How to Find Someone in Custody in Florida

Three separate systems hold people in custody in Florida, and they don't share one search. State prison inmates are in Florida Department of Corrections custody. People awaiting trial or serving short sentences sit in county jails. Federal defendants are a third system entirely. Here's how to check each, free.

  • State custody: start with the Florida Department of Corrections locator (fdc.myflorida.com) — name or ID number searches, current facility, and in most cases projected release dates.
  • County jails: 36 Florida counties post their own jail rosters, linked below — that's where you'll find anyone arrested recently or serving under a year.
  • Federal custody: the Bureau of Prisons locator (bop.gov) covers federal defendants and anyone sentenced in US District Court — a separate population people forget to check.
  • Stay notified: VINELink sends automatic alerts when someone's custody status changes — transfer, release, or escape — in nearly every state.

Florida's offender search is one of the most complete anywhere: photos, sentence history, and release dates, plus a separate supervised-population search. Content reviewed July 29, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.

Official Florida Custody Lookups

Florida Department of Corrections — Inmate Locator
Official Free
The official Florida state-custody search. Current facility, custody status, and release information for people serving state sentences.
🌐 fdc.myflorida.com
VINELink — Florida Custody Alerts
Official Free
Search custody status and register for automatic notification when someone is moved or released. Free, run for victims but open to anyone.
🌐 vinelink.com
Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator
Official Free
Everyone in federal custody since 1982, searchable by name or register number. Covers federal sentences, which no state system lists.
🌐 bop.gov
Department of Corrections | Martin County Sheriff's Office, FL
Official Free
The Martin County Jail is a 696-bed maximum-security facility that ensures public safety through incarceration and supervision of inmates. Inmates from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic groups enter the Martin County Jail for criminal charges ranging from civil infractions to capital offenses.
🌐 mcsofl.org

Florida Counties With Online Jail Rosters

These counties publish their own booking or in-custody lists — click through for each county records page.

Bradford Brevard Citrus Collier Columbia De Soto DeSoto Dixie Escambia Flagler Franklin Gadsden Gilchrist Gulf Hardee Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Leon Manatee Marion Martin Miami-Dade Monroe Nassau Okaloosa Osceola Pasco Pinellas Polk Sarasota Seminole Sumter Suwannee Volusia Walton

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Florida inmate locator free?
Yes. Every official source on this page is free to search. Sites that charge for 'inmate reports' are reselling public data.
Why can't I find someone arrested yesterday?
Fresh arrests appear in the county jail's booking system first, sometimes hours later. State locators only list people after sentencing and transfer to state custody.
Does a locator listing mean the person was convicted?
No. Jail rosters include people awaiting trial who are presumed innocent. Check the court docket for the case outcome.
How do I send money or arrange a visit?
Each facility sets its own rules — the Florida Department of Corrections site covers state facilities, and each county sheriff posts local jail policies.

Related Florida Records

Custody is one piece: the Florida criminal records page covers official background checks, wants & warrants lists who's being looked for, and Florida court records hold the cases behind every custody entry.