Hey everyone! If you’re looking for a reliable way to check public arrest records and mugshots across the US, arrests.org is still one of the go-to free resources out there.
As of late 2025, the site remains active and continues to aggregate public data from law enforcement agencies nationwide. The official site is https://www.arrests.org – always start there to ensure you’re on the real deal.
Whether you’re checking recent arrests in your neighborhood, doing a quick background search, or just staying informed, I’ll walk you through it all in simple steps. Let’s make this as straightforward and useful as possible!
Quick Recap: What Makes Arrests.org So Handy?
Arrests.org pulls together publicly available arrest info – like mugshots, names, ages, charges, booking dates, and bond amounts – from county sheriffs and jails.
It’s free, no sign-up needed for basic use, and organized mostly by state (with some drilling down to counties). Coverage isn’t 100% uniform due to varying state laws on public records, but it spans dozens of states with regular updates.
Key perks:
- Super fast searches without paying fees.
- Great for spotting trends in local arrests.
- Mobile-friendly for checking on the fly.
Remember: This is public info, but arrests aren’t convictions. Always double-check official sources for accuracy, and use it responsibly!
Full List of States Covered on Arrests.org
The homepage features direct links to state pages (often as a grid or list of abbreviations). While coverage can fluctuate based on data feeds from local agencies, arrests.org typically includes records from most US states.
Here’s a practical breakdown of commonly available states (direct links where standard – just replace with the two-letter code at https://[state].arrests.org/, like https://florida.arrests.org/):
Not every state has the same depth – some like Florida, Texas, and California get daily refreshes with thousands of records, while others might be thinner due to privacy laws. If a state link isn’t active, try the main search bar instead.
Super Practical Step-by-Step: How to Use Arrests.org Effectively
Here’s the nitty-gritty – follow these for best results every time.
- Head to the Homepage Go straight to https://www.arrests.org/. You’ll see a state map/grid and a big search bar.
- Browse by State for Local Overviews Click your state’s link (e.g., Texas).
- Lands on a page with the latest arrests in a scrollable grid – newest first.
- Practical tip: Scroll slowly or use Ctrl+F to scan for names/dates. Mugshots load as thumbnails; click to enlarge.
- Run a Targeted Name Search Use the top search bar:
- Type full name (try “Last, First” format for better hits).
- Add state or city if you know it (e.g., “John Doe Florida”).
- Click search – results show matches with photos, charges, and dates.
- Pro tip: If no results, try nicknames, misspellings, or maiden names. Common issue: Records lag 24-48 hours.
- Dive Into a Specific Record Click any entry:
- Full page with enlarged mugshot, height/weight, exact charges, arresting agency, bond info.
- Practical: Screenshot or note details, then verify on the county sheriff’s site.
- Hunt by Date or County (When Available) Some state pages have filters for “Recent Arrests” or county dropdowns.
- Example in Florida: Sort by county like Broward or Miami-Dade for hyper-local results.
- Even More Practical Hacks
- Daily checks: Bookmark busy states (e.g., https://texas.arrests.org/) and refresh mornings for overnight bookings.
- Cross-state searches: If someone’s mobile, search multiple likely states.
- Avoid common pitfalls: Clear browser cache if pages load weirdly; use incognito for privacy.
- Mobile trick: Pinch-zoom mugshots; app-like feel on phones.
- If nothing shows: Data might not be uploaded yet – wait a day or check official county sites directly.
How to Check Official Arrest and Inmate Records: State-by-State Guide with Direct Links
Hey there! If you’re looking for reliable ways to check public arrest or inmate records, it’s smartest to skip third-party sites and go straight to official government sources. These are free, accurate, and updated directly by the states.
Most states provide an online inmate/offender search through their Department of Corrections (DOC). These tools are great for finding current custody status, release dates, and sometimes recent bookings.
For very recent arrests (still in county jail before transfer to state prison), you’ll often need to check the specific county sheriff’s website.
Here’s a practical, state-by-state list of direct official links to inmate search tools (verified active as of December 2025). All are .gov sites where possible.
Official State Inmate/Offender Search Links
- Alabama: http://www.doc.alabama.gov/InmateSearch
- Alaska: Limited statewide online search; contact local facilities or use county jails
- Arizona: https://corrections.az.gov/inmate-data-search
- Arkansas: https://adc.arkansas.gov/inmate-information
- California: https://ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov/
- Colorado: https://www.doc.state.co.us/oss/
- Connecticut: https://portal.ct.gov/DOC (limited public search; often use VINELink)
- Delaware: https://doc.delaware.gov/inmate-locator/
- Florida: https://www.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch/InmateInfoMenu.aspx
- Georgia: https://gdc.georgia.gov/offender-query
- Idaho: https://www.idoc.idaho.gov/content/prisons/resident-search
- Illinois: https://idoc.illinois.gov/offender/inmatesearch.html
- Indiana: https://www.in.gov/apps/indcorrection/search.html
- Iowa: https://doc.iowa.gov/offender/search
- Kansas: https://kdocrepository.doc.ks.gov/kasper/
- Kentucky: https://kool.corrections.ky.gov/
- Louisiana: https://doc.louisiana.gov/imprisoned-person-programs-resources/offender-locator/
- Maine: Limited statewide; check county sheriff websites
- Maryland: https://www.dpscs.state.md.us/inmate/
- Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/find-an-inmate-in-a-massachusetts-prison (limited public details)
- Michigan: https://mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.html
- Minnesota: https://coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer/
- Mississippi: https://www.mdoc.ms.gov/inmate-search/
- Missouri: https://web.mo.gov/doc/offenderSearch/
- Montana: https://app.mt.gov/conweb/
- Nebraska: https://dcs-inmatesearch.ne.gov/
- Nevada: https://ofdsearch.doc.nv.gov/
- New Hampshire: https://business.nh.gov/doclocator/
- New Jersey: https://www20.state.nj.us/DOC_Inmate/inmatesearch
- New Mexico: https://search.cd.nm.gov/
- New York: https://nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov/
- North Carolina: https://webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do
- North Dakota: https://www.docr.nd.gov/resident-search
- Ohio: https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch
- Oklahoma: https://okoffender.doc.ok.gov/
- Oregon: Limited statewide; check county jails directly
- Pennsylvania: https://inmateinfo.pa.gov/
- South Carolina: https://public.doc.state.sc.us/scdc-public/
- South Dakota: https://doc.sd.gov/adult/lookup/
- Tennessee: https://foil.tdoc.tn.gov/
- Texas: https://inmate.tdcj.texas.gov/InmateSearch/
- Utah: https://corrections.utah.gov/offender-search/
- Vermont: Limited public online search; contact DOC
- Virginia: https://vadoc.virginia.gov/general-public/offender-locator/
- Washington: https://doc.wa.gov/information/incarcerated-individual-lookup.htm
- West Virginia: https://dcr.wv.gov/offendersearch/Pages/default.aspx
- Wisconsin: https://appsdoc.wi.gov/lop/
- Wyoming: https://wdoc-loc.wyo.gov/
Handy Tips for Searching
- Most sites let you search by full name, date of birth, or offender ID for best results.
- If no match shows up, the person might be in county jail (not yet transferred) — search “[County Name] County Sheriff Inmate Roster” on Google.
- A great nationwide tool: VINELink — covers many states and counties, plus notifications.
- Always remember: These records are public, but use them responsibly.
This list should make it easy to find accurate info quickly. If you need help with a specific state or county, just ask in the comments!
Stay safe and informed! 😊
Extra Tips for Real-Life Scenarios
- Background check on someone? Search name + known states, note charges, then Google the case number for court updates.
- Worried about your own record? Search yourself first; if outdated, contact the site via their removal form (needs proof like dismissal docs).
- Staying safe in a new area? Browse recent arrests in that state for patterns.