Official Wayne County Inmate Search Portal
The Wayne County Sheriff inmate inquiry is the official lookup tool. The portal sits at inmateinquiry.waynecounty.com. The Sheriff's inmate information page warns that public-facing data is limited and that detailed charge, case, or bond detail must come from the court of jurisdiction. The Sheriff says further information may be requested via FOIA.
Use the portal first. Call (313) 224-0797 for inmate information when a quick status check is enough. Avoid the general email inbox for legal questions because the page says no one authorized to accept process monitors it. Attorneys scheduling client meetings use attorneyvisits@waynecounty.com or attorneyvisits@waynecountymi.gov.
The portal returns clickable name results with current in-custody status and a multiple-bookings indicator. Each result opens a detail page with charges, bond, and the next court date.
Wayne County Inmate Search Fields
The portal exposes a focused set of filters. Most are optional. Use the name field alongside the In Custody checkbox for the cleanest current-roster output. Use the booking number or subject number when a specific case is known. Filter by facility when looking for someone on electronic monitoring or in residential mental health programs.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Text | Optional | Sample search for "SMITH" returned multiple in-custody results. |
| Subject Number | Text | Optional | Exact subject number if known. |
| Booking Number | Text | Optional | Exact booking number if known. 10-digit format required for deposits. |
| In Custody | Checkbox | Optional | "Currently jailed only" filter, value True. |
| Booking From Date | Date picker | Optional | Limits start of search range. |
| Booking To Date | Date picker | Optional | Limits end of search range. |
| Housing Facility | Dropdown | Optional | Blank; Adult Detention Facility; Electronic Monitoring Unit; Residential MH Treatment Programs; Wayne County Jail. |
| Search | Submit | Yes | Runs query. |
| Clear | Submit | Optional | Resets the form. |
Results return Name (clickable), In Custody (Yes/No), and Multiple Bookings (blank or flagged). The facility dropdown shows that Wayne County's public "inmate" search reaches beyond traditional jail beds to electronic monitoring and residential mental health programs.
What Wayne County Inmate Results Show
Each inmate detail page builds out a layered profile. The sample profile inspected at the Sheriff portal on May 20, 2026 included demographic fields, booking history, bond data, court info, and charge data. Some fields, like mugshot, physical description, and pod location, did not appear in the inspected text output. The inventory below is a real, live sample, not a guess.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Name | Header on the inmate detail page. |
| Subject Number | Internal Sheriff identifier. |
| Age | Inmate age at intake. |
| Booking Number | 10-digit booking number used for mail, deposits, and visitation. |
| Booking Date | Date and time of booking. |
| Total Bond Amount | Sum of all bonds across the booking. |
| Booking Origin | Which agency brought the inmate to the jail. |
| Bond Number / Bond Amount | Per-bond detail tied to each charge. |
| Charges / Court Date | Charge text and the next scheduled court date. |
| Booking Charges Table | Charge Description, Offense Date, Docket Number, Sentence Date, Disposition, Sentence Length, Crime Class, Arresting Agency. |
| Mugshot | Not visible in the inspected text output. |
| Physical Description | Height, weight, eye color, hair color not visible in the inspected sample. |
| Holding Pod / Floor | Not visible in the inspected sample. |
The sample's observed values included charge description FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE, docket number 2602-0076, crime class Felony, court date 5/26/2026 9:00 AM, and bond amount $0.00.
When to Contact the Court Instead of the Jail
The Sheriff repeats one rule across its pages. If the question is about a charge, case, or bond type, contact the court of jurisdiction. The Sheriff inmate page says the court has the most up-to-date information. For Third Circuit cases, that means the Wayne County court records path through the Clerk Records Division. For Detroit district cases, that means the 36th District Court at 421 Madison Street and the case inquiry tool. For probate-related orders, that means the Wayne County Probate Court Records Department.
Wayne County Criminal Justice Center
The CJC at 5301 Russell Street, Detroit, is the centralized facility that replaced older county detention buildings. The Sheriff's Criminal Justice Center page describes a criminal courthouse, adult and juvenile detention facilities, more than 1,400 office spaces for criminal justice departments and law enforcement, and a central utility plant. The Sheriff calls the CJC a state-of-the-art shift from older buildings.
Wayne County Sheriff's Office
Main Office
5301 Russell Street
Detroit, MI 48211
(313) 833-0864
info@sheriffconnect.com
Criminal Justice Center / Adult Detention Facility
Inmate Information
5301 Russell Street
Detroit, MI 48211
(313) 224-0797
Visitation Center, 1st Floor
Attorney Visits
Wayne County ADF
Inmate Name (Booking Number)
5301 Russell Street
Detroit, MI 48211
attorneyvisits@waynecounty.com
Bond and Release Processing
Bond rules sit on the Sheriff bond information page. Bonds are accepted at the jail 365 days a year and 24 hours a day, with exceptions. Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., cash bonds and fines should be paid at the court of jurisdiction. After payment, the court receipt goes to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office Jail Division 3 for processing.
Accepted payment methods include cash denominations of $20 or larger, cashier's and certified checks made out to Sheriff of Wayne County with separate checks per charge, and Discover, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express with an 8% processing fee through Government Payment Services, Inc. Personal checks, money orders, and loose or rolled coins are not accepted. A LEIN inquiry runs during bond processing for additional wants or warrants. Any extra charges discovered must be paid before release. Only persons 18 or older may post bonds.
Inmate Visitation at the Wayne County ADF
Visitation is primarily video-based. The Sheriff's inmate visitation page lists Adult Detention Facility social visitation hours as 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Visitors must be at least 17 years old with acceptable ID and are allowed one non-contact video visit per week up to 30 minutes. Visits can happen in person at the ADF Visitation Center or remotely on a cellular device, computer, or tablet through the sign-up link.
| Visit Type | Hours | Location / Method | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADF Social Visitation | 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. | Video visit; ADF portals or own device | Age 17+; acceptable ID; one non-contact video visit per week up to 30 minutes. |
| Remote Video Visits | 8:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.; 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. | Housing unit kiosks / secure web-based technology | No nudity or prohibited displays. |
| Video Visitation Suite | 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday | 1st floor of CJC Administration Building | Valid government-issued photo ID required. |
| ADF Professional Visitation | 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. | Professional visit area or remote via own device | Attorneys need valid bar card with P-number plus ID; professional rooms are not recorded. |
Acceptable social-visitor IDs include the City of Detroit Municipal Identification Card, federal-issued military identification card, passport, state-issued ID card, or state-issued driver's license. Prohibited items include electronic devices, smoking products, weapons, and any item deemed a risk to jail security. Disruptive visitors will be removed from the visitation list.
Inmate Mail and Digital Messages
Personal mail is digitally delivered through inmate tablets using the Facility Messages app under the free profile. Personal mail is not accepted at the ADF and will be returned. Books, packages, checks, and money orders are not accepted. The personal mail address routes through Phoenix, Maryland for digital processing.
- Personal mail address — Wayne County ADF, Detroit, MI, Inmate First and Last Name (Booking Number), P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131.
- Attorney privileged mail — Wayne County ADF, Inmate First and Last Name (Booking Number), 5301 Russell St., Detroit, MI 48211.
- Prohibited content — pornographic, sexually explicit, disorder-promoting, ethnic intimidation, or inciting material is denied.
- Sender ID — all senders must include full name and physical address.
- Issues — mail problems go to TextBehind Support at info@TextBehind.com.
Commissary and Money Deposits
The commissary vendor is Continental Distributors dba Canteen Correctional Services. The commissary sells snack foods, hygiene products, clothing, and phone time, and serves inmates four days a week. Deposits move through TouchPay using Wayne County facility number #248211 and the inmate's 10-digit booking number. Phone deposits use TouchPay at (866) 204-1603. The CJC lobby kiosks sit on the first floor of the Administration Building near the Visitation Center. Care packages route through JailATM.com from the Sheriff commissary page.
Property Release for Wayne County Inmates
Inmate property is released Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed on holidays and weekends. Inmates must present the WCSO-ADF issued ID armband. Inmates released outside business hours must present the armband when returning. Third-party pickup requires an inmate-signed Property Release Form naming the third party plus a valid third-party ID. Ninety days after release, unclaimed property and clothing are destroyed or escheated.
Proof of incarceration requests may be submitted via inmate tablet or the Proof of Incarceration Request Form. The form must include the inmate's name, inmate number, and incarceration period. Requests are processed Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The fee is $10.00.
Proof of Incarceration Requests
Proof of incarceration requests can be submitted via inmate tablet or the Proof of Incarceration Request Form. The request must include the inmate's name, inmate number, and incarceration period. Requests are processed on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The fee is $10.00. The Sheriff's response confirms a specific custody period at the Wayne County Adult Detention Facility, which is the form many landlords, schools, and benefits programs require.
The form is also used to verify a stay that has already ended. Plan for the processing window since the office only handles requests two days a week. For court bond, charge, or case detail tied to the incarceration period, the Sheriff still routes those questions to the court of jurisdiction.
Sheriff Contact Information
Sheriff Raphael Washington leads the office. Main administration is at (313) 833-0864. Inmate information is at (313) 224-0797. The Sheriff Connect home page warns that the general email inbox is for non-emergency contact only. Emergency calls go to 911. For coverage of release status and post-release lookups, jump to the released inmates page. For population context and the Jail Dashboard, see inmate population.