Do county jails publish listings of their inmates?

Many county jails publish inmate rosters online. Laws and policies vary by state and by individual jail. The best way to find out if a specific county jail publishes its inmate roster is to visit the jail's official website or call the jail.

The information available in inmate rosters varies from jail to jail. Some jails post detailed information about inmates' criminal histories and some include mug shots. When a county jail doesn't make its list of inmates available, arrest information is generally on the public record and is sometimes reported in local newspapers. People may also submit a public record request through the county, state or federal government to obtain this information.