If you have ever been in the unfortunate situation where a loved one seemed to disappear without explanation, it can be very scary. You may try to call them repeatedly, visit their home, contact friends and then start thinking the worst and call around to hospitals. Before you completely fall apart, you should also consider checking sites to see if an arrest has been made. No one is immune to arrest, sometimes it may only be for a night, but there is a possibility that a missing loved one has been arrested for something serious. If you want to check arrest records prior to falling into full panic over a missing loved one, then click here.

If you are concerned your loved one has been arrested or incarcerated then there are ways to find out if they have. Doing an inmate lookup is actually pretty simple if you have an internet connection as most jurisdictions have sites that allow you to look up who has been taken into custody, imprisoned, or incarcerated. The simple steps are shared below.

Finding an Inmate or Arrestee

Generally, the prison system is separated into the different types of facilities, county lockup, federal prisons, etc. The separation also relates to the type of crime that an inmate is convicted on, if already convicted, as well as sentence duration. Basically, federal crimes result in incarceration in federal prisons while state law felonies sentenced to more than a year are in state prisons. Those with misdemeanors who have less than a year as a sentence often serve in county jails. Nearly all people held prior to sentencing are being held in county jails and can also be searched for based on the county of arrest. So how do you find out if someone got arrested? Let your fingers do the walking.

Looking Up an Inmate

If someone has been arrested then start with the most likely county lock up. While not all county lockups have an available online record, which would mean a call to the courthouse or police station, many in larger areas do. Go to the following link to get started on your own search.

You will need some basic information, but the majority of searches are free. Always start with the most likely county lockup if you are unsure if this is just an arrest that has been sentenced. If you know the person has been sentenced then federal prisons may be a more appropriate place to start. You will need the person’s full name, though many times a last name search alone will provide you with inmates with the same or a similar last name. Some may even allow a first name search, but nicknames will result in nothing. Some sites will show the crimes committed, but if not yet sentenced and inmate will likely only have file numbers listed. A bail amount for those who have not yet gone to court should also be listed unless no bond has been set. This is all done from the comfort of your own home and can offer a great deal of valuable information.