Miami City Jail Mugshots show the booking photos taken after arrests in Miami, Florida. The city of Miami does not run its own jail.
All people arrested in Miami get booked into Miami-Dade County facilities. The county takes a photo, fingerprints, and basic facts from each new inmate. This booking photo is called a mugshot. It becomes part of the public record under Florida law. Anyone can search these photos online through the county system. This page explains how the booking process works, where the photos come from, and how to look them up.
How Miami Arrests and Booking Photos Work
The booking photo process in Miami starts with the police and ends at a county facility. Miami Police officers make arrests inside the city limits. After an arrest, the officer drives the person to a county jail. There, trained staff take a mugshot, collect fingerprints, and write down charges. The whole process takes a few hours. The booking photo enters a public database soon after.
The Role of Miami Police Department
The Miami Police Department handles arrests inside the city of Miami. Officers work in patrol cars, on bikes, and in special units. When an officer arrests someone, the officer writes a report with the time, place, and reason. The officer then takes the person to a county jail for booking. Miami Police do not take the official jail mugshot. That job belongs to county corrections staff.
Transfer to Miami-Dade County Facilities
After arrest, the person leaves Miami city limits for booking. Most arrests go to the Pre-Trial Detention Center on NW 13th Street. Some arrests go to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in west Miami-Dade. Officers drive the arrestee to the chosen county site. The booking process begins there, not at any city building.
When Booking Photos Are Taken
Booking photos happen right after intake at the county jail. Staff take a front view and a side view of the face. The person stands against a plain wall with a height marker. The camera captures the face, scars, tattoos, and clothing. This photo enters the county database within a few hours.
Miami-Dade County Jail Facilities That Hold City Inmates
Three main county facilities house people arrested in Miami. Each one has its own rules for visits, mail, and phone calls. The booking photo from each facility enters the same online search system. Knowing which facility holds an inmate helps families plan visits and send money.
Pre-Trial Detention Center (PTDC)
The Pre-Trial Detention Center sits at 1321 NW 13th Street, Miami, FL 33125. It is the main intake center for new arrests in Miami. Most people arrested in Miami land here first. The facility handles booking, fingerprints, and first court appearances. It holds both men and women in separate units. The center also houses people waiting for trial who cannot post bond.
Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK)
Turner Guilford Knight sits at 7000 NW 41st Street, Miami, FL 33166. It serves as a housing center for sentenced inmates and long-term pretrial detainees. Some new arrests get booked straight to TGK based on charges and space. The facility focuses on rehabilitation programs and work release. Inmates here have access to education classes and job training.
Metro West Detention Center
Metro West Detention Center sits at 13850 NW 41st Street, Miami, FL 33178. It is a newer facility built to ease crowding at PTDC and TGK. The center holds medium and minimum-security inmates. Some Miami arrests go through Metro West for booking. The site includes medical and mental health units.
Searching for Miami City Jail Mugshots Online
The fastest way to see a Miami booking photo is the county inmate search tool. The Miami-Dade Corrections Department runs this free tool. It updates many times each day. New mugshots appear within hours of booking. People who post bond or finish their sentence stay in the recent bookings list for a short time before moving to archives.
Using the County Inmate Search Tool
The county search tool lives on the Miami-Dade Corrections website. A person types a full legal name into the search box. The system shows matching inmates with booking photos. Each result shows the mugshot, name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and facility. The search works on phones, tablets, and computers at no cost.
Information You Need to Search
The search tool works best with certain facts. The full legal name gives the cleanest results. A date of birth narrows the list when many people share a name. A booking number from an arrest report gives a single exact result. The rough date of arrest helps when the name is common. The system does not need a Social Security number or address.
- Full legal name (first, middle, last)
- Date of birth (month, day, year)
- Booking number from police or jail paperwork
- Date of arrest or booking
Reading Search Results Correctly
Each result row shows a small mugshot on the left. The name, booking number, and facility appear next to the photo. The charges show as short codes or full descriptions. The bond amount shows the money needed for release. The court date shows the next hearing. A green status means the person is still in jail. A gray status means released.
Florida Public Records Laws and Mugshot Access
Florida has strong public records laws. The state law known as the Sunshine Law makes most government records open to the public. Booking photos fall under this law. Any adult can ask for these records without giving a reason. Some limits apply, but most adult mugshots stay public.
Florida Sunshine Law Basics
The Florida Sunshine Law covers records from police, jails, courts, and other government bodies. The law started in 1909 and has grown stronger over time. It assumes records should stay open. Government agencies must release records unless a specific law blocks them. Booking photos fall under this open rule for adults.
What Records Stay Public
Adult booking photos stay public after arrest and booking. The arrest report, charges, and court dates stay open too. Conviction records and sentencing papers stay public. Bond amounts and release dates stay public. Anyone can request printed copies for a small fee.
Sealed and Expunged Records
A judge can seal or expunge some arrest records. Sealed records stay private but still exist. Expunged records get destroyed in most cases. Both actions remove the mugshot from the official county database. The photos do show up on private websites even after sealing. Removal from private sites takes a separate legal step.
Legal Help and Mugshot Removal Options
People who want a mugshot removed have legal paths in Florida. The state passed a law in 2024 that helps victims of identity theft. Other paths work for people who won their cases or completed diversion. A criminal defense attorney can explain the best path for each case.
Expungement in Florida
Florida law lets some people expunge arrest records. The person must meet rules set by state statute. These rules include completing a diversion program or winning the case at trial. Not all charges qualify. A lawyer files a petition with the court. The court holds a hearing and decides whether to grant the request.
Removal from Third-Party Sites
Private mugshot websites often copy photos from county databases. These sites charge fees to remove the photos. Florida law limits what these sites can do. Many sites must remove photos for free when the person sends a court order. A lawyer can send the right legal notice to force removal.
Finding a Criminal Defense Attorney
The Florida Bar runs a lawyer referral service. Legal aid groups help people with low income. Public defenders work for people who cannot afford a private lawyer. Local bar associations list local criminal defense lawyers. Many lawyers offer free first meetings to discuss mugshot issues.
Miami Police Department Contact Details
The Miami Police Department headquarters sits at 400 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33128. The main phone number is 305-579-6111. The non-emergency line uses the same number. The department website is miami-police.org. The Records Unit handles arrest report requests during business hours.
| Agency | Details |
|---|---|
| Agency Name | Miami Police Department |
| Address | 400 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33128 |
| Phone | 305-579-6111 |
| Website | miami-police.org |
| Records Unit Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Miami-Dade Corrections Phone and Hours
The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department runs the jail system. The main phone line is 786-263-5341. Staff answer calls from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM every day. The inmate search line stays open 24 hours a day online. The records office handles in-person requests for copies.
Visiting Hours and Rules
Each county facility has its own visiting rules. The Pre-Trial Detention Center offers visits on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Turner Guilford Knight offers visits seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Metro West offers visits on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Visitors must book a slot online and pass a background check.
Common Questions About Miami City Jail Mugshots
People ask many questions about how Miami booking photos work. The questions below cover the most common search topics. Each answer gives clear facts based on Florida law and Miami-Dade Corrections rules. These answers help families, researchers, and people seeking removal.
Are Miami City Jail Mugshots Public Records?
Yes. Adult booking photos from Miami arrests stay public under Florida law. The Sunshine Law opens most government records to the public. Anyone can search the county inmate database and view the mugshot. The photos show on the official county site at no cost. Private sites also copy these photos, but their access rules differ from the county site. Juvenile booking photos stay private by law.
How Long Do Mugshots Stay on the County Website?
Booking photos stay visible for at least 90 days after release. The exact time depends on the facility and the case status. Closed cases move to the archives after that time. Active cases stay on the main search page longer. Some photos stay on private sites for years unless the person takes legal action to remove them. Sealed or expunged records disappear from the county site right away.
Can I Remove My Mugshot From the County Site?
Yes, in some cases. A court order for sealing or expungement removes the photo from the county database. The person must qualify under Florida law. A dropped case does not always qualify. A lawyer can review the case and file the right paperwork. The court holds a hearing before granting the request. Removal happens within days after the court signs the order.
What Charges Qualify for Expungement in Florida?
Florida law lists charges that can be expunged. These charges include many misdemeanors and some felonies. The person must not have been convicted. A completed pretrial intervention program counts as a win for expungement. A not-guilty verdict at trial counts too. Sex offenses and certain violent crimes do not qualify. A lawyer can check the exact charge against the law.
Do Mugshot Sites Have to Remove Photos for Free?
Florida law changed in 2024 to limit what mugshot sites can do. Sites must remove photos for free when a court orders sealing or expungement. The person must send a written request with the court order. The site has 30 days to remove the photo. Sites that fail to comply face fines. Some sites still charge fees for faster removal.
How Do I Find Out If Someone Is Still in Jail?
The county inmate search tool shows current inmates. The status field shows green for in custody. A gray status means released. The booking date shows when the person entered jail. The release date shows when the person left. Family members can call the jail phone line for updates. The online tool updates many times each day.
Can I Visit an Inmate Without Knowing the Booking Number?
Yes. The visit booking system uses the inmate name and date of birth. Visitors create an account on the county corrections website. They search for the inmate by name. They pick a visit time from the open slots. The system sends a confirmation email. Visitors must bring a valid photo ID to the visit.