Guide • MCSO Inmate Information
Maricopa County Inmate Search: How to Find Someone in Jail
The Sheriff's Office search tells you where a person is held, what they are charged with and whether a bond has been set. Here is how to read it, and what to do next.
Step 1: Search by Name or Booking Number
Go to the official MCSO Inmate Information page. Search by booking number if you have it, or by last name, first name and date of birth (entered as YYYYMMDD). Common names return multiple results, so the date of birth matters. If nothing comes up, the person may still be in a city holding facility, may be in booking and not yet entered, or may have been released.
Step 2: Read the Record
- Booking number: the number you will use for every call to the jail and for posting the bond.
- Facility: 4th Avenue Jail for new bookings; Lower Buckeye, Estrella, Towers or Watkins after transfer.
- Charges: the booking charges, which can differ from what the prosecutor eventually files.
- Bond: the amount set at initial appearance. A dollar amount usually means a surety bond can be posted. 'Cash only' means no surety. 'No bond' or a hold means a bond will not release the person until a judge changes it.
- Court: the court handling the case: Superior Court for felonies, a municipal or justice court for misdemeanors.
Step 3: Decide What to Do
If a bond is set, call us. We confirm the record, quote the premium and start the paperwork. If the record shows no bond yet, the initial appearance has not happened; it will within 24 hours of arrest and we can watch for it. If it shows a hold, we explain what kind and whether a bond can help.
Other Ways to Find Someone
- Call the MCSO jail information line at (602) 876-0322 with the person's full name and date of birth.
- Check the city police department if the arrest was by a city agency and the person is not in the county system.
- Call us. We check the county system, city facilities and court records for you, at any hour, at no charge.
Found them? We take it from here.
Give us the booking number and we will confirm the bond amount and start the release.
Inmate Search Questions
How soon does someone show up in the Maricopa County inmate search?
Usually within a few hours of booking at the 4th Avenue Jail. If the person was arrested by a city police department, they may still be in a city holding facility and not yet in the county system.
What does the bond amount in the inmate search mean?
It is the secured appearance bond set at the initial appearance. If it shows a dollar amount, a surety bond can usually be posted for a premium. If it says cash only or no bond, call us and we will explain what that means for release.
The search shows a different jail than yesterday. What happened?
A transfer. Inmates not released at initial appearance are moved from 4th Avenue to a Durango complex jail (Lower Buckeye, Estrella, Towers or Watkins) for housing. The bond is still posted at 4th Avenue.
Can I find out the court date from the inmate search?
The search shows booking charges, bond and facility. Court dates are listed in the court's case records and on the release paperwork. We can help you find both.
How do I find out someone's bail amount in Maricopa County?
Search the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office inmate information system by name and date of birth or booking number; it lists the booking charges and bond amount once the initial appearance has occurred. Or call us at any hour and we will look it up and explain the release conditions.
How long after posting bail is someone released from Maricopa County jail?
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office states that release processing can take up to 24 hours after a bond is posted. In practice, release from the 4th Avenue Jail often takes two to eight hours, and releases from the Durango complex jails (Lower Buckeye, Estrella, Towers, Watkins) can take longer because the release order must reach that facility. Weekend nights and holidays are slowest.