Mugshots by County & State – Official U.S. Sources (Complete Beginner Guide)

Finding mugshots by county in the United States is not simple because there is no single national website. Mugshots and arrest records are handled state-wise and county-wise.

This guide explains:

  • How mugshots work in the U.S.

  • Official state-level portals

  • How to reach county sheriff websites

  • Real official examples

  • Written in simple, basic English

How Mugshots Work in the United States (Simple Explanation)

  • The U.S. has 50 states

  • Each state has many counties

  • Each county has a Sheriff Office or County Jail

  • Mugshots are controlled by county authorities, not federal government

That means:

To find mugshots, you must go State → County → Sheriff/Jail website

Important Rules (Must Read)

  • Not all counties show mugshots online

  • Some states block mugshots by law

  • Arrest ≠ guilt

  • Data can change anytime

Always trust official government websites only.

Step-by-Step: How to Find Mugshots (Official Way)

Step 1: Select the State

First, confirm which U.S. state the arrest happened in.

Example:

  • California

  • Texas

  • Florida

Step 2: Use the Official State Portal

Most states provide official inmate or corrections portals.

From these portals, you can:

  • Search inmates

  • Identify the county

  • Reach county jail websites

Step 3: Go to the County Sheriff Website

Once county is confirmed:

  • Open County Sheriff / Jail website

  • Use inmate or custody search

  • Check if mugshot is publicly visible

Official State-Level Inmate & Jail Portals (Verified)

Below are official government sources used to reach county records.

California

California does not have one single inmate portal.
Each county manages records.

🔗 County Sheriff Directory (Official):
https://www.csac.counties.org/county-websites

Example County:

Texas

Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)

🔗 Official Portal:
https://inmate.tdcj.texas.gov/

County Example:

Florida

Florida Department of Corrections

🔗 Official Inmate Search:
http://www.dc.state.fl.us/offendersearch/

County Example:

New York

New York State Department of Corrections

🔗 Official Portal:
https://nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov/

County Example:

Illinois

Illinois Department of Corrections

🔗 Official Portal:
https://www.idoc.state.il.us/offendersearch/

County Example:

Arizona

Arizona Department of Corrections

🔗 Official Portal:
https://corrections.az.gov/public-resources/inmate-datasearch

County Example:

Georgia

Georgia Department of Corrections

🔗 Official Portal:
https://services.gdc.ga.gov/GDC/OffenderQuery/

County Example:

Ohio

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction

🔗 Official Portal:
https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch

County Example:

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

🔗 Official Portal:
https://inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov/

County Example:

Michigan

Michigan Department of Corrections

🔗 Official Portal:
https://mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/

County Example:

North Carolina

North Carolina Department of Public Safety

🔗 Official Portal:
https://webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do

County Example:

How to Find ANY County (Universal Method)

If your county is not listed above:

Method 1: Google Search (Best)

[County Name] Sheriff inmate search

Example:

Dallas County Sheriff inmate search

Method 2: State + County Directory

[State Name] county sheriff website

This always leads to official sources.

Why Trust USA-Mugshots.com?

  • All links are manually verified

  • Screenshots created by humans

  • No auto tools

  • No scraping

  • No mugshots hosted

  • Only official government sources

Legal Reminder (Important)

  • Arrest records are not proof of guilt

  • Do not use for jobs, housing, credit

  • Information is for general research only

Final Words

To find mugshots by county, always follow this order:

State → County → Sheriff Office

This is the only correct and official method.

👉 Use our state guides and county pages for faster help.