Inmate Search: Find Someone in Jail in the Charlotte Region

Every county sheriff in North Carolina keeps a public list of who is in the county jail. The lists are free, they update within hours of booking, and they show the charge and the bond amount. The problem is that each county has its own site, its own search form and its own quirks. This hub points you to the right one for each county we serve and explains what to do once you find the person.

Cannot find them, or do not want to search? Call 980-384-6630. We will look them up while you are on the phone, at no charge, 24 hours a day.

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County	Jail	Inmate search guide
Mecklenburg	Mecklenburg County Detention Center, Charlotte	Mecklenburg County inmate search
Catawba	Catawba County Detention Facility, Newton	Catawba County who's in jail
Cabarrus	Cabarrus County Detention Center, Concord	Cabarrus County inmate search
Gaston	Gaston County Jail, Gastonia	Gaston County inmate search
Iredell	Iredell County Detention Center, Statesville	Iredell County inmate search
Rowan	Rowan County Detention Center, Salisbury	Rowan County inmate search
Union	Union County Jail, Monroe	Union County inmate search
Cleveland	Cleveland County Detention Center, Shelby	Cleveland County inmate search
Lincoln	Lincoln County Jail, Lincolnton	Lincoln County inmate search

What you need to search

Before starting an inmate search, make sure you have the right information available. Using the person’s full legal name and date of birth can help you find the correct record, while allowing some time for booking information to appear can help you avoid an incomplete search.

Full legal name

Nicknames will not match. Try the name as it appears on their ID.

Date of birth

If the search form asks for it. It separates people with common names.

Patience for the first few hours

A person arrested at 11 p.m. may not appear until 1 or 2 a.m. Booking has to finish first.

What the record tells you

Most county lists show the same core fields:

Booking date and time

When they were processed into the jail and officially entered into the county's booking system. This shows when the person was received and processed after the arrest.

Charges

The statute or a short description. One arrest can produce several lines, depending on the charges associated with the case and the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Bond type and amount

"Secured" with a dollar figure means a bail bond is needed. "Unsecured" or "written promise" means they can be released without paying. "No bond" or "hold" usually means a judge must act first, common on domestic violence charges and probation violations.

Court date

The first scheduled appearance. This is the initial date when the person is expected to appear before the court following the arrest and booking process.

Agency

Which police department made the arrest. This identifies the law enforcement agency responsible for taking the person into custody and processing the arrest.

Found them. Now what?

Five steps between the search result and the front door.

Note the bond amount and type

If it is secured, that is the number we work from. This amount gives us the starting point for the bond process.

Call 980-384-6630

We confirm the record, quote the premium (at most 15 percent of the bond under North Carolina law) and set up a plan if you need one.payment plans.

Sign as co-signer

Sign as co-signer, electronically or in person, who is 25 or older, with a valid ID, proof of current income and proof of current address.

We post the bond at the jail

Release times vary by county and time of day; our county guides give realistic estimates. how long does release take

They go home

We send court reminders for every date. This helps keep the person informed about upcoming court appearances and important dates.

Statewide and other searches

County lists only cover the county jail. If your person may be in prison, on federal charges or you simply want custody alerts, use these.

North Carolina Department of Adult Correction offender search

For people serving a sentence in state prison, not county jail

VINELink

Victim notification service that also shows custody status for many NC jails.

Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator

For federal charges

If the person was arrested outside our nine counties, call us anyway. We can usually find them and arrange a transfer bond. transfer bond.

Inmate search: frequently asked questions

Straight answers before you ever pick up the phone. Anything we haven’t covered, ask a licensed agent.

Still have a question?

How soon after an arrest does someone show up in the jail search?

Usually within two to four hours of arriving at the jail. If it has been longer, they may still be in booking, may have been taken to a hospital first, or may have been released on a written promise without a full booking record.

The search shows "no bond." What does that mean?

A magistrate could not set bond and a judge must. This is standard on domestic violence charges (up to 48 hours) and on probation violations, parole holds and some serious felonies. Call us and we will explain the timeline for that county. Domestic violence bail bonds.

Can I call the jail directly?

Yes, and each county guide lists the number. Jails are often slow to answer at night. Our agents check the same records and answer immediately.

Is there a fee for you to look someone up?

How do I find someone in jail in Charlotte?

Use the Mecklenburg County guide. It covers both the Sheriff’s inmate inquiry and the CMPD arrest inquiry. Mecklenburg County inmate search

Need help now?

Call or text 980-384-6630, 24 hours a day.