Fort Lauderdale Released Inmate Records
If you want to find released inmates in Fort Lauderdale, you need to check with the Broward Sheriff's Office. Fort Lauderdale has close to 191,000 people and sits in Broward County. When police arrest someone in the city, that person goes to a Broward County jail. The city does not run its own jail. The county handles all bookings, holds, and releases. You can search for inmates who were arrested in Fort Lauderdale by using the Broward Sheriff's arrest search portal. This tool shows who is in jail now and who got out in the past few days or weeks. The system updates often, so you can get current data on released inmates from Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale Quick Facts
Broward County Jails Serve Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale Police arrest people every day, but they do not have a city jail. All arrests go to the Broward County jail system. The main jail is at 555 SE 1st Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. This is the Broward County Main Jail, also called the Main Jail Bureau. It is the booking center for most people arrested in the city. Other facilities are in Pompano Beach and serve the northern part of the county. If you want to find released inmates from Fort Lauderdale, start with the main jail or the Broward Sheriff's website.
The Broward Sheriff's Office runs four jail facilities in the county. They are the Main Jail, the Joseph V. Conte Facility, the North Broward Bureau, and the Paul Rein Detention Facility. Most Fort Lauderdale arrests go through the Main Jail first. Some inmates stay there for the whole time. Others get moved to another facility if they need special housing or if space runs out. Once released, their names go into the sheriff's inmate database and the public release log.
| Main Jail | Broward County Main Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 555 SE 1st Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 |
| Phone | (954) 831-5900 |
| Website | sheriff.org |
The sheriff's office has an online arrest search and a daily release log. Both tools help you track inmates. The arrest search shows current inmates and some recent releases. The release log is updated every day and lists everyone who left jail in the past 24 hours. If someone was arrested in Fort Lauderdale and just got out, check the release log at releaselog.sheriff.org. It shows booking number, name, and release date. This is a fast way to see who left the Broward County jail today or yesterday.
How to Search for Released Inmates
The Broward Sheriff's Office has two main tools for finding inmates. One is the arrest search portal. The other is the release log. Both are free and open to anyone. You do not need to create an account or pay a fee. You just need a name or booking number to start your search in Fort Lauderdale.
To use the arrest search, go to sheriff.org and click on the arrest search link. Enter the person's last name and first name. The system will show all inmates with that name who were booked into a Broward County jail. Click on a name to see details like charges, bond, booking date, and release info. If the person is still in jail, it will say so. If they got out, it shows the release date. This is the main way to search for released inmates in Fort Lauderdale.
The release log is updated every day at midnight. It shows everyone who was released from a Broward County jail in the past 24 hours. The log lists the booking number, last name, and first name. You can scan the list to see if someone you know got out. This is useful if you are waiting for someone to be released and you want to know the exact day it happened. The log does not show charges or bond info, so if you need more detail, use the arrest search tool instead.
If you cannot find someone online, call the jail at (954) 831-5900. Staff can look up old records that may not be in the current online system. Some inmates who were released many months ago may not show up in the arrest search anymore. The jail can tell you when someone was booked and when they got out, even if the online record is gone. They may ask for the person's full name and date of birth to make sure they find the right inmate in Fort Lauderdale.
Note: The Broward Sheriff's arrest search updates frequently, so new bookings and releases appear within hours.
What Info You Can See on Inmate Records
When you search for a released inmate in Fort Lauderdale, the Broward Sheriff's system shows several details. You can see the inmate's name, date of birth, booking date, charges, bond amount, and release date. Some records also show a mugshot. The system tells you which jail the person was in and what agency arrested them. This helps you confirm it was a Fort Lauderdale arrest and not a case from another city in Broward County.
The records do not show Social Security numbers or full addresses. You get public booking info only. The arrest search shows the charges filed at the time of arrest. It may not show the final court outcome. If you need to know if someone was convicted or if the case was dropped, check the Broward County Clerk of Courts website for case records in Fort Lauderdale.
Released inmate records from Broward County include:
- Full name and date of birth
- Booking number and booking date
- Charges and bond amount
- Detention status and location
- Release date if applicable
- Arresting agency
- Mugshot in most cases
Some records show multiple arrests if the person has been in the Broward County jail more than once. This can help you see a pattern of bookings and releases over time. Not all records have a mugshot. Older records may have less info than new ones. If you need a full arrest report or court documents, you may need to file a public records request with the sheriff or the clerk in Fort Lauderdale.
State Prison After County Jail Release
Some people who get arrested in Fort Lauderdale end up in state prison after they leave the county jail. If someone is sentenced to more than a year, they go to a Florida Department of Corrections facility. The Broward County jail is just the holding place before trial or sentencing. After a judge orders prison time, the person moves to state custody. You can track them using the state offender search.
The Florida Department of Corrections has an online database at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com. You can search by name or DC number. If someone left the Broward County jail and went to state prison, they will show up in this system. It tells you where they are now, what facility they are in, and when they might get out. The state system also shows people who were released from state prison after serving time for a Fort Lauderdale arrest.
The state database updates weekly. It may take a few days for a new transfer to appear. The system shows current inmates, projected release dates, and past releases. This is useful if someone was in the Fort Lauderdale jail, went to state prison, and then got out. You can see both the county jail time and the state prison time by checking the Broward Sheriff's records first, then the state records.
Contact and Visit Inmates in Broward County
If you have someone in the Broward County jail, you can visit them, send mail, or put money on their account. The sheriff's office has rules for all of these. You need to follow the rules or your visit may be denied. Most services are available seven days a week, but you need to check the schedule on the sheriff's website before you go to the jail in Fort Lauderdale.
Visitation is done by video at the Broward County jails. You can visit from home using a computer or phone, or you can go to the jail and use a kiosk. On-site visits may be free, but remote visits usually have a fee. You need to set up an account and schedule a time. The sheriff's website has info on how to register for video visits in Fort Lauderdale. Some visits are first-come, first-served, so check the rules before you plan a visit.
To send mail to an inmate in the Broward County jail, use this address:
Inmate Name, Booking Number
Broward County Main Jail
555 SE 1st Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Do not send cash, checks, or gifts. Mail must be in a plain envelope. Some jails scan all mail before giving it to inmates, so there may be a delay. Check the sheriff's website for the most current mail rules in Fort Lauderdale. If the inmate is in a different Broward County facility, use that facility's address instead.
You can put money on an inmate's account by using the kiosk at the jail or an online service. The Broward Sheriff's Office uses a third-party vendor for deposits. You can find the link on the sheriff's website. Money on an inmate's account can be used for phone calls, commissary, and other services. There is usually a fee for each deposit, so check the cost before you send money to someone in the Broward County jail.
Get Full Arrest Reports and Booking Records
If you need more than the online inmate search results, you can request full arrest reports or booking records from the Broward Sheriff's Office. These records have more detail than the search portal. They may include the arrest report, probable cause affidavit, and booking forms. Some of this info is public under Florida law, but you may need to file a request to get copies in Fort Lauderdale.
Public records requests go to the Broward Sheriff's Office Records and Warrants Division at 2601 W Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. You can also contact them by phone at (954) 831-8700. Some agencies charge for copies or research time. The sheriff may have a fee schedule for records. Call ahead to ask about the process and cost before you file a request in Fort Lauderdale. Most requests take a few days to process, depending on how much info you need.
Under Florida's Public Records Act, most arrest and inmate records are open to the public. There are some exceptions. Juvenile records are not public. Medical and mental health records of inmates are protected. If a case is sealed or expunged, those records are not available. For everything else, you can usually get copies if you follow the public records process in Fort Lauderdale.
The Broward County Clerk of Courts also has records if the case went to court. You can search court cases online at the clerk's website. This is separate from the inmate search. The clerk has case files, court orders, and judgments. If someone was arrested in Fort Lauderdale and went to trial, the clerk has the court records. For jail records and booking info, go to the sheriff. For case outcomes and court filings, go to the clerk.
Broward County Released Inmates
Fort Lauderdale is in Broward County, and all jail records come from the Broward Sheriff's Office. The county jail system serves the entire county, including all cities. For full details on how to search, what records are available, contact info, and other resources, visit the Broward County released inmates page.
Other Broward County Cities
Broward County has many large cities that all use the same jail system. If you need to look up released inmates in other Broward cities, check these pages: