and any jurisdiction connected to a warrant.
The name is recorded differently
Try the surname alone, maiden name, former surname, suffix or alternate spelling.
The person was released
Active inmate lists may remove released people. Check recent releases or historical bookings.
The person was transferred
Search another county, state corrections, federal custody or a medical facility.
The court case is not visible yet
Prosecutor review and court filing can occur after the initial jail booking.
The record is restricted
Juvenile, sealed, expunged and legally protected records may be unavailable.
The arrest was federal
Check the federal court and BOP systems instead of only local databases.
Missing-booking call script
I am trying to confirm the custody status of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency] in [city or county]. Can you confirm whether the person is being booked, held, released, transferred or listed under another identifier?
How to find an arrest after the person was released
Look for Recent Releases
Some jail searches provide a separate release list or custody-status filter.
Search historical bookings
Look for Past Arrests, Booking History or Arrest Archive.
Use the known arrest date
A narrow date range helps separate repeated bookings.
Search the criminal court
The court case can remain public after the active jail result disappears.
Request a booking record
Ask the sheriff or corrections records unit for the specific historical intake.
Release is not dismissal. A person may be released while the criminal case remains pending.
Request the actual arrest or incident report
Identify the report owner
Use the booking to determine which police, sheriff or state agency made the arrest.
Name the exact documents
Request the incident report, arrest report, probable-cause narrative and identified supplements.
Provide focused identifiers
Include the name, incident date, location, agency report number, booking number and court case number.
Request electronic delivery
Electronic records can reduce copy and mailing charges.
Set a cost limit
Ask for written approval before the agency exceeds a stated amount.
Ask why anything was withheld
Request the legal reason for a denial or redaction.
Copy-ready public-record request
I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, probable-cause statement and releasable supplements concerning [full legal name], date of birth [if known], for the incident on or about [date and time] at [location]. Known identifiers are agency report number [number], booking number [number] and court case number [number]. Please provide a written cost estimate before processing if the total will exceed $[amount], and identify the legal basis for withheld or redacted material.
Common reasons information is restricted
Active investigation or prosecution
Victim or witness privacy
Juvenile information
Medical or confidential personal data
Protected investigative methods
Recording or body-camera review
Sealed or expunged record
Request is too broad or unclear
Find the formal charge and final court outcome
Identify the filing jurisdiction
The criminal court is usually connected to the place where the alleged offense occurred.
Find the official court website
Use the government court directory rather than a paid people-search site.
Find state, local and federal courts
Select criminal case access
Look for Case Search, Criminal Records, Docket Search or Court Records.
Search by case number
The case number reduces wrong-person matches and unnecessary search fees.
Confirm the defendant and timeline
Match the filing date, court location, arresting agency and charges.
Find the charging document
The complaint, information or indictment identifies the formal charges.
Check amended charges
A later filing may add, replace, reduce or dismiss an earlier charge.
Read warrant entries in order
A warrant-issued entry may later be followed by service, recall or cancellation.
Locate each disposition
Find the dismissal, acquittal, plea, conviction, judgment or sentence.
Order formal proof
Obtain a certified disposition when an employer, licensing office or government agency requires it.
| Term | Meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | The case has not reached final disposition. | Newest docket entry and next hearing. |
| Dismissed | A charge or case ended without conviction on that count. | Whether every count was dismissed. |
| Acquitted or not guilty | The defendant was not found guilty of the resolved count. | Whether other counts remained. |
| Plea | The defendant entered a court-accepted plea. | Exact offense, judgment and conditions. |
| Convicted | A judgment of guilt was entered. | Offense level and sentence. |
| Closed | The court no longer lists the case as active. | Closed does not explain how it ended. |
Check a possible warrant without relying on outdated information
Identify the issuing jurisdiction
Use the court case, notice, citation or previous arrest record.
Search the newest docket entries
Look for warrant issued, served, recalled, cancelled or quashed.
Check every relevant county
Separate cases can create separate warrants.
Confirm the current status
Contact the issuing court or responsible law-enforcement agency.
Use a lawyer when the warrant concerns you
Counsel can explain appearance, surrender, bail and hearing options.
Never confront or detain anyone. Similar names, recalled warrants and delayed updates can create dangerous mistakes.
Scam warning: Do not pay an unexpected warrant demand through gift cards, cryptocurrency, QR codes or text-message links. Contact the court independently.
Find federal custody and court cases
BOP Inmate Locator
- Covers federal incarceration from 1982 to the present.
- Search by BOP, DCDC, FBI or INS number.
- Name search can use age, race and sex.
- May show location and projected release date.
- Does not provide the complete federal court file.
PACER Federal Court Records
- Searches federal district, appellate and bankruptcy cases.
- Use the nationwide index when the court is unknown.
- Current access charge is $0.10 per billable page.
- Most individual case documents are capped at $3.
- Quarterly charges of $30 or less are currently waived.
Search BOP for current or past federal custody
Save the register number and location.
Search PACER for the criminal case
Use the case number or a narrow name and jurisdiction search.
Open the indictment or information
This identifies the formal federal charges.
Read the docket through judgment
Check detention, dismissal, plea, verdict, judgment and sentencing.
Limit the date range
Narrow searches reduce unnecessary PACER pages and fees.
Beginning January 1, 2027, PACER has announced a temporary increase to $0.12 per page and a higher quarterly fee-waiver threshold of $40.
Request your own FBI Identity History Summary
This is not a public name search. The FBI provides the fingerprint-supported summary to the person who is the subject of the record.
Electronic request
- Start the application online.
- Pay the $18 FBI fee.
- Submit fingerprints through a participating Post Office or by mail.
- Print additional ordinary copies from the electronic result.
Mail request
- Complete the Applicant Information Form.
- Provide a current FD-1164 fingerprint card.
- Include all rolled and flat fingerprints.
- Include the accepted $18 payment.
Choose electronic, mail or approved channeler
Review the official FBI options before paying a private provider.
Start the FBI request
Provide current fingerprints
A fingerprint card used for an earlier request cannot be reused.
Pay the $18 FBI fee
Additional fingerprinting or channeler charges may apply.
Check each arrest and disposition
Compare the summary with certified court documents.
Challenge inaccurate information
The FBI does not charge a fee for an Identity History Summary challenge.
FBI Identity History Summary
Phone: 304-625-5590
Email: identity@fbi.gov
Mail requests:
FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306
Correct a wrong arrest, charge or disposition
Identify which system is wrong
Compare the jail booking, arrest report, court docket, state history and FBI summary.
Save the incorrect result
Record the URL, date viewed, booking number, case number and disputed field.
Obtain controlling proof
Use a certified dismissal, amended judgment, agency correction or identity document.
Contact the original record creator
The police agency or court may need to correct its data before higher-level systems update.
Use the state repository process
Locate the state identification bureau when the error appears in a statewide history.
Find the state identification bureau
Submit an FBI challenge when required
Clearly explain the inaccurate or incomplete entry and attach supporting proof.
Recheck every connected database
One correction may not automatically update court websites or private background reports.
FBI challenge: The FBI currently charges no fee for a challenge and states that the average response is generally within 45 days after receipt.
Correction versus sealing: Correct a record when it is factually wrong. Seek sealing or expungement when it is accurate but may qualify for restricted access.
Seal or expunge an eligible arrest record
There is no single nationwide sealing process. Eligibility, waiting periods, forms, filing fees and legal effects depend on the state and case outcome.
Automatic reliefSome states automatically restrict qualifying non-convictions or older cases.
Record sealingOrdinary public access is limited while authorized agencies may retain access.
ExpungementThe state may remove, destroy or legally restrict qualifying records.
Conviction reliefOptions may include dismissal, set-aside, reduction, pardon or a certificate.
Identify the state and court
Record relief normally follows the law where the arrest or prosecution occurred.
Obtain the complete case history
Save the booking, report number, charging document and final disposition.
Check automatic relief
Determine whether the record has already been restricted by law.
Review eligibility
Check the offense, disposition, waiting period, prior history and unpaid obligations.
Obtain required documents
The process may require fingerprints, certified dispositions or a state criminal history.
File the official petition or application
Use the form published by the court or state record repository.
Serve required agencies
The prosecutor, arresting agency or state repository may require notice.
Attend a hearing when required
Bring proof of eligibility and all supporting documents.
Obtain certified copies of the order
Keep copies for courts, police, repositories and private screening disputes.
Verify completion
Recheck the jail, court, state repository, FBI summary and private reports when applicable.
Do not treat a public arrest search as a complete background check
A booking page may omit the final disposition, show an outdated entry, confuse people with similar names or remain visible after later record relief.
Correct person verified with multiple identifiers
Booking matched to the correct court case
Final disposition obtained
Dismissed and acquitted counts identified
Sealing or expungement checked
Duplicate bookings separated
State and local use restrictions reviewed
Required screening notices and disputes completed
Employment and tenant-screening decisions may be governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and stricter state or local laws. An arrest alone does not establish criminal conduct.
Federal arrest and court-record contacts
FBI Identity History Summary304-625-5590
identity@fbi.gov
PACER Service Center800-676-6856
pacer@psc.uscourts.gov
USAGov Contact Center844-872-4681
Help locating government agencies and courts.
VictimConnectCall or text: 855-484-2846
Confidential crime-victim referrals.
FBI CJIS Division map
Do not travel to FBI CJIS expecting a walk-in public search. Complete the official electronic or mail Identity History Summary process.
