How to Find Mugshots

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 5, 2024 Fact Checked

Mugshots and arrest records are available to the public, so they're actually pretty easy to find. Whether you're looking for your own mugshot or researching a case, we've got everything you need to know right here. Read on to learn how to find mugshots online using the best websites and apps. Plus, we'll teach you how to search arrest records to get more information on a particular offender or case.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Finding Mugshots Online

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1
Search the FindMugshots website. Go to the website here: https://www.findmugshots.com/. Enter the first and last name, as well as the state. Click “Search.”
- You can also browse if you don’t have a name. Go to https://www.findmugshots.com/states, click on the state you want to search, and then select the county or city.
- After selecting the county or city, you can browse by first letter of the last name.
2
Browse on the PrisonHandbook website. Visit here: https://prisonhandbook.com/mugshot-search/. At the website, choose your state. You will be taken to a list of jails.
- Select a jail and read how to view mugshots. There might be a link to the jail’s website, where you can search for mugshots. The links will be at the bottom of the page under “Links and Resources,” so scroll all the way down the page.
- Not all jails let you view mugshots online.
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3
Visit your state’s department of corrections website. Every state in the U.S. should have a website, and you can use the inmate locator to find information about the prisoner. Some states will also publish mugshots.
- Type “your state” and “department of corrections” into your favorite web browser.
- You can find links to state department of corrections websites here: https://www.usa.gov/corrections.
- At the website, look for a link that says “Prisoner Search,” “Offender Search,” “Prisoner Locator” or something similar. You can usually search by prisoner number or name.
4
Search your state’s sex offender registry. In the U.S., every state has a sex offender registry, which you can find by searching on Google. A sex offender registry is a good resource because it will contain mugshots even in states that don’t normally provide mugshots.
- You can search using basic information, such as the offender’s name. If you want to see all of the offenders in your area, there should be an option to search by location as well.
- The person must have been convicted of a sex offense for their information to appear in the registry. Accordingly, the number of mugshots might be limited.
Some law enforcement agencies host mugshots online, which you can view for free. Not many do, however, so this shouldn’t be your first place to check. You’ll need to know the county where the person was booked.
You can download some apps to your smartphone and search for mugshots. One popular app is JailBase. You can search millions of arrest records for free. The app does not have records for all counties in the U.S., but it is adding to its list daily.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Searching for Arrest Records

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1
Stop into the police station. Your local police station should have arrest records for the city. Stop in during normal business hours to request a report. You may need to fill out a form and pay a processing fee.
- Arrest records are public records, so they should be generally available. However, the true availability depends on your location. In some places, only a lawyer can get the records, whereas other records might have identifying information removed.^{[1]
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Visit the county courthouse. Smaller counties usually don’t have an online database you can search. Instead, you need to visit the courthouse. Go to the courthouse for the county where the person was arrested.^{[2]
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- If the courthouse is far away, call and ask how you can find arrest records. The clerk should explain the process.
Some states have arrest records online for free. Check the websites for both the county courthouse and the local police department. Enter as much information as you have about the person, including their name and date of birth.^{[3]
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Check the Federal Bureau of Prisons website. In the U.S., people convicted of federal crimes will be held in federal prison. You can search for inmates through the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.^{[4]
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- This website doesn’t have arrest records available. However, it will tell you whether a person was ever in federal prison and when they were released. The website has information as far back as 1982.
5
Pay for a background check. Many online websites collect arrest records. You can search by the person’s name and the state where you think they were arrested.
- Be warned that most online sites will charge you. Often, they don’t advertise this fact on their home page. Instead, they run their report and then tell you how much you have to pay to access it.
- Some websites might offer the information for free, but you’ll have to dig to find them. By far, most websites requirement payment.

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Question

Are all mugshots public record?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

This varies from one area to another. For example, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, many states do not have laws specifying whether mugshots should or should not be public record. In these cases, it’s up to individual agencies to decide whether or not to release their records.

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How long do mugshots stay online?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

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This partially depends on where the mugshots are being hosted. Many commercial mugshot websites now state that they will only keep mugshots available for 90 days. In some states in the U.S., mugshot websites are obligated to remove the images within 30 days upon request.

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How do I find out where somebody is locked up?

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Have their name and other information on hand if you want to find out where someone is locked up. If you find the city or area where the person was arrested, call the police department and ask to speak to the arresting officer as they may know where the inmate ended up.

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