The Miami City Jail Roster connects the public to people held in custody after an arrest in the City of Miami. Miami police officers take arrestees to the Miami-Dade County Corrections system, since the City of Miami does not run its own jail.
The county handles booking, holding, and release for all city arrests. Anyone can look up current inmates, recent bookings, and custody status through official county tools. This page covers how the system works, where inmates go, and how to find someone in custody right now.
What the Miami City Jail Roster Shows
The roster is a live list of people in custody. It is built from county booking data and updated as inmates move between facilities. Most records are public under Florida law. The roster helps families, lawyers, bail agents, and victims check on someone in jail. It also shows the charges, court dates, and bond amounts when set.
Public Records Included
The public side of the roster shows basic facts about each inmate. These facts come straight from booking sheets. Each entry gives enough detail to confirm identity and custody status without leaking private medical or case file data.
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Booking number and date of intake
- Date of birth and physical description
- Current housing facility and custody status
- Listed charges and bond amount when posted
- Upcoming court dates and case numbers
Records Kept Private
Some details stay sealed from public view. Florida law blocks certain facts to protect inmates and active cases. Search tools only show what state law allows. Records kept from public search results include medical notes, mental health records, and details from sealed juvenile cases. Police investigative files and witness names also stay closed. Anyone needing deeper records must file a public records request with the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts.
How Miami Handles Arrests and Jail Operations
The City of Miami has a large police force but no city-owned jail. Every person arrested inside city limits goes through the county corrections pipeline. The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department runs the entire process. The system is one of the largest in the United States, holding thousands of inmates across several sites.
Booking at the Pre-Trial Center
All Miami arrestees start at the Pre-Trial Detention Center. Officers drive arrestees there within hours of an arrest. Booking can take up to 24 hours during busy periods. Staff collect personal details, take fingerprints and photos, check health, and log personal property. Each inmate gets a booking number that follows them through the system.
Court Appearances and Bail
After booking, inmates see a judge within 24 hours. The judge reads the charges and sets a bond. Some inmates get released on their own recognizance. Others must post a cash or surety bond. Court hearings happen by video link from the jail for most low-level cases. Serious charges get in-person hearings at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building across the street.
Movement Between Facilities
Once sentenced, inmates may move from the Pre-Trial Center to another county site. The Corrections Department sorts inmates by charge, security level, and medical needs. Transfers happen daily. The online roster updates to show the new housing location after each transfer.
Miami-Dade Detention Facilities Used by the City
Miami-Dade County runs four main jail sites. Each one holds a different type of inmate. The City of Miami sends arrestees to the Pre-Trial Center first, then inmates move based on court orders and classification.
Pre-Trial Detention Center
The Pre-Trial Detention Center is the main intake point for every Miami arrest. It sits in central Miami and handles all new bookings. Most inmates spend their first few days here. The center holds both men and women in separate wings. Pretrial detainees make up the bulk of the population here.
Metro West Detention Center
Metro West Detention Center sits in Doral and holds sentenced male inmates. It also houses inmates in county work programs. Many Miami residents with short sentences serve their time here. The facility has a minimum-security camp and a higher-security main building.
Turner Guilford Knight Correctional
Turner Guilford Knight (TGK) Correctional Center sits in Miami Gardens. It holds male and female inmates with longer sentences. TGK has substance abuse treatment, education programs, and work release for low-risk inmates. The center also takes overflow from the Pre-Trial Center during peak arrest periods.
Other County Facilities
Smaller county sites handle special groups. The Women’s Detention Center holds female arrestees and pretrial detainees. A separate annex holds federal inmates through agreements with the Bureau of Prisons. The Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami takes federal arrestees, which differ from county bookings. Each site feeds booking data into the same online roster.
How to Search the Miami City Jail Roster
Three official search methods work for the public. Each method pulls from the same database. The online tool is the fastest and works at any hour. The phone line and walk-up counter help people who need human help or lack internet access.
Online Inmate Search Tool
The Miami-Dade Corrections inmate search runs 24 hours a day. The site lets users search by name, booking number, or date of birth. Results show current custody status, charges, bond, and court dates. The tool covers inmates held in all county facilities. It does not cover federal inmates at FDC Miami or FCI Miami, which run on a separate Bureau of Prisons database.
Phone-Based Inmate Search
The county runs a public phone line for inmate questions. Callers can ask about custody status, bond amount, and release times. The line runs during business hours and has a high call volume, so waits can be long. Having the full name and date of birth ready speeds up the search. Staff will not give medical or case detail over the phone.
In-Person Lookup at the Jail
Visitors can search at the Pre-Trial Center lobby in person. A public kiosk sits in the main lobby. Lobby staff can also help with lookups. Bring a valid photo ID. Walk-up searches work well for people who lack internet or need printed records.
Information You Need Before Searching
Searches go faster with a few key facts. The booking number is best when known. Full legal name and date of birth help narrow results. A case number helps check court dates. Without these facts, results may show people with similar names. Always confirm the date of birth matches before assuming you found the right person.
Visiting an Inmate Booked Through Miami
Visits run through the county corrections system. The City of Miami does not run visits. All visitors must get approved before the first visit. Approval protects inmates and staff. The approval process takes a few days and may fail for some applicants.
Visitor Approval Steps
Start the approval process online or by mail. Fill out a visitor application with the inmate’s full name and booking number. Show a valid photo ID at the next step. The system runs a background check. The check looks for felony convictions, active warrants, and past prison rule violations. Approved visitors get an email or letter confirming the next steps.
Visiting Hours and Locations
Visit times depend on the housing site. The Pre-Trial Center uses a video visit system for most inmates. In-person visits happen on set days and time blocks. Weekend slots fill fast. Schedules can shift with no warning. Always call ahead or check the online schedule before driving to the facility.
Rules During a Visit
Visit rules are strict at every county site. Dress modestly. No gang colors, no see-through clothing, no shorts above the knee. Leave phones, bags, and food in the car or a locker. Show a valid photo ID at check-in. Physical contact is limited to a brief hug at the start and end of the visit. Breaking any rule ends the visit and may suspend future visits.
Sending Money and Mail to Miami-Dade Inmates
Inmates need money for commissary items like snacks, hygiene products, and phone time. Friends and family can add money through approved channels. Mail is also allowed but goes through a screening process. Sending money through unapproved apps or services can lead to lost funds and account holds.
Approved Deposit Methods
The county works with a small set of approved vendors. Deposits can come from online portals, phone deposits, or lobby kiosks at the jail. Cash deposits also work at retail partner locations. Each approved vendor charges a small service fee. Never send money through apps, wire services, or personal accounts.
Mail and Package Rules
Letters and cards go through the mail at each facility. All mail goes through a screening process. Mail must have the inmate’s full name and booking number. No cash, no checks, no photos that show nudity, no stickers, no staples, no perfume. Packages from approved vendors only, with the order number printed on the outside.
Bond, Release, and Court Information
Release from the Pre-Trial Center can take hours after bond is posted. The process depends on the charge, the time of day, and how busy the release area is. Court dates show up in the online roster once a judge sets them. Court dates can shift, so check the roster the day before any hearing.
Posting Bail
Bail can be paid at the Pre-Trial Center bond window or through a licensed bail bondsman. Cash bonds need the full amount. Surety bonds charge a non-refundable fee, usually 10 percent. The court holds cash bonds until the case ends. Approved bail agents can post bond any time of day, even at the jail lobby.
Release Times
Release can take 2 to 8 hours after bond posts. The release process includes medical clearance, property return, and final paperwork. Releases slow down at shift change and overnight. Bond posted late at night may not lead to release until the next morning.
Court Date Lookup
Court dates are part of the public roster. The same online tool shows the next hearing date, the court location, and the case number. Court hearings for county charges run through the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building for first appearances and bond hearings. Later hearings go to the appropriate county court division.
Official Contact Details for Miami Jail Records
The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department runs the central jail system. Use the contact points below to reach the agency that holds people arrested in the City of Miami. Phone lines handle inmate status questions. The main address serves the Pre-Trial Detention Center, the main intake point for all Miami arrests.
Address: 1321 NW 13th Street, Miami, FL 33125. Phone: 786.263.7000. Website: miamidade.gov/Apps/mdcr/inmateSearch. The phone line runs 24 hours a day for inmate custody questions. The lobby opens daily for in-person searches, with photo ID required. The federal FCI Miami is a separate facility at 15801 S.W. 137th Avenue, Miami, FL 33177, with phone 305-259-2100, and handles federal inmates only, not city or county cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the most common search cases for the Miami City Jail Roster. Each answer pulls from the official Miami-Dade Corrections system, the county inmate search, and public Florida law. Use these facts to plan a search, visit, bond, or release pickup. Call the main corrections line at 786.263.7000 for any case not listed below. Federal inmates, juvenile cases, and out-of-state holds follow different rules, so check the right agency for each one.
Does the City of Miami have its own jail?
No. The City of Miami has no jail facility of its own. The Miami Police Department makes arrests inside city limits and drives arrestees to the Miami-Dade County Pre-Trial Detention Center. The county corrections system runs all booking, holding, and release for city arrests. Anyone searching for a Miami arrestee uses the county inmate search tool at miamidade.gov/Apps/mdcr/inmateSearch or calls the county line at 786.263.7000. Federal arrestees go to FDC Miami, a separate facility run by the Bureau of Prisons, and need a different search tool.
How do I find out if someone is in Miami jail right now?
Use the Miami-Dade Corrections inmate search tool on the county website. Type the full legal name. Add a date of birth if known to narrow the results. The tool shows current custody status, housing site, charges, and bond. The tool updates every few hours, so a missing person may still be in transit between booking and the database. If the search returns no match, the person may be in a hospital, in transit, or already released.
How long does booking take at the Pre-Trial Center?
Booking takes 4 to 24 hours on average. The process can run longer during weekends, holidays, and after big events that lead to mass arrests. Booking includes fingerprinting, photographing, medical screening, and property storage. The inmate appears in the public roster only after booking ends, so a fresh arrest may not show in search results right away. Wait at least 6 hours after an arrest before searching, or call 786.263.7000 to check status by phone.
Can I visit an inmate at any Miami-Dade jail?
No. Visits need prior approval and the inmate must be housed at the site you plan to visit. Each site has its own schedule. The Pre-Trial Center uses mostly video visits. In-person visits need an approved visitor list, a valid photo ID, and a time slot booked ahead. Walk-in visits are not allowed at most sites. Background checks can block visitors with felony records or recent rule violations.
What is the difference between county jail and federal prison in Miami?
County jails hold people charged with state or local crimes, like theft, drug possession, and DUI. Federal prisons hold people charged with federal crimes, like immigration violations, drug trafficking across state lines, and federal firearm charges. The Miami-Dade system runs the county sites. The Bureau of Prisons runs FCI Miami, FDC Miami, and other federal sites. The two systems use separate databases, separate inmate IDs, and separate search tools.
How much does it cost to bond someone out of Miami jail?
Bond costs depend on the charge, the judge’s order, and the bond type. Cash bonds need the full amount set by the judge. Surety bonds through a licensed agent charge a non-refundable fee of about 10 percent. Some charges qualify for release on recognizance, which costs nothing. Bond can be set at the first court appearance, usually within 24 hours of arrest. Bond refunds for cash bonds take weeks after the case ends.
What happens after someone is released from Miami jail?
Released inmates get back their stored property, a release slip, and any cash left in their account. The release slip lists the next court date and the conditions of release. Conditions may include no contact orders, travel limits, drug testing, or check-ins with a pretrial officer. Missing a court date leads to a bench warrant and a new arrest. The court date shows up in the online roster for a few weeks after release.