The Plantation city jail roster lists every person held in custody after an arrest made by the Plantation Police Department. Plantation sits in central Broward County, Florida, and the city has a population near 94,000 people.
The city does not run its own jail. Every person arrested in Plantation is taken to a Broward County detention center run by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. The county jail roster shows all current inmates from Plantation and every other city in the county. This page explains how the roster works, how to search it, what each record shows, and how to reach the right office for help with bonds, visits, and money deposits.
What Is the Plantation City Jail Roster
The Plantation city jail roster is a public list of people who were arrested in Plantation and are now in custody at a Broward County facility. The list is updated often, usually within a few hours of each booking. It shows the inmate’s name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and housing location. The roster is free to use, and no account or fee is needed. The Sheriff’s Office runs the roster under Florida’s public records law, so most booking data stays open to the public.
Why the City Roster Uses County Data
Plantation has a police force that makes arrests, but it does not have its own detention center. Florida state law gives the county sheriff the power and duty to house people charged with crimes. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office runs two main booking sites: the Joseph V. Boetcher Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale and the Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano Beach. When Plantation police arrest someone, officers transport the person to one of these county jails for booking. The county then adds the arrest to its online roster, which is why a search for the Plantation city jail roster always leads back to the county system.
Florida Public Records Law (Chapter 119)
Florida’s public records law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, makes most jail booking data open to the public. The law says any person can ask for records from a government agency. The Sheriff’s Office follows this law by posting inmate data online. Some data is private, such as medical records, juvenile records, and details about ongoing investigations. Most other booking data, such as the name, photo, charges, and bond, is public.
How to Search the Plantation City Jail Roster
There are two main ways to search the roster. You can use the online inmate search tool on the Broward County Sheriff’s Office website, or you can call the county jail directly. The online tool works any time of day, while phone support runs during business hours. Most people use the online tool because it is fast and shows photos.
Online Search Steps
The online search tool lets you look up an inmate by name or booking number. Follow these steps to perform a search.
- Go to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office website at sheriff.org.
- Find the “Inmate Search” link on the home page or under the “Corrections” menu.
- Type the inmate’s full legal name in the search box. A booking number also works if you have it.
- Press the search button. The system will show a list of people whose names match.
- Click on a name to see the full booking record, which has a photo, charges, bond, and housing location.
Phone-Based Search
You can also call the Sheriff’s Office to ask about an inmate. The main number is 954-831-5900. The office answers inmate questions 24 hours a day, but call volumes are high in the morning. For help with a specific inmate’s case status, the Records Division can be reached at 954-765-4321 during business hours, which are usually 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Have the full name and date of birth ready when you call.
Records You Will See
Each inmate record on the roster shows the same set of fields. Knowing what to expect can save you time when you search.
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Booking photo (mugshot)
- Date of birth and physical details
- Booking date and time
- Charges and statute numbers
- Bond amount, if set
- Housing location, which jail facility
- Scheduled release date, if known
Broward County Jail Facilities
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office runs two main detention centers. Most people arrested in Plantation end up at one of these two sites, depending on the charges and available space.
Joseph V. Boetcher Main Jail
The Joseph V. Boetcher Main Jail, also called the BSO Main Jail, sits at 555 Southeast 1st Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale. This facility handles most felony bookings, holds people who are waiting for trial, and houses people serving misdemeanor sentences. It is the largest jail in the county and processes thousands of bookings each month. The booking area, called intake, operates 24 hours a day. Most people arrested in Plantation arrive here first before they are moved to another housing unit.
Paul Rein Detention Facility
The Paul Rein Detention Facility is in Pompano Beach at 1815 Northwest 51st Place. It houses pretrial inmates, county work crew members, and people with shorter sentences. The Rein facility also runs a work release program for eligible inmates. Some Plantation arrestees are booked here directly, depending on the arrest location and the jail’s capacity at the time.
Booking and Recent Arrest Records
Every arrest in Plantation creates a booking record. The record starts when the person arrives at the county jail and ends when they are released or transferred. Booking records cover fingerprints, photos, and a list of charges. The Sheriff’s Office keeps recent records online for the public to view.
What Appears on a Booking Record
A booking record is a public file with the full details of an arrest. The record is created by the jail after the person is fingerprinted and photographed. The record stays in the system even after the inmate is released, but the online roster only shows current inmates by default. To see past records, you can use the public records request system on the Sheriff’s Office website. Booking records cover the arrest report, charges, arresting officer, and court date.
How Long Records Stay Online
The current inmate roster is updated often and shows people who are in custody at the time of the search. Once a person is released, they drop off the active roster within 24 to 48 hours. The arrest record itself stays in the system and can be pulled through a public records request. Florida law requires the Sheriff’s Office to keep adult arrest records for a set number of years, and many records stay available to the public for a long time after the case closes.
Visiting an Inmate from Plantation
Visits for Plantation inmates take place at the Broward County jail where the person is housed. The Sheriff’s Office runs the visit schedule, and visitors must follow the rules on the county website. The Plantation Police Department does not handle visits. All visit questions should go to the county jail.
Visit Hours and Rules
Visits are allowed on most days of the week, but the schedule changes by facility. Before you plan a visit, check the Sheriff’s Office website for the current hours at the specific facility. The general rules for in-person visits are listed below.
- Visitors must be on the inmate’s approved visitor list
- A valid government photo ID is required
- Children must be with a parent or legal guardian
- Dress code applies: no revealing clothes, no gang colors, no hats
- No phones, bags, or outside food allowed in the visit room
Video Visitation Option
The Sheriff’s Office offers video visits as an option for people who cannot go to the jail in person. Video visits are scheduled through a third-party vendor. The cost of a video visit is set by the vendor and may be paid by the inmate’s family or by the inmate’s commissary account. Video visits are 20 to 30 minutes long, depending on the facility. The schedule is posted on the Sheriff’s Office website and must be booked ahead of time.
Bail, Bond, and Release
After a person is booked, a judge or a bail schedule sets the bond amount. The bond is the money that must be paid to the court for the person to be released before trial. Bond can be paid in cash, through a licensed bond agent, or in some cases released on the inmate’s own recognizance.
Cash Bail
Cash bail means paying the full bond amount in cash at the jail. The full amount, plus any fees, must be paid before the inmate is released. The money is held by the court until the case is over. If the inmate attends every court date, the money is returned, minus any court costs or fines. Cash bail can be paid 24 hours a day at the jail’s release window.
Bond Agents
Most people use a licensed bond agent to post bail. A bond agent charges a non-refundable fee, usually 10% of the bond amount. The agent then posts the full bond with the court. If the inmate does not show up for court, the agent is responsible for the full bond amount. Bond agents in Broward County are listed in the phone book and online, and many operate 24 hours a day.
Sending Money and Commissary
Inmates in Broward County can buy items at the jail commissary. Commissary items cover snacks, hygiene products, phone time, and writing supplies. Family and friends can add money to an inmate’s account so they can make these purchases.
Deposit Methods
The Sheriff’s Office accepts several types of deposits for inmate accounts. Online deposits are the fastest, but other options are available for people who prefer not to use a card.
- Online: use the deposit link on the Sheriff’s Office website
- Kiosk: pay cash at a kiosk in the jail lobby
- Money order: mail to the inmate, addressed with the booking number
- Phone: call the deposit line listed on the Sheriff’s Office website
Cash sent through the mail is not accepted. Always use a money order or an approved deposit method. Each deposit must have the inmate’s full name and booking number so the money is added to the right account.
Statewide and Federal Search Tools
If the person you are looking for is not in the Broward County system, they may have been moved to a state prison, a federal facility, or another county. Florida and the federal government have their own inmate search tools that cover people who are no longer in the county jail.
Florida DOC Inmate Search
The Florida Department of Corrections runs the state’s prison system. Once a person is sentenced to state time, they leave the county jail and enter the state system. You can search for state inmates on the Florida DOC website using the inmate’s name or Department of Corrections number. The search shows the person’s current prison, sentence length, and release date.
VINE Notification Service
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is a free service that tells you when an inmate is released or moved. You can sign up for alerts by phone, email, or text. VINE covers Broward County and most other counties in Florida. The service is useful for victims, family members, and anyone who needs to know about an inmate’s status.
Federal Bureau of Prisons
If the inmate is in federal custody, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has its own inmate locator. The BOP locator uses the inmate’s name or BOP register number. Federal inmates are people who have been charged with federal crimes, such as drug trafficking across state lines, firearms charges, or immigration violations. Plantation arrests are usually handled at the county level, but federal charges can be added in some cases.
Plantation City Jail Roster Contact
For the most accurate and up-to-date inmate data, contact the Broward County Sheriff’s Office directly. The Sheriff’s Office runs the booking system, the public roster, and all inmate services for Plantation. Below is the contact data you can use.
Main Contact Numbers
The Sheriff’s Office has separate lines for different services. Use the table below to find the right number for your needs.
| Service | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Main Jail Booking (BSO) | 954-831-5900 | 24 hours |
| Records Division | 954-765-4321 | Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Paul Rein Facility | 954-831-5900 | 24 hours |
| Plantation Police (non-emergency) | 954-797-2100 | 24 hours |
Broward County Sheriff’s Office Main Address: 2601 West Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312. The Plantation Police Department is at 451 NW 70th Terrace, Plantation, FL 33317. Both agencies can answer questions about arrests made within the city, but only the Sheriff’s Office can give you current inmate status and bond data.
Official Website: https://www.sheriff.org/
Plantation Jail Roster Questions
People often have questions about the Plantation city jail roster that go beyond a basic search. The questions below cover the most common issues, such as what to do if a person is not on the roster, how to handle juvenile cases, and how to remove old booking photos. Each answer gives a clear, direct path so you can act on the data right away.
What if the person is not on the Plantation city jail roster?
If the person is not on the roster, several things could have happened. They may have been released already, moved to another county, or transferred to a state facility. The roster only shows people who are currently in custody at a Broward County facility. Try a search again the next day, as releases and new bookings happen around the clock. You can also call the Records Division at 954-765-4321 to ask for help. If they have been transferred to a state prison, search the Florida DOC inmate database. If they are in federal custody, use the BOP inmate locator.
How soon after an arrest does the name show up on the roster?
Most arrestees appear on the online roster within two to four hours of arrival at the jail. The booking process takes time because it covers fingerprinting, photographing, medical screening, and data entry. If the arrest happened late at night, the person may not appear online until the next morning. If you cannot find the person, wait a few hours and search again before calling the Sheriff’s Office.
Can I remove a booking photo from the public roster?
Booking photos are public records under Florida law. The Sheriff’s Office cannot remove a booking photo just because a person asks. The photo stays on file as part of the arrest record. In some cases, a person can ask the court to seal or expunge the record, which would limit public access. Sealing or expungement requires a court order and applies only in certain cases, such as when charges were dropped or the person was found not guilty. Talk to a local attorney to see if your case qualifies.
Are juvenile arrests listed on the Plantation city jail roster?
Juvenile records are not public in Florida. The names and photos of minors who are arrested do not appear on the public inmate roster. If a juvenile is taken into custody, the parent or legal guardian must contact the Juvenile Assessment Center or the Department of Juvenile Justice. Phone numbers for these offices are on the Broward County Sheriff’s Office website under the juvenile services section.
How do I find out someone’s court date after an arrest?
Court dates are set by the Broward County Clerk of Courts. The court date is often listed on the inmate’s record, but it can change. The most accurate source is the Clerk of Courts website, which has a public case search by name. You can also call the Clerk’s office at 954-831-6565. The Clerk can give you the next court date, the courtroom, and the name of the judge.
Can I send mail to a Plantation inmate?
Yes, mail is allowed at both Broward County jail facilities. All mail must go through the jail’s mailing address and follow the rules on the Sheriff’s Office website. Letters must be on plain white paper, written in blue or black ink, and sealed in a plain white envelope. Photos are allowed, but they must not be polaroids, contain nudity, or show gang signs. Cash, stickers, perfume, and other items are not allowed in mail. Books and magazines must come directly from the publisher or an approved vendor.
What is the difference between a city jail and a county jail?
Plantation is a city in Broward County. A city jail is a small holding facility that a city runs for short stays, usually less than 24 hours. Broward County does not have separate city jails. All arrestees are sent to the county jail system. Broward County’s jail system, run by the Sheriff’s Office, is much larger and houses people for longer stays, including people who are waiting for trial. The Plantation Police Department has a small holding area for short-term processing, but anyone who needs to be held longer is moved to the county jail.