How to Find Recent Arrests Near You + Local Mugshots (Full Guide)

Learning how to find recent arrests and mugshots can help a friend, family member to find out if someone was in police custody recently. Whether it’s simple curiosity or they are looking for someone who hasn’t made contact in a while, people search arrest records every day.

Each state has different laws and policies regarding the release of mugshots and having a full guide offers insight on finding recent arrests + local mugshots.

How To Find Recent Arrests & Mugshots for Free

Several states consider arrests and mugshots to be public records; therefore, they publish their daily rosters or make online searches available free of charge. This can include mugshots in the inmate roster, or place a separate link for mugshots on social media, They can also post notices about individuals wanted by the police which includes mugshots on file.

Depending on state laws, these public notices may or may not include a mugshot and some agencies may not post daily jail rosters, rather they are posted once a week or every 2-3 days. This could make some of the information outdated/incorrect since a person may already be out of jail on bond or bail, or a person could have been jailed and released before the roster was updated.

In addition to finding a person and their associated picture at the jailhouse, these searches will also show readers how to find out why someone was arrested since their charges are also displayed when using the methods below.

While there are a few offline methods of searching for local arrests and mugshots, online searches of local databases are the quickest, easiest ways to find information. There are publications that print and sell pictures of mugshots; however, these are often outdated and can be an unreliable source of information on how to find recent arrests.

Use County & City Databases to Locate Recent Arrests Records Online

When individuals are arrested, they may or may not be placed in jail, or may be placed in a holding facility pending booking. Local jails are usually maintained by the county sheriff’s department; however, some larger metropolitan areas maintain their own holding facilities. These facilities often have public search portals for anyone who wants to see who was recently arrested or view mugshots.

An example of a county jail is the facility administered by Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) in Charlotte, North Carolina. MCSO allows online searches, including a mugshot of the alleged offender and details about the date of arrest, charges, and bond information, making how to find recent arrests easy.¹

The Chicago Police Department has a municipal male lockup in each district and a male/female facility at each district headquarters. Adult arrest searches are available online providing the following information: first and last name, most recent mugshot, individuals’ age, address on record, booking number, the reason for arrest/charges, arrest date/time/location, bond/bail information, release date/time, and district where the crime or arrest occurred.²

Search Local Arrests by Name Through the Department of Corrections (in Some States)

There are six states with unified corrections systems, meaning information on both arrestees and prison inmates can be searched from a centralized portal/location. These states have different holding facilities based on the inmate’s status in the court process. How find recent arrests in these states can be more challenging.

Below is information on arrest searches in each of those states. Searches can be by name of the arrestee or department of corrections inmate number.

State	DOC Search Portal Link	DOC Contact Information
Alaska	Alaska uses VINELink for inmate searches	Juneau Office: PO Box 112000, Juneau, AK 99811-200 Phone Number: 907-465-4652 Fax Number: 907-465-3390Anchorage Office: 550 W 7th Ave, Suite 1800 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone Number: 907-334-2381 Toll Free Number: 844-934-2381
Connecticut	Department of Corrections Inmate Search Information	24 Wilcott Hill Rd., Wethersfield Connecticut 06109 Phone: 860-692-7480 Fax Number: 860-692-7783
Delaware	Delaware uses VINELink for inmate searches	245 McKee Rd., Dover, Delaware 19904 Phone Number: 302-739-5601
Hawaii	Hawaii uses VINELink for inmate searches	1177 Alakea St., Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Phone Number: 808-587-1258 Fax Number: 808-587-4999
Rhode Island	Department of Corrections Inmate Search	40 Howard Ave Cranston, Rhode Island 02920 General Number: 401-462-1000 Bail Number: 401-462-2261
Vermont	Vermont DOC Offender Locator	NOB 2 S  280 State Dr, Waterbury  VT 05671 Phone: 802-241-2442

Check Police Departments & Counties Social Media Accounts

Many law enforcement agencies have turned to the use of social media to publish mugshots and recent arrests. Through online posts, calls for action from the community, and updates on law enforcement efforts, social media accounts are an excellent way to see if someone has been arrested.

There are some publications that focus solely on mugshots; however, these publications are limited by law in certain states, and most charge a fee to view mugshots. Many states have passed legislation regulating the use of mugshots by law enforcement and third-party commercial sites making them less than desirable sources on how to find recent arrests.

This table outlines state laws regulating the use of mugshots on public media or paid publication sites.

State	Code Preventing Release of Mugshots to Social Media or Commercial Websites	Description
Alabama	Code 36-12-40	Mugshots are considered public record
Alaska	Department of Corrections Policy	DOC policy prohibits release of mugshots to the media.
Arizona	House Bill 2191	Prohibits mugshot websites that operate for profit.
Arkansas	House Bill 1437	Websites that publish mugshots must remove them within 5 days of a written request.
California*	AB 1475	Prohibits law enforcement from posting mugshots online for non-violent offenses unless the person is considered a fugitive or imminent threat to persons, a judge has ordered release of the mugshot or there are other exigent circumstances that warrant posting the mugshot on social media.
Connecticut	Connecticut Freedom of Information Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Delaware	Delaware Freedom of Information Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Florida*	CB/SB 1046	Requires the removal and prohibits the republishing/re-dissemination of certain mugshot photos.
Georgia	House Bill 150	Prohibits charging a fee to remove a booking photo from a website.
Hawaii	Uniform Information Practices Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Idaho	Public Records Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Illinois*	5 ILCS 140/2.15	Prohibits publication of mugshots on social media in most cases.
Indiana	Access to Public Records Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Iowa	Open Records Law	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Kansas	Open Record Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Kentucky	Open Records Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Louisiana*	House Bill 729	Limits release of mugshots unless specific circumstances. It also requires a website to remove a photo upon request of the person in the photo and prohibits charging a fee for removal.
Maine	Freedom of Access Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Maryland	House Bill 744	Websites may not charge a fee to remove a mugshot when requested.
Massachusetts	Public Records Law	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Michigan	Michigan Freedom of Information Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Minnesota	Public Records Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Mississippi	Public Records Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Missouri	House Bills 1665 and 1335	Requires removal of photos published on a website upon request.
Montana	Public Records Law	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Nebraska	Nebraska Public Record Statutes	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Nevada	Chapter 179A	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
New Hampshire	Right to Know Law	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
New Jersey	Open Public Records Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
New Mexico	Inspection of Public Records Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
New York*	Senate Bill 1505	Prohibits dissemination of a booking photo unless it is necessary for public protection or other exigent circumstance.
North Carolina	Proposed Senate Bill 660	If passed, this bill will remove mugshots from public record status. Currently mugshots are public record.
North Dakota	Sunshine Law	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Ohio	House Bill 6	Prohibits charging a fee to remove a mugshot from a website/publication
Oklahoma	Open Records Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Oregon*	House Bill 3273	Prohibits law enforcement from releasing mugshots except in certain circumstances. Requires pay sites to destroy photos upon written request from the subject.
Pennsylvania	Right to Know Law	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Rhode Island	Access to Public Records Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
South Carolina	South Carolina Freedom of Information Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
South Dakota	Codified Law 22	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Tennessee	Open Records Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Texas	Government Code 552	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Utah	House Bill 228	Publish-for-pay sites and publications must remove mugshots within 30 days of receiving a written request from the photo subject, and law enforcement is prohibited from releasing photos to said sites/publications.
Vermont	Public Records Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Virginia	Virginia Freedom of Information Act	Law enforcement agencies may release mugshots, but booking photos maintained by the state criminal history database are not to be released.
Washington	Washington Freedom of Information Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
West Virginia	West Virginia Freedom of Information Act	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Wisconsin	Open Records Law	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.
Wyoming	Sunshine Law	Mugshots are considered part of the criminal record and are available to the public.

*All or specifically designated mugshots are not public records in these states.

Visit or Call Local Law Enforcement to Find Recent Arrests in Your Area

If the arrest records or mugshots cannot be found online or via social media posts, as a last resort a person can call or visit the local jail to see if someone is incarcerated. In some cases when the individual has been taken into custody for public intoxication or other safety reasons and placed in the drunk tank, law enforcement will help facilitate a call to a friend or family member regarding release from custody.

Contact an Attorney and/or Bailsman

Another method of finding a person who has recently been arrested is through the services of an attorney or bail bondsman. Either professional will be able to quickly access jail rosters to see if the person is in custody and what the terms of release are.

An attorney or bail bondsman may be the best option when trying to find someone in a holding cell awaiting processing, booking or a court appearance. Holding cells are designed for short-term (less than 12 hours) detention, so those individuals may or may not show up on search portals or jail rosters as quickly as those who have been booked. These cells are typically used to house individuals appearing in court on a given day.³

Finding mugshots and recent arrests has become easier with more agencies using online search portals and social media to publish jail rosters. Jails and detention centers are located in almost every county or community in the United States and are open 24/7, so visiting or calling the facility is another avenue in how to find recent arrests.

Frequently Asked Questions