Download the Free Jail Guide -- Everything You Need to Know Before, During and After Prison. Download Free
Est. 2011 -- Trusted by Families and Legal Professionals

The Complete
Jail Guide.

Everything you need to know before, during and after prison -- plus the world's largest free inmate search directory.

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11,000+
Jails and Prisons
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The World's Largest Free Inmate Search and Prison Directory

Search over 11,000 facilities across the United States and worldwide. Always free, no registration required.

By searching you agree to our terms of use. JailGuide does not list juvenile or youth offender facilities.

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Your Complete Guide to the Prison System

JailGuide.com has been helping families, attorneys, researchers and first-time inmates navigate the prison system since 2011. We built this site because finding answers about incarceration -- where someone is held, how the system works, what rights inmates have, how to stay connected -- should not require a law degree or cost a single dollar.

Our database covers over 11,000 Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities, Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) institutions, state prisons, county jails, work camps, honor farms and boot camps across the United States and in more than 100 countries worldwide. Every facility includes direct links to official inmate rosters, visitation information and contact details.

Search by State

All states and countries
Alabama312 jails Alaska48 jails Arizona189 jails Arkansas142 jails California580 jails Colorado168 jails Florida410 jails Georgia295 jails Illinois334 jails New York512 jails Texas620 jails All 50 StatesView all

Prison Tools and Resources

Free calculators and guides
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Good Time Calculator

Estimate release dates and good time credit for federal and all 50 state systems.
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Federal Sentencing Chart

USSG sentencing guidelines and offense level calculator for federal cases.
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Bail Bond Calculator

Estimate bail bond costs and premiums based on the bail amount set by the court.
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Prison Security Levels

Understand minimum, low, medium, high and maximum security classifications.
✉

Sending Mail to an Inmate

Complete guide to sending letters, postcards and packages to any facility.
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Sending Money to an Inmate

How to deposit money into an inmate's commissary account at any facility.
How To Survive In Prison and Jail -- The Jail Guide Book by Pete Maxwell
Free Download -- Jail Guide

How To Survive In Prison and Jail

Are you going to jail or prison for the first time? Don't know what to expect, who to talk to or what to bring? Pete Maxwell answers all of it in his 144-page survival guide -- from what to do on the first day to the last, including the questions your lawyer won't answer.

Download Free

How JailGuide Works

Finding an inmate in minutes
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JailGuide Inmate Locator Tutorial

The Fastest Way to Locate an Inmate

JailGuide connects you directly to official inmate rosters maintained by each facility -- no middlemen, no fees, no guesswork. Our inmate locator shows you exactly where to look and how to get there fast, whether someone was just booked at a county jail or transferred to a state or federal facility.

With facility listings translated to English and covering more than 100 countries, JailGuide is the starting point no other free resource can match.

Prison FAQ

All prison questions
How do I find someone who was just arrested? +
Start by searching the county jail in the area where the arrest occurred. Most county facilities update their inmate rosters within hours of booking. For state or federal arrests it may take 24 to 72 hours for records to appear in the system. Use JailGuide to find the direct inmate search link for that facility.
What is good time credit and how does it work? +
Good time credit is a reduction in sentence length awarded to inmates who maintain good behavior while incarcerated. Federal inmates can earn up to 54 days per year under the First Step Act. State rules vary widely -- some states offer up to 50% reduction while others require the inmate to serve at least 85% of their sentence. Use our Good Time Calculator to estimate release dates for any state.
Can I send money to an inmate? +
Yes. Most facilities allow friends and family to deposit money into an inmate's commissary account via services like JPay, GTL, or Western Union. The process and approved services vary by facility. Use JailGuide to find the specific institution and look up their approved money transfer methods.
What is the difference between a jail and a prison? +
Jails are locally operated, typically by a county sheriff's office, and house people who are awaiting trial or serving short sentences of under two years. Prisons are state or federally operated and house convicted individuals serving longer sentences. JailGuide covers both, as well as federal detention centers, work camps and facilities in over 100 countries.
Is JailGuide really free? +
Yes -- completely free. JailGuide has never charged for inmate searches and never will. We are a privately operated website supported by advertising, not by charging families who are already under enormous stress. No registration, no account, no fee.

From the Prison Blog

View all posts
Criminal Law

How Long Does a Warrant Last?

A criminal warrant typically lasts until the person is apprehended or passes away. Find out what that means.

Read more
Bail Bonds

How Bail Bonds Work

Bail bonds let people who cannot afford the full bond amount get out of jail faster while awaiting trial.

Read more
Prison Information

How To Send Mail To an Inmate

Every piece of mail entering a prison is screened. Here is what you need to know to make sure yours gets through.

Read more

About JailGuide.com

Since 2011, JailGuide.com has been the world's most comprehensive free resource for locating inmates and navigating the prison system. Our database covers over 11,000 facilities across the United States and more than 100 countries worldwide. We are a privately operated website, not affiliated with any government agency.

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