Look Up Arrest Records Online | Fast & Accurate Search
Look Up an Arrest Record Without Confusing an Allegation With a Conviction
Begin with the county where the arrest occurred. Confirm the booking, identify the arresting agency and then search the criminal court case for the filed charges and final result. This guide shows which searches are free, which records cost money, how to locate federal cases, how to request reports and how to correct or seal eligible information.Five systems can hold different parts of one arrest
How to look up arrest records from start to finish
Which arrest-record searches are free?
| Record | Typical cost | What it answers | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| County jail roster | Usually free | Current booking or custody. | Historical coverage and mugshot access vary. |
| Local or state court search | Free in many states; fees in others | Filed charges and case outcome. | Older, sealed and confidential cases may be absent. |
| State DOC locator | Usually free | Current state prison or supervision record. | A recent county detainee may not appear. |
| State criminal history | Varies by state | Reported statewide arrests and dispositions within that product’s scope. | Name-based and fingerprint-based reports differ. |
| FBI Identity History Summary | $18 per person | The requester’s own fingerprint-linked FBI summary. | Not the correct employment or licensing process. |
| PACER federal case search | $0.10 per page | Federal charges, filings and disposition. | Search-result pages can be charged even when no match appears. |
| Police or sheriff report | Copy, search and redaction fees may apply | Incident narrative and agency records. | Active investigations and protected information may be withheld. |
| Certified court disposition | Set by the court | Official proof of how the case ended. | Certification and page fees may both apply. |
Find the correct state, county, court and corrections agency
Find a person in a county jail
What each arrest-result field means
| Field | What it identifies | What it does not prove | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking number | A particular jail admission. | The final criminal charge. | Use it for jail and records questions. |
| Inmate or jail ID | The person inside that correctional system. | Guilt or conviction. | Use it for mail, calls and visits. |
| Arrest date | The date associated with law-enforcement custody. | The exact offense or filing date. | Match it to the incident and court case. |
| Booking date | When jail intake began. | When the alleged conduct occurred. | Use it to separate custody events. |
| Arresting agency | The department responsible for arrest. | That the department maintains the court case. | Request the report from this agency. |
| Booking charge | An allegation received during arrest or intake. | What the prosecutor formally filed. | Compare it with the court charge. |
| Bond or bail | A release entry associated with a charge or order. | Payment clears every hold. | Confirm all charges and holds first. |
| Hold | Another court or agency may control release. | The displayed bond controls the entire booking. | Ask which agency owns the hold. |
| Release date | When that custody episode ended. | Dismissal or acquittal. | Search the related court case. |
| Mugshot | An image created during booking. | Identity by itself or guilt. | Match stronger identifiers. |
Verify the person before using the record
No arrest record found? Check these causes
What happens after an arrest?
Request an arrest, incident or probable-cause report
Name the exact document
Include these identifiers
Why material may be withheld
Search the criminal court case correctly
Terms that change the meaning of the arrest
| Term | Practical meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | The matter has not reached final disposition. | Read the latest entry and next hearing. |
| Dismissed | The court ended a charge or case. | Identify every count included. |
| Acquitted or not guilty | The defendant was not found guilty of that count. | Determine whether another count remained. |
| Convicted | A judgment of guilt was entered. | Read the offense level and sentence. |
| Closed | The case is no longer active. | Closed alone does not explain the outcome. |
| Sealed or expunged | Public access has been restricted by legal process. | The case may no longer appear publicly. |
Use the correct state repository
State criminal-history reports are commonly maintained by state police, a bureau of investigation, an attorney-general division or another State Identification Bureau.Name-based search
- Usually faster.
- May be available to the public.
- Can return similar-name matches.
- Can miss records reported under another name.
Fingerprint-based search
- Stronger identity matching.
- Often used for personal review or authorized screening.
- Requires fingerprint submission.
- May involve separate fingerprinting charges.
Search federal court, prison and FBI records
PACER federal court records
Use PACER to locate public federal criminal cases, docket entries, motions, orders and judgments.BOP inmate locator
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator for federal incarceration records from 1982 to the present.FBI personal rap sheet
Request your own fingerprint-linked Identity History Summary or proof that one does not exist.Federal agency FOIA
Request agency records from the federal component that created or maintains them.PACER micro steps
Current PACER pricing
| Service | Current charge | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Document or docket page | $0.10 per page | Most case documents have a $3 maximum per document. |
| Search-result pages | $0.10 per page | A search can be charged even when it returns no matches. |
| Audio file | $2.40 per file | Available only for some court proceedings. |
| Quarterly balance | Fees waived when total is $30 or less | Billing occurs when the quarterly total exceeds the threshold. |
| Courthouse access | Free | Case information can be viewed at a federal courthouse. |
| Court opinions | Free | PACER states that opinions are always free. |
Federal Bureau of Prisons locator
FBI Identity History Summary
| Method | Published processing information | Extra time or cost |
|---|---|---|
| Online plus participating post-office fingerprints | Within 48 hours after the fingerprint visit | Post-office fingerprint fees may apply. |
| Online plus mailed fingerprint card | Approximately 10 days after FBI receives the card | Allow mailing time. |
| Complete mail request | Up to 15 days | Allow mailing time in both directions. |
| FBI-approved channeler | Set by the approved channeler | Channeler charges can exceed the FBI fee. |
Federal FOIA request
Check an arrest warrant without relying on an old listing
Verify bail, bond and holds before paying
Find a defense lawyer, public defender or victim advocate
Court-appointed lawyer
- Ask the judge or court about appointed counsel.
- Complete the required financial declaration.
- Provide accurate income, assets, debts and expenses.
- Confirm the appointment through the court.
- Discuss case facts only with the lawyer.
Private criminal lawyer
- Confirm the lawyer is licensed in the state.
- Ask who will personally handle the case.
- Request a written fee agreement.
- Ask whether bail, trial and appeal work are included.
- Keep copies of payments and correspondence.
Victim advocate
- Identify the prosecutor handling the case.
- Ask for the victim-services unit.
- Provide the case number and hearing information.
- Request custody and court notifications.
- Discuss safety planning and restitution.
Affordable civil legal help
- Use the official USA.gov legal-aid guide.
- Search by state, ZIP code or address.
- Confirm whether the organization handles the issue.
- Review income and case restrictions.
- Criminal-defense services may require the court or public defender.
Jail visitation, mail, calls and money rules
Schedule a jail visit
Rules to verify before visiting
Mail, calls and deposits
- Use the exact name and jail ID.
- Use the current jail or scanning address.
- Confirm page, photograph and envelope limits.
- Never send cash without written permission.
- Use only the provider linked by the jail.
- Most ordinary calls are outgoing only.
- Calls may be monitored and recorded.
- Legal calls use another process.
- Verify the inmate and booking number.
- Review transaction fees before paying.
- Use the approved website, kiosk or mail process.
- Keep the receipt and confirmation.
Do not send without checking the rules
Correct an inaccurate arrest or criminal-history entry
Use a correction challenge when
- The record belongs to another person.
- The charge or disposition is recorded incorrectly.
- The birth date or identity field is wrong.
- A court update did not reach the repository.
Use sealing or expungement when
- The record is legally accurate.
- The case is eligible for record relief.
- The waiting period has passed.
- Other statutory conditions are satisfied.
