Written by Jayson Baxter
Criminal Records | September 21, 2023
Table of Contents
Out of approximately 6000 complaints called into New York Police Department’s each week, many of those result in an arrest and a trip to central booking which makes family members, friends and loved ones wonder how to find out if someone is in central booking.1
Fortunately, individuals can try this free search to instantly locate a person in central booking, or they can try one of the many outlets available through the various law enforcement agencies seen below.
No matter which route you take, knowing where to start and how central booking works is the first step in finding someone in police custody.
Central booking is a process by which an individual taken into custody by police is sent through arrestee intake, fingerprinted, photographed, and arraigned within 12 to 24 hours of being taken into custody.
This process streamlines arrests allowing officers to return to patrol quicker and allowing inmates to work on bail or bond in a speedy manner. Individuals need to know how to find out if someone is in central booking free instantly to help post bail or know what the next steps will be.
The individual is first taken to the precinct where the arrest occurred before being transported to central booking. After a few hours, the person is moved to the central booking where the next step will take place. At this step, the person undergoes what is known as a CJA interview, or criminal justice agency interview.
This interview is designed to help the judge handling the arraignment phase determine bail. The CJA is also sometimes referred to as the release assessment.2
Within a few hours of being transported to the central booking, usually within 24 hours of being arrested, the arrestee is brought before a judge for arraignment. Arraignment simply means the judge formally reads the charges against the person and informs the defendant of their rights.
Arraignment is usually the first time a friend or family member can see the defendant after being taken into custody. Individuals wishing to be at arraignment can call the clerk of court in the district the case is being heard to find out what time and which courtroom the defendant will appear. This is why it’s important to know how to find out if someone is in central booking or has been transported to the courthouse.3
Since arraignment is also when bail is typically set, this is also an opportunity for a person to be released, either by their own recognizance or by posting cash or property to secure their appearance at trial. Release by recognizance simply means a person is released without having to post any cash or property. The person can also be remanded at this stage which means they are held without bail until further hearings can be conducted.4
Central booking is used by the New York Police Department, police departments in Pennsylvania, and Baltimore’s Police Department. Other agencies have similar processes which are called holding cells. Arraignment is sometimes referred to as the first appearance in other states and jurisdictions. A first appearance is also when charges and a defendant’s rights are formally read, and a bond is sometimes set during this hearing.
First appearances can be in front of the district or circuit court judges, but they may also occur in front of magistrates in areas where a magistrate is authorized to set bail, but it’s vital to know where the arraignment or first appearance will occur to see the defendant.
Finding someone in central booking in New York City requires that you know the borough where the arrest occurred. For example, a person arrested in Brooklyn will not be taken to central booking in the Bronx, instead, they will be taken to Central Booking Brooklyn in Kings County. Narrowing down which precinct made the arrest helps to check if someone is in central bookings.
Follow the steps below to know how to find out if someone is in central booking for free instantly.
Calling the precinct or clerk is the quickest, easiest way to find out if someone is in central booking. A person can also hire an attorney that can make an inquiry for them if they are having trouble locating the defendant. An attorney also knows how to find out if criminal charges are filed and the next court dates.
Another option for locating a person in custody of the NYPD is to call the department’s information line, 3-1-1, for assistance. Individuals will be directed to the correct county for assistance.5
As stated earlier, New York City is divided into five boroughs or counties with each one being its own judicial district so when it comes to locating someone, knowing what county or borough the person was arrested to make locating them easier.
When a person is arrested in Brooklyn, they are taken to Brooklyn’s Central Booking location, also known as Kings County, for processing. Brooklyn Central Booking is located at 120 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, New York.
The Brooklyn Central Booking contact number is 718-935-9210, and individuals can speak with the criminal court clerk to find out what courtroom arraignment will take place. The table below lists all the police precincts in Brooklyn that utilize this Central Booking location and can inform a person if someone is in central booking in Brooklyn.
| Police Precinct | Address and Phone Number |
| 60th Precinct | 2951 W 8th St, Brooklyn, New York, 11224-3615 718-946-3311 |
| 61st Precinct | 2575 Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, 11223-5027 718-627-6611 |
| 62nd Precinct | 1925 Bath Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11214-4714 718-236-2611 |
| 63rd Precinct | 1844 Brooklyn Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11210-4240 718-258-4411 |
| 66th Precinct | 5822 16th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11204-2111 718-851-5611 |
| 67th Precinct | 2820 Snyder Ave., Brooklyn, New York 11226 718-287-3211 |
| 68th Precinct | 333 65th St., Brooklyn, New York, 11220-4927 718-439-4211 |
| 69th Precinct | 9720 Foster Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11236-2123 718-257-6211 |
| 70th Precinct | 154 Lawrence Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11230-1103 718-851-5511 |
| 71st Precinct | 421 Empire Blvd, Brooklyn, New York 11225-3217 718-735-0511 |
| 72nd Precinct | 830 4th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11232-1702 718-965-6311 |
| 73rd Precinct | 1470 E.New York Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11212 718-495-5411 |
| 75th Precinct | 1000 Sutter Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11208-3553 718-827-3511 |
| 76th Precinct | 191 Union St. Brooklyn, New York, 11231-3003 718-834-3211 |
| 77th Precinct | 127 Utica Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11213-2338 718-735-0611 |
| 78th Precinct | 65 6th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11217-2110 718-636-6411 |
| 79th Precinct | 263 Tompkins Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11216-1220 718-636-6611 |
| 81st Precinct | 30 Ralph, Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11221-3607 718-574-0411 |
| 83rd Precinct | 480 Knickerbocker Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11237-5132 718-574-1605 |
| 84th Precinct | 301 Gold St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201-3003 718-875-6811 |
| 88th Precinct | 298 Classon Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11205-4301 718-636-6511 |
| 90th Precinct | 211 Union Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11211-7417 718-963-5311 |
| 94th Precinct | 100 Meserole Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11222-2636 718-383-3879 |
When a person is arrested in Queens, they are taken to the Central Booking location for that county. Queens Central Booking is located at 125-01 Queens Boulevard, New York, New York. The contact number for this location is 718-268-4523. Individuals arrested at one of the precincts in the table below are arraigned from this central booking location.
Once booking is complete, arrestees are taken to the nearest criminal court for arraignment.
| Police Precinct | Address and Phone Number |
| 100th Precinct | 92-24 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Queens, New York, 11693-1527 718-318-4200 |
| 101st Precinct | 16-12 Mott Ave., Far Rockaway, New York, 11691-4202 718-868-3400 |
| 102nd Precinct | 87-34 118th St., Richmond Hill, New York, 11418-2527 718-805-3200 |
| 103rd Precinct | 168-02 91st Avenue, Jamaica, New York, 11432-5229 718-657-8181 |
| 104th Precinct | 64-2 Catalpa Avenue, Queens, New York, 11385-5257 718-386-3004 |
| 105th Precinct | 92-08 222nd St., Queens Village, New York, 11428-1474 718-776-9090 |
| 106th Precinct | 103-53 101st St., Ozone Park, New York, 11417-1707 718-845-2211 |
| 107th Precinct | 71-01 Parsons Boulevard, Flushing, New York, 11365-4113 718-969-5100 |
| 108th Precinct | 5-47 50th Avenue, Long Island City, New York, 11101 718-784-5411 |
| 109th Precinct | 37-05 Union St., Flushing, New York, 11354-4117 718-321-2250 |
| 110th Precinct | 94-41 43rd Avenue, Elmhurst, New York, 11373-2853 718-476-9311 |
| 111th Precinct | 45-06 215th St., Bayside, New York, 11361 718-279-5200 |
| 112th Precinct | 68-40 Austin St., Forest Hills, New York, 11375-4242 718-520-9311 |
| 113th Precinct | 167-02 Baisley Boulevard, Jamaica, New York, 11434-2511 718-712-7733 |
| 114th Precinct | 34-16 Astoria Boulevard, Queens, New York, 11103-4425 718-626-9311 |
| 115th Precinct | 92-15 Northern Boulevard, Jackson Hgts., New York, 11372-1747 718-533-2002 |
It’s important to know how to find out if someone is in central booking in Manhattan. When a person is arrested in New York County, they are taken to the central booking located at Manhattan Central Booking, 100 Centre St, New York, New York and can be reached via telephone at 212-374-3921, 212-374-3942, or 212374-3838.
The clerk of court at this location can advise if someone is in central booking and when they are scheduled to appear in court. The table below outlines which NYPD precincts use this central booking location.
| Police Precinct | Address and Phone Number |
| 1st Precinct | 16 Ericsson Pl. New York, New York, 10013 212-334-0611 |
| 5th Precinct | 19 Elizabeth St. New York, New York, 10013 212-334-0711 |
| 6th Precinct | 233 West 10th St. New York, New York, 10014 212-741-4811 |
| 7th Precinct | 19 1/2 Pitt St New York, New York, 10002 212-477-7311 |
| 9th Precinct | 321 E. 5 St., New York, New York, 10003 212-477-7812 |
| 10th Precinct | 230 W. 20th St. New York, New York, 10011 212-741-8211 |
| 13th Precinct | 230 E. 21st St., New York, New York, 10010-7460 212-477-7411 |
| Midtown South Precinct | 357 W. 35th St., New York, New York, 10001-1701 212-239-9811 |
| 17th Precinct | 167 E. 51st St., New York, New York, 10022 212-826-3211 |
| Midtown North Precinct | 306 W. 54th St. New York, New York, 10019-5102 212-767-8400 |
| 19th Precinct | 153 E.67th St., New York, New York, 10065 212-452-0600 |
| 20th Precinct | 120 W. 82nd St., New York, New York, 10024-5502 212-580-6411 |
| Central Park Precinct | 86th and Transverse Road, New York, New York 10024 212-570-4820 |
| 23rd Precinct | 164 E. 102 St. New York, New York, 10029-5721 212-860-6411 |
| 24th Precinct | 151 W. 100th St., New York, New York, 10025-5146 212-678-1811 |
| 25th Precinct | 120 E. 119th St. New York, New York, 10035-3921 212-860-6511 |
| 26th Precinct | 520 W. 126th St. New York, New York, 10027-2406 212-678-1311 |
| 28th Precinct | 2271-89 8th Avenue New York, New York, 10027-5319 212-678-1611 |
| 30th Precinct | 451 W.151st St., New York, NewYork, 10031 212-690-8811 |
| 32nd Precinct | 250 W. 135th St., New York, New York, 10030-2802 212-690-6311 |
| 33rd Precinct | 2207 Amsterdam Avenue New York, New York, 10032-2512 212-927-3200 |
| 34th Precinct | 4295 Broadway New York, New York, 10033-3729 212-927-9711 |
Bronx Central Booking is the next step in defendant processing for those taken into police custody in the Bronx. Central Booking in this borough is located at 215 East 161st Street, Bronx, New York 10451, and the telephone number for this location is 718-643-5678.
Individuals can call the clerk of court at this location to find out where the defendant is regarding processing, or can call one of the Bronx precincts in the table below.
| Police Precinct | Address and Phone Number |
| 40th Precinct | 257 Alexander Avenue Bronx, New York, 10454-1133 718-402-2270 |
| 41st Precinct | 1035 Longwood Avenue Bronx, New York, 10459-5204 718-542-4771 |
| 42nd Precinct | 830 Washington Avenue, Bronx, NewYork, 10451-4604 718-402-3887 |
| 43rd Precinct | 900 Fteley Avenue, Bronx, New York, 10473-4006 718-542-0888 |
| 44th Precinct | 2 E169 St Bronx, New York, 10452-7800 718-590-5511 |
| 45th Precinct | 2877 Barkley Avenue, Bronx, New York, 10465-1949 718-822-5411 |
| 46th Precinct | 2120 Ryer Avenue Bronx, New York, 10457-2919 718-220-5211 |
| 47th Precinct | 4111 Laconia Ave. Bronx, New York, 10466-4901 718-920-1211 |
| 48th Precinct | 450 Cross Bronx Express Bronx, New York, 10457-7401 718-299-3900 |
| 49th Precinct | 2121 Eastchester Rd., Bronx, New York, 10461-2251 718-918-2000 |
| 50th Precinct | 3450 Kingsbridge Avenue, Bronx, New York, 10463-4004 718-543-5700 |
| 52nd Precinct | 3016 Webster Avenue Bronx, New York, 10467 718-220-5811 |
There are 4 precincts of the NYPD that utilize Staten Island Central Booking, as outlined in the table below. Central Booking on Staten Island is located at 12501 Queens Boulevard, Staten Island, New York. The phone number for this location is 718-675-8555.6 Like the other boroughs in NYC, individuals can call central booking or the precinct where the person was arrested in an attempt to locate them.
| Police Precinct | Address and Phone Number |
| 120th Precinct | 78 Richmond Tr. Saint George, New York, 10301-1905 718-876-8500 |
| 121st Precinct | 970 Richmond Ave., Staten Island, New York, 10314-1503 718-697-8700 |
| 122nd Precinct | 2320 Hylan Boulevard, New Dorp, New York, 10306-3207 718-667-2211 |
| 123rd Precinct | 116 Main St., Staten Island, New York, 10307-1227 718-948-9311 |
Kings County Central Booking is the same as Brooklyn Central Booking located at 120 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, New York. Additional contact numbers for this location include central booking number 718-935-9210 or the arraignment numbers 718-243-2545 or 718-643-5296 to locate someone being processed after an arrest in Brooklyn.
When someone is taken into custody by the NYPD, it may be difficult to contact them prior to the arraignment hearing, which is usually conducted within 24 hours of arrest. Friends or family members can try to contact the inmate by calling the Central Booking location or the arraignment court.
To find out where the individual is being held, NYC has an inmate lookup tool that can be accessed online.
Searches can be conducted using the defendant’s first and last name, or their booking number once they are processed into the system. This is only available for defendants that have completed the booking process and are awaiting arraignment.7
This is one way to find out if someone is booked in jail, and a way to find out if someone is in police custody online. This search portal is how to find out why someone was arrested and taken to central booking.
If the person is still being processed, the quickest way to make contact is by calling the central booking location or the arraignment court in the borough where the arrest occurred. The table below lists contact information for each central booking location and arraignment court.7
| Central Booking and Arraignment Court Location | Phone Number(s) for Central Booking | Phone Number(s) for Arraignment |
| Bronx | 718-590-2817 | 718-590-2886 |
| Brooklyn | 718-875-6303 | 718-243-2545 718-643-5296 |
| Manhattan | 212-374-3921 212-374-3942 212374-3838 |
646-386-4545 |
| Queens | 718-268-4523 | 718-298-0736 |
| Staten Island | 718-876-8490 | 718-675-8558 |
Once a person is arraigned, which is the last step in central booking, they are taken to a jail facility to be held until they post bond, or until trial in cases where bond cannot be posted or is denied.
Being booked is different from being processed since booking is where a person has been taken into custody, photographed and fingerprinted, and has appeared before a judge for a first appearance or arraignment. The defendant has been formally advised of the charges and their rights, had the opportunity to request a court or state appointed attorney, and has been sent to a holding facility.
To locate someone in a holding facility in NYC, searchers can use the online inmate lookup tool provided by NYPD, or they can check the county jail to see if someone is listed on the inmate roster for that area.
There are 10 different county jails currently being utilized in New York City, as outlined in the table below.
| Jail | Location | Phone Number(s) |
| Elmhurst Hospital (Prison Ward) | 79-01 Broadway Queens, New York 11370 |
718-334-2107 |
| Rikers Island Anna M. Kross Center | 18-18 Hazen St E Elmhurst, New York 11370 |
718-546-3520 |
| Rikers Island Eric M. Taylor Center | 10 10 Hazen St E Elmhurst, New York, 11370 |
718-546-1500 |
| Rikers Island George R. Vierno Center | 09-09 Hazen St E Elmhurst, New York 11370 |
718-546-2020 |
| Rikers Island North Infirmary Command | 15-00 Hazen St E Elmhurst, New York 11370 |
718-546-1120 |
| Rikers Island Otis Bantum Correctional Center | 16-00 Hazen St E Elmhurst, New York 11370 |
718-546-6420 |
| Rikers Island Robert M. Davoren Center | 11-11 Hazen St E Elmhurst, New York 11370 |
718-546-6920 |
| Rikers Island Rose M. Singer Center | 19-19 Hazen St E Elmhurst, New York 11370 |
718-546-7420 |
| Rikers Island West Facility (Communicable Disease Unit) | 16-06 Hazen St E Elmhurst, New York 11370 |
718-546-4120 |
| Vernon C. Bain Center | 1 Halleck St Bronx, New York 10474 |
(718)-579-8341 |
New York City is in the process of closing Rikers Island and opening detention facilities in each borough or county following a multi-year timeline. This will allow inmates to be closer to family and resources that can help with conditional release or rehabilitation.8
The United States government maintains 5 federal prison facilities in New York state, one of which is a federal prison camp. To look for federal inmates, an online search can be completed at the Bureau of Prison website. Searches can be conducted by BOP Register Number or by completing a name-based search.9
Searches show if the person is still in custody, and where they are located if still in prison. It also shows if the person was released and when that release occurred. The information can include data on persons who were arrested but never convicted, those held in custody as material witnesses, and if someone was held in civil contempt in a federal court.10
Locating an inmate in city or federal custody in New York involves knowing where the person was arrested or is being held. Other states have similar processes.
Central booking is primarily used in New York City, Baltimore and in the state of Pennsylvania, but other cities or states can have a similar system. Examples of central booking in other major cities or states appear in the table below.
| City or State | What Central Booking is Called In this Location | How it Works |
| Los Angeles, California | Inmate Reception Center (IRC) | Individuals arrested in Los Angeles county are brought to the IRC for intake, processing, classification, personal property storage and release. |
| Detroit, Michigan | Detroit Detention Center | Arrestees are photographed, fingerprinted, booked and held until arraignment. |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Arrest Processing Center, Detention Center Central | Intake for arrestees including property storage and a medical facility. Holds pre-trial defendants. |
| Orange County, California | Orange County Intake and Release Center | Conducts the booking and release processes for all arrestees in Orange County/Orlando. |
| Montgomery County, Maryland | Central Processing Unit | Completes intake on all arrestees in Montgomery County and transport them for arraignment to the local courthouse. |
| Broward County, Florida | Central Intake Bureau | Intake and release of all inmates in Broward County jail and facilitate appearance before a magistrate for bail within 24 hours of arrest. |
| Manatee County, Florida | Central Jail | Processing of arrestees including warrant search, fingerprinting, photographing, medical screening/check, and property storage. |
| Travis County, Texas | Travis County Jail Central Booking Facility | Arrestees are transported to this location for booking and medical screening, then placed in a holding facility in the same location until hearing. |
| Bexar County, Texas | Central Magistrate Division | This is the central processing area for all Class B or higher arrests in Bexar County. |
| St Paul, Minnesota | Temporary Holding | A temporary holding facility that allows for processing arrestees before transporting them to jail or court. Arrestees are held for 2 hours or less. |
These are just a few examples of how arrestees are processed in various locations throughout the United States.
Knowing how to find out if someone is in central booking in Baltimore is much like the process in New York City. Like NYC Central Booking, this is where arrestees are taken for intake and classification in the jail system in Baltimore, Maryland.
Once arrestees are classified, they are then transported to a holding facility to await a hearing or bail. Unlike NYC Central Booking, the process can take longer than 24 hours to complete, and there are options for family and friend visitation at this facility if the person has been housed for more than 60 days.11
Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center is located at 300 East Madison St.,
Baltimore, MD 21202, and the phone number are 410-545-8122.
Many Pennsylvania counties also utilize a central booking system to process arrestees and allow officers to return to patrol quicker. By taking care of biometrics, fingerprinting, and processing, officers have more time to engage with the public and promote public safety.
Contacting central booking for one of the departments that utilize it is how to find out if someone is in police custody.
The table below lists the county bookings in different locations in Pennsylvania.
| County Central Booking Location | Phone Number |
| Berks County Central Booking Division | 610-478-6240 |
| Centre County Central Booking | 814-355-6794 |
| Clinton County Central Processing Unit | 570-769-7680 |
| Cumberland County Central Booking Center | 717-245-8740 |
| Dauphin Central Booking Center | 717-547-4040 |
| New Castle Central Booking | 724-656-3584 |
| Lebanon County Central Booking | 717-228-4413 |
| Lehigh Township Central Booking | 610-767-6771 |
| Northampton Central Booking | 610-829-7400 |
| Somerset County Central Booking | 814-445-1500 |
| Washington County Booking Center | 724-229-5931 |
| York City Police Department Central Booking | 717-771-9944 |
| DUI Central Booking | 717-240-5328 |
When someone is arrested, it can be a stressful time for everyone. Family and friends will want to find out where their loved one is and how to post bail as quickly as possible. That is why it’s important to know how to find out if someone is in central booking for free instantly.
A county magistrate search may show who was placed in jail, but usually will not show who is in central booking. Central booking processes are completed before a person is taken before a judge or magistrate for arraignment and bond set.
The best way to find out where a person goes after central booking is to attend the defendant’s arraignment hearing. At that time, if bail is denied or cannot be posted because of the amount, family and friends can learn where the individual will be held pending trial.
1 City Wide Crime Stats – NYPD. (n.d.). NYC.gov. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/stats/crime-statistics/citywide-crime-stats.page>
2 Fox, A., & Koppel, S. (n.d.). CJA | Release Assessment. New York City Criminal Justice Agency. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://www.nycja.org/release-assessment>
3 What You Need to Know If Someone You Know is Arrested. (2022, August 4). The Legal Aid Society. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://legalaidnyc.org/get-help/arrests-policing/what-you-need-to-know-if-someone-you-know-is-arrested/>
4 How To Find Someone Arrested In NYC. (n.d.). Central Booking Info. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://www.centralbooking.info/tag/how-to-find-someone-arrested-in-nyc/>
5 Find an Arrested Person · NYC311. (n.d.). NYC 311. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01399>
6 Arrested in NYC or Long Island. Where to call to find information. (n.d.). Sharifov & Associates, PLLC. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://lawfirmsr.com/important-phone-numbers-addresses-when-arrested/>
7 Inmate Lookup. (n.d.). NYC.gov. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://a073-ils-web.nyc.gov/inmatelookup/pages/home/home.jsf>
8 Department of Correction. (n.d.). Department of Correction. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doc/about/facilities.page>
9 BOP: Federal Inmates By Number. (n.d.). Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/>
10 BOP: About Federal Inmate Records. (n.d.). Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/about_records.jsp>
11 MD Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services-BCBIC. (n.d.). Maryland’s Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://www.dpscs.state.md.us/locations/bcbic.shtml>
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