Find Released Inmates in North Port
North Port released inmate records are handled through the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office because the city does not run its own jail. When North Port Police make an arrest, they take inmates to the Sarasota County jail at 2020 Main Street in Sarasota. That is where booking and release happen. The county keeps all inmate data in its online search portal. You can look up people who were released from custody or who are still in jail. The sheriff updates these records every day so you see current information on inmates who were booked in North Port or anywhere else in the county.
North Port Quick Facts
North Port Inmates and County Jail
All North Port inmates go to the Sarasota County jail. This is true across Florida. Most cities do not have their own jails. Instead, county sheriffs run the jail system. North Port Police arrest people for local crimes, but they take those inmates straight to the county facility in Sarasota. This saves money and resources. The county can hold hundreds of inmates at once, while most cities cannot afford to build and run a jail.
When someone is arrested in North Port, they are booked at the Sarasota County jail. Staff take their photo, prints, and personal info. They check for warrants and review the charges. The whole booking process can take several hours. After that, the inmate goes into a cell. They stay there unless they post bond or a judge lets them out. For low-level charges, some people leave the same day. Others wait days or weeks before their case is resolved. The length of stay depends on the charge and whether the person can make bond.
The Sarasota County Sheriff keeps an online inmate roster. This database lists every person in the jail right now. It also keeps track of recent releases. When a North Port resident is released, the record stays in the system for a while. You can search by name to find out if someone was let go or if they are still in custody. The site at sarasotasheriff.org has the search tool. You type in a first or last name and hit search. Results show booking dates, charges, and bond amounts. It works fast and you do not pay a fee to use it.
| Facility | Sarasota County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 2020 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34237 |
| Phone | (941) 861-4165 |
| Inmate Search | sarasotasheriff.org |
For state inmates, you use a different search. The Florida Department of Corrections runs its own database at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com. This is for people sent to state prison, not county jail. If someone from North Port committed a felony and was sentenced to years in prison, they end up in the state system. Those records are not in the county database.
How to Search for Released Inmates
You start by going to the Sarasota County Sheriff inmate search portal. It is on the main sheriff website. Look for a link that says "Inmate Search" or "Jail Roster." Some sites call it "Who's in Jail." Once you get there, you can search by name or booking number if you have it.
Type in the last name first, then the first name. You do not need both. Just a last name can work. But if the name is common, you might get a long list of results. Adding the first name helps narrow it down. The search also has fields for date range. If you know when the arrest happened, you can filter by that. This saves time when you are looking for a North Port inmate who was released a while back.
Results show a few key details right away. You see the person's full name, booking date, release date if they are out, charges, bond amount, and current status. Click on the name to see more info. Most systems show the mugshot, age, race, and physical details. They list all charges with the case numbers. Bond info tells you if they posted bond or got released on their own recognizance.
If you do not find the person in the county search, try the state database. Go to the Florida Department of Corrections Offender Search. That site has people who went to state prison instead of county jail. It also tracks people on probation or parole. For older records, you might need to call the sheriff at (941) 861-4165 and ask for help.
Note: Inmate searches work best when you have the correct spelling of the name and a rough idea of when the arrest took place.
Understanding Release Records
Release records tell you when someone left jail and why. Most people leave because they posted bond, served their time, or had charges dropped. The inmate search portal shows the release date next to the booking date. Some records also say the release type. Common types include bond posted, time served, released on recognizance, or charges dismissed. This info helps you understand what happened to the inmate after North Port police arrested them.
When an inmate posts bond, they leave jail but still have a court date. The case is not over. They just get to wait at home instead of in a cell. If they skip court, the bond is forfeit and a warrant goes out. Released on recognizance means the judge let them out with no money down. They promise to come back to court. Time served means the sentence matched the days they already spent in jail. Charges dismissed means the case was dropped and they do not have to go to court.
You can also check court records to see what happened after release. The Sarasota County Clerk of Court has case files online. Search by the person's name or the case number from the inmate record. Court files show if the person pled guilty, went to trial, or had the case thrown out. This is public info under Florida law at Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Anyone can look it up. Some details are redacted for privacy, like medical info or juvenile names. But most of the case is open to the public in North Port and all of Florida.
For people released to state custody, the county record ends when they transfer out. The state takes over. Check the Florida Department of Corrections database to see where they went. That system tracks releases from state prisons too. It updates every night for release dates and locations. If someone from North Port was sent to state prison and got out, you can find the release info there.
State Inmate Release Database
The state database covers felony offenders sent to Florida prisons. It does not have county jail inmates. If a North Port resident got sentenced to a year or more, they probably went to state prison. The Florida Department of Corrections runs the main portal at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch/InmateInfoMenu.aspx. This site lets you search inmate population, release information, escapes, supervised offenders, and absconders all in one place.
The Inmate Release Information Search updates every night. It shows people who have been released and those scheduled for release soon. You search by name, DC number, or other details. The DC number is a six-character ID assigned by the state. If you know it, you get an exact match. If not, use the name. The system finds all records that start with the letters you type. So "Wil" finds Williams, Willis, and Wilson. This is handy when you are not sure of the full spelling of a name for a North Port inmate.
Results include the inmate's current status, release date, supervision info, and any special conditions. You can see if they are on parole or probation. You can see the original charges and sentence. Some records have photos. The database also tracks people who skipped supervision and became fugitives. If a North Port inmate was released and then violated parole, they might be listed as an absconder.
For questions about state release records, call the Bureau of Admission and Release at (850) 488-9167 or email dc.release@fdc.myflorida.com. They handle all state inmate releases. County jails like Sarasota do not manage state inmates once they transfer to prison. The state takes full control at that point.
Public Access to Inmate Records
Inmate records are public in Florida. This comes from the public records law in Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Anyone can ask to see arrest records, booking records, and release records for North Port inmates. The sheriff must provide these unless the law says they are exempt. Most inmate info is not exempt. Names, charges, booking dates, and release dates are all public.
Some information is protected. Medical records are confidential under Section 945.10, Florida Statutes. Mental health records and substance abuse records are also private. Juvenile records have extra protections. If a minor was arrested in North Port, their name and details are usually kept confidential. You have to be a parent or legal guardian to get juvenile records.
Victim information is also protected. If a North Port inmate is accused of a crime with a victim, the victim's statement and identity might be redacted. This is to keep victims safe. Information that could jeopardize someone's safety is exempt from public disclosure. So are records related to witness protection programs. Most regular inmate records do not fall into these categories. The vast majority of North Port inmate data is open to the public.
If you have trouble getting records, you can file a public records request. Send it to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. Ask for specific records by name or case number. The sheriff has a duty to respond. They may charge a fee for copies if the request is large. For basic inmate searches online, there is no fee. You just use the website and look up the info yourself.
Note: Public records requests must be honored in a reasonable time under Florida law, typically within a few business days.
Contact the Sarasota County Sheriff
If you cannot find what you need online, call the sheriff's office. The main number is (941) 861-4165. Ask for the records department or the jail. Staff can look up inmates by name or booking number. They can tell you if someone is in custody or when they were released. For detailed records, you might need to submit a written request. Some info is not in the online database.
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is at 2020 Main Street in Sarasota. This is the main headquarters and jail location. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The jail booking area is open all day and night because arrests happen at any hour. But if you want to talk to someone about records, go during business hours.
You can also email the sheriff's office through the contact form on their website at sarasotasheriff.org. Response times vary. Phone calls usually get answered faster. For urgent questions about a North Port inmate, calling is the best option.
Sarasota County Released Inmates
North Port is in Sarasota County. All local arrests and jail records go through the county system. For more on how the county handles inmates, release procedures, visiting rules, and other resources, visit the Sarasota County released inmates page. That page covers the whole county including North Port and all nearby cities.
Nearby Cities
Other Florida cities near North Port also use county jail systems. If you need to search for inmates in nearby areas, check these city pages: