Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
Independent records-search resource. This website is not a government agency, police department, sheriff's office, jail, prison or courthouse. Search coverage varies by source and jurisdiction. Some links may lead to third-party services, and compensation may be received when a partner service is used.
Wake County Mugshots, Recent Arrests and the Records That Show What Happened Next
The official place to start a Wake County mugshots search is the Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services arrest-information portal. It covers Wake County arrests known to the Bureau from April 27, 2007 forward and provides arrest information and booking-photo access where available.
That arrest database is different from the Wake County Sheriff’s inmate inquiry. Use the Bureau record when you want an arrest or booking photo; use the Sheriff’s Police-to-Citizen system when your question is whether someone is in Wake County custody now; then use North Carolina eCourts when you need the court case, hearing information or later disposition.
Choose the official search that matches your question
Do not treat a mugshot archive, current inmate roster and criminal court docket as the same record. Each answers a different question, and using the wrong database is one of the easiest ways to mistake an old arrest for current custody or an allegation for a conviction.
One Arrest Can Create Several Different Wake County Records
A person arrested in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner, Wake Forest or another Wake County jurisdiction can appear in more than one government system. Those systems are related, but they are not interchangeable.
Photo or arrest entry → current custody check → court follow-up. Each step answers a different question.
Use the Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services portal for Wake County arrest records and booking photographs where available.
Use the Wake County Sheriff inmate inquiry. A historical arrest record can remain relevant after a person has left local custody.
Use North Carolina eCourts Portal for public case information, hearings and documents available through the Judicial Branch.
If the person has moved into state prison, probation or parole supervision, use the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction offender search instead of the county jail roster.
How to Find Recent Wake County Arrests and Booking Photos
Wake County’s Bureau of Forensic Services maintains the county arrest-information system. Older government documents may still call the agency CCBI, or the Raleigh/Wake City-County Bureau of Identification. The current county portal identifies the office as the Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services.
The database states that its arrest records reflect arrests that occurred in Wake County, North Carolina from April 27, 2007 through the records the Bureau has received. It does not claim to be a complete nationwide or statewide criminal-history database.
Use it for
- Wake County arrest information
- Recent arrest-photo searches where available
- Booking photographs attached to qualifying records
- Arrest dates and related booking information
- Identifying the arrest event before moving to court records
Do not use it as proof of
- Current jail custody
- A criminal conviction
- The final charge filed in court
- The final case disposition
- A complete criminal history outside Wake County
Wake County Mugshot Search: Step-by-Step
Wake County’s 2026 Arrest-Portal Change: What Is Actually Happening?
Wake County previously announced that the online arrest-information portal would transition from internet access to fixed-site public terminals on August 17, 2026. The Bureau’s current disclaimer now says that implementation has been postponed and that advance notice will be provided before a new date takes effect.
That distinction matters. Pages stating that the Wake mugshot portal definitely disappeared on August 17 are now outdated. As of this article’s October 6, 2026 review, the official portal remains the first online route to try.
Public kiosk fallbacks
Wake County says the same arrest information currently available through the portal can also be accessed on two public kiosks.
| Location | Address | Published access |
|---|---|---|
| John H. Baker Jr. Public Safety Center | 330 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC | Main lobby, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; closed on Wake County holidays |
| Wake County Detention Center | 3301 Hammond Rd., Raleigh, NC | Zero level near the Magistrate’s Office; lobby access listed as 24/7, including weekends and holidays |
The Bureau’s current portal notice lists 919-255-7369 for questions about the announced access change. Recheck the notice before making a special trip.
Need to Know if Someone Is in Wake County Jail Right Now?
A mugshot search is not the best tool for this question. Use the Wake County Sheriff’s Police-to-Citizen inmate inquiry for local detention status.
Search using the person’s name and compare the returned identifying details carefully. If a person was arrested very recently and no result appears yet, do not assume they were released or never booked. Intake, identification and data-entry processes can create a delay before an online record becomes useful.
Why a person can appear in one search but not the other
The arrest portal is historical arrest information. The inmate inquiry is about local detention. Someone can therefore have a valid Wake arrest record but no longer appear as currently held in the county jail.
A transfer can also change the correct search route. If a criminal case has progressed into North Carolina state custody, search the Department of Adult Correction rather than repeatedly checking the county jail system.
How to Read a Wake County Arrest or Booking Record
The photograph is usually the least important part of the record for verification. Before relying on a result, focus on the identifiers and event details that help distinguish one person and one arrest from another.
Name and identity
Compare the full name and any other identifying information displayed. Common names require extra care before connecting a record to a specific person.
Arrest date
The arrest date anchors the record to a specific event. It is also useful when searching the later court case.
Arresting agency
Wake County arrests can involve the Sheriff’s Office, Raleigh Police or other municipal and specialized law-enforcement agencies.
Charge wording
Treat the booking charge as an allegation recorded at that stage. Court filings can later differ from the initial booking description.
Booking photo
A booking photograph documents an intake or arrest record. It does not establish guilt and should not be treated as a case outcome.
Court follow-up
Once you have the exact person and arrest date, use eCourts to check what was actually filed and what happened afterward.
Why an Old Wake Arrest Entry May Need Extra Verification
The Bureau expressly warns that its database may be incomplete. It also explains that some offenses may have been automatically expunged under North Carolina law while the Bureau did not receive notification from the Administrative Office of the Courts.
That means a historical arrest entry should never be treated as a guaranteed statement of current legal status. If the outcome matters, check the court system or contact the appropriate court office rather than repeating the arrest entry as though nothing has changed.
Check NC eCourts After You Find the Arrest
Wake County was among North Carolina’s early eCourts counties. The Judicial Branch’s Portal lets the public search available case information by name and other criteria, find hearings and court dates, and view public case information and documents that are available online.
Wake County Locations That Matter for Arrest and Court Searches
Wake County Detention Center
3301 Hammond RoadRaleigh, NC
Main county detention location and one of the Bureau’s public arrest-record kiosk sites.
John H. Baker Jr. Public Safety Center
330 S. Salisbury StreetRaleigh, NC
Downtown public-safety location and the second public arrest-information kiosk site.
Wake County Justice Center
300 S. Salisbury StreetRaleigh, NC 27601
North Carolina Judicial Branch states that Wake County criminal matters are handled here.
Main court line: 919-792-4000
If Your Search Confirms Someone Is in Wake County Detention
Once custody is confirmed, the task changes from public-record research to detention logistics. The Sheriff’s published visitation policy lists visits Monday through Thursday, with morning and afternoon windows, and requires advance scheduling.
| Item | Published guidance |
|---|---|
| Days | Monday through Thursday; no visits on county holidays |
| Morning window | 9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. |
| Afternoon window | 4:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. |
| Scheduling | At least 24 hours in advance |
| Visit length | One 30-minute visit per inmate each week |
| Appointment line | 919-857-9103 |
Because detention rules can change faster than historical PDF policies, confirm the current schedule, identification requirements and visit format with the detention operation before traveling.
Wake Arrest Records Are Not the Same as a Criminal Background Check
The Bureau’s arrest portal answers questions about Wake County arrest information. North Carolina court records answer questions about filed cases and dispositions. Neither should automatically be treated as a complete statewide or nationwide background check.
Arrest record
Documents an arrest event known to the Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services. It may include a booking photograph and arrest information.
Court record
Shows the judicial side of a case, including public filed information, hearings and disposition details where available.
Wake County Mugshot Search Troubleshooting
Recheck spelling and the arrest location. The Bureau database is limited to Wake County arrests known to the Bureau and expressly does not guarantee completeness.
A new booking may not appear instantly in every public system. Check the Sheriff inmate inquiry separately if current custody is your real question.
Do not assume the old arrest page reflects current court status. Search eCourts, especially where dismissal, amendment, disposition or expungement may matter.
Recheck the Bureau notice. Wake County currently lists public kiosks at the Baker Public Safety Center and Wake County Detention Center as alternative access points.
A person may have been released, transferred or moved into another custody system. Check the court case and, when appropriate, the North Carolina state offender search.
eCourts Portal is a public-access tool, not the official court record itself. Contact the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court when an official copy is required.
Before You Rely on a Wake County Mugshot or Arrest Entry
- Confirm that the record is actually from Wake County, North Carolina.
- Match more than a name or photograph.
- Compare the arrest date and arresting agency.
- Separate historical arrest information from current jail custody.
- Check eCourts when the filed charge or disposition matters.
- Consider whether a later expungement or record change may affect an old entry.
- Do not describe an arrest, charge or booking photo as a conviction.
- Use an official court record when legal status must be verified.
Official Wake County and North Carolina Search Routes
Best route for Wake County arrest history and booking-photo access where available.
Use when the question is whether a person is currently held in Wake County detention.
Court locations, court dates, local contacts, forms and Wake County Judicial Branch resources.
Public online access to available case information, court dates and documents.
Use for state prison, probation or parole information rather than county-jail custody.