Find Lakeland Released Inmates
Lakeland released inmates are booked and released through the Polk County jail. The city has about 125,000 people and is the largest city in Polk County. When Lakeland Police make an arrest, they take the person to the Polk County jail for booking. All releases go through the same county system. The Polk County Sheriff runs the jail and keeps an online jail inquiry that shows current inmates and recent releases. You can search by name to find out when someone got out of Polk County custody from a Lakeland arrest.
Lakeland Quick Facts
Where Lakeland Inmates Are Held
All Lakeland arrests go to the Polk County jail in Bartow. Bartow is the county seat, about 15 miles west of Lakeland. The jail is at 2390 Bob Phillips Road. When Lakeland Police arrest someone, they book them at this county facility. The jail holds people before trial and those serving short sentences. Once someone gets released, their info goes into the sheriff jail inquiry system where the public can search for them.
The Polk County Sheriff runs the jail and tracks all bookings and releases. You can call the jail at (863) 534-6306 to ask about someone in custody. Lakeland does not have its own city jail, so all detentions happen at the county level. This is common in Florida, where most cities use the county jail instead of running their own facility. The sheriff provides custody services for Lakeland and all other cities in Polk County.
| Jail Facility | Polk County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 2390 Bob Phillips Road Bartow, FL 33830 |
| Phone | (863) 534-6306 |
| Agency | Polk County Sheriff's Office |
| Website | polksheriff.net |
The jail is in Bartow, which is west of Lakeland near Highway 60. If you need to visit someone in jail or pick them up after release, take Highway 60 or I-4 to get there. The facility has parking for visitors. Public transit between Lakeland and Bartow is limited, so most people drive or use a ride service to get to the jail from Lakeland.
Search Lakeland Released Inmates Online
The Polk County Sheriff has a jail inquiry online. This tool shows all current inmates and recent releases from the county jail. You can search by name to find Lakeland released inmates. The database updates as people get booked or released, so the info stays current. Go to the sheriff website at polksheriff.net to find the jail inquiry search tool. The search is free and open to the public.
To find a Lakeland released inmate, enter the last name in the search box. You can add a first name if you know it. The search shows results for people who are in jail now and people who got released recently. Results include the booking number, name, charges, bond amount, and release date. If someone was released from Lakeland custody, they should show up in the search after their release gets logged in the system.
You can also call the jail at (863) 534-6306 to ask about Lakeland released inmates. Staff can tell you if someone is still in custody or when they got out. They may not give all the details over the phone, but they can confirm basic info like booking status and release date. For full arrest reports and booking paperwork, you may need to file a public records request with the sheriff.
The Florida Department of Corrections has a statewide database for people in state prison. This does not cover people who only went to the Polk County jail. If someone from Lakeland got sent to state prison after trial, you can find them in the state system at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch. For county jail releases, use the Polk County Sheriff jail inquiry instead.
Lakeland Booking and Release Process
When someone gets arrested in Lakeland, the police take them to the Polk County jail for booking. This process can take a few hours. The jail takes a photo, fingerprints, and personal info. They check for past arrests and outstanding warrants. Once booking is done, the person may post bond or stay in jail until court. Release can happen the same day if bond is quick, or it may take longer if the court needs to set bond first.
Lakeland inmates can get out in several ways. Most post bond through a bail agent or by paying the full bond in cash. Some get released on their own recognizance if the judge allows it. Others serve their full sentence and get out when their time is done. Each release gets logged in the sheriff system, and the jail inquiry updates to show the release date and time. This makes it easy to track when someone got out of custody.
Florida law under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes makes jail records public. You can get info on Lakeland released inmates because the records are open. Some details stay private, like medical records or info that could put someone at risk. But basic booking and release data is public under the Public Records Act. This lets you search for released inmates online or by making a records request.
After release from the Polk County jail, some people have to check in with probation or go back to court. Released inmates from Lakeland should follow the terms of their release. If they miss court or break the rules, a new warrant can be issued. The jail inquiry will show if someone got re-arrested after getting out of jail. This can happen if they violate bond or fail to appear in court.
Note: The Polk County jail inquiry is the main tool for finding Lakeland released inmates and checking their release dates.
State Inmate Databases for Lakeland
The Florida Department of Corrections runs databases for people in state prison. If someone from Lakeland finished their county jail time and got sent to state prison, you can search for them in the state system. The Inmate Release Information Search shows people who got out of state prison or who are set to be released soon. This does not cover Lakeland released inmates who only did county jail time in Polk County.
State prison is different from county jail. County jail holds people for short stays, usually less than a year. State prison is for longer sentences on felony convictions. Lakeland residents who commit serious crimes may go to state prison after their trial. Once they get out, their release info goes into the state database. You can search at fdc.myflorida.com under the release database to find them.
The state also has a supervised population search for people on probation or parole. If a Lakeland released inmate is under state supervision, they show up in this database. You can find info on their probation officer, location, and supervision status. This helps you track someone after they get out of prison and return to Lakeland or another part of Florida. The database updates weekly, with some fields updating nightly.
For absconders or fugitives, the state has a separate search. This shows people who stopped reporting to their probation officer or who ran from custody. If a Lakeland released inmate goes missing while on supervision, they may end up on the absconder list. You can search by name to see if someone is wanted for breaking the terms of their release. Contact the state absconder unit at (850) 717-3475 during business hours if you have info on a fugitive.
Get Full Records on Lakeland Inmates
If you need more than the jail inquiry provides, you can file a public records request with the Polk County Sheriff. This gets you the full arrest report, booking sheet, and release paperwork. Some people need this for court cases, background checks, or personal reasons. The sheriff has a records unit that handles these requests for Lakeland and the rest of Polk County. You can ask for records online, by mail, or in person.
The sheriff website at polksheriff.net should have a public records request form or contact info for the records unit. Fill it out with the name of the person and the date range you want. Be as specific as you can so the staff can find what you need. There may be a fee for copies, and it can take a few days to process your request and send the records back to you.
Some info cannot be released under Florida law. Medical records, juvenile records, and info that could harm an ongoing case stay private. Most booking and release info for adults is public, so you should be able to get basic records on Lakeland released inmates without much trouble. If the sheriff denies your request, they have to tell you why and cite the law that keeps the record sealed. You can appeal the denial if you think the info should be public.
For court records and case outcomes, contact the Polk County Clerk of Courts. Court files go through the clerk, not the sheriff. If you want to know what happened in a case for a Lakeland released inmate, check with the clerk. They keep records on all criminal cases filed in Polk County. The clerk may have an online case search as well, which can save you a trip to the courthouse in Bartow.
Nearby Cities in Polk County
Polk County has several cities besides Lakeland. All of them use the same county jail and sheriff system. If you are looking for released inmates in nearby cities, you use the same jail inquiry and tools as you would for Lakeland. The sheriff covers the whole county, so the process is the same no matter where the arrest happened in Polk County.
Other cities in Polk County include Winter Haven, Bartow, Haines City, and Auburndale. Each city police department works with the Polk County Sheriff to book and release inmates. The jail serves all of these cities, so Lakeland released inmates are in the same system as inmates from other parts of the county. If you cannot find someone in the Lakeland area, check if they might have been arrested elsewhere in Polk County but still booked at the jail in Bartow.
Polk County Released Inmates
Lakeland is in Polk County, and all jail releases go through the county sheriff. The county jail handles bookings for many cities and towns, with Lakeland being the largest. For more on the county jail system, booking procedures, state resources, and related records, visit the Polk County released inmates page.