Wayne County Jail Inmate Search: Detroit CJC, Bond & Visits

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Independent Wayne County, Michigan custody guide

Search Wayne County Jail Before You Pay, Mail or Visit

For a recent Detroit or Wayne County arrest, start with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office inmate search. The current adult detention operation is centered at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center at 5301 Russell Street in Detroit.

The inmate search answers the custody question. The court of jurisdiction answers the charge, case and bond-type questions. Use the correct system before sending money, posting bond, mailing correspondence or relying on a release status.

Open Official Inmate Search ↗ Third Circuit Case Search ↗ Choose the Correct Source

Wayne County Source Board

JAIL Current county custodyWayne County Sheriff inmate search
COURT Charge & case36th District / Third Circuit / court of jurisdiction
MDOC State prisonMichigan OTIS
VINE Custody alertsMI-VINE
VERIFY Before actingConfirm booking number, court and current status
Information reviewedSeptember 21, 2026
JurisdictionWayne County, Michigan
Jail operatorWayne County Sheriff’s Office
Current detention hub5301 Russell Street
Independent guide: JailInmateSearches.org is not the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Wayne County, a court, the Michigan Department of Corrections, MI-VINE, TouchPay, JailATM, TextBehind or another government agency or service provider. Custody, charges, bond information, court settings, release status and facility rules can change. Verify current information through the responsible official source before paying, travelling or mailing anything. An arrest, booking, charge, jail listing or booking photograph does not establish guilt or conviction.

Fast Answer

Use the official Wayne County Sheriff inmate search first. If you find a possible match, record the person’s exact booked name and the 10-digit booking number when available. That booking number is particularly important for Wayne County personal mail and TouchPay commissary deposits.

If you need the exact charge, court case or bond type, do not stop at the jail result. The Sheriff specifically directs users to the court of jurisdiction for the most current information.

Adult detention5301 Russell St.
Inmate information313-224-0797
Commissary depositTouchPay #248211
Personal mailPhoenix, Maryland
Jump to the task you need

Use the Current Wayne County Criminal Justice Center

The Wayne County Criminal Justice Center opened to the public in 2024 and now centralizes adult detention, the Sheriff’s Office, the Third Judicial Circuit Criminal Division, the Prosecutor’s Office and County Clerk criminal-record functions.

Current destination

Wayne County Criminal Justice Center

5301 Russell Street Detroit, MI 48211 Inmate information: 313-224-0797

Use the current CJC information for adult detention, onsite video visitation, Sheriff services, current court routing and privileged inmate legal mail.

Outdated-address risk

Do Not Default to Old Jail I / II Addresses

Older directory pages may still list Clinton Street facilities, former jail divisions or the old Frank Murphy criminal-justice setup. Those historic addresses should not be treated as the default destination for current Wayne County adult detention services.

Verify the exact office or service before travelling.

CJC department locations: Wayne County’s current CJC visitor information lists the Adult Detention Center in Suite 500, Sheriff’s Office in Suite 400, Third Judicial Circuit in Suite 700 and County Clerk Criminal Records in Suite 100.

Which Wayne County Search Should You Use?

This helper does not connect to a jail database and does not return inmate records. It only points you toward the appropriate official source.

Select a task above

The matching official source will appear here.

  1. Open the Sheriff’s inmate-search page. Follow the official Wayne County link to the current Tyler Public Safety inmate inquiry.
  2. Start with the person’s legal name. If a common surname produces several results, compare first name and every available identifying detail instead of selecting the first name match.
  3. Record the booked name and booking number. Wayne County’s commissary system specifically uses a 10-digit booking number, and personal mail requires the booking number with the inmate’s name.
  4. Confirm current custody. A booking result can change as a person is released, transferred, sent to court or moved to another custody system.
  5. Separate jail information from court information. Use the court of jurisdiction when you need the exact charge, case status, hearing or bond type.
  6. Verify before paying or travelling. Recheck the official custody result before posting bond, funding an account, sending mail or driving to the CJC.

Open Official Wayne County Inmate Search ↗

The Wayne County Jail Dashboard is useful for population statistics, bookings, housing and release trends, but it is not a substitute for the individual inmate-search portal when you need to locate a particular person.

What to Verify Before You Assume It Is the Right Person

Wayne County inmate identity verification guide
Detail Why it matters
Full booked name Reduces same-name and nickname mistakes.
10-digit booking number Used for Wayne County commissary deposits and personal mail identification.
Booking or custody timing Helps separate a new detention from an older record.
Court of jurisdiction Determines where to verify the actual criminal case and bond type.
Current custody status Can change after bond, release, transfer or court movement.

If the Wayne County Inmate Search Shows No Result

Recent arrest

Processing May Not Be Complete

A person can still be moving through arresting-agency custody, transport, registry processing, intake or court movement.

Identity issue

Name Variation

Try the legal surname, hyphenated spelling, suffix or another known name variation rather than assuming the first search was definitive.

Different custody

Another System May Apply

The person may be in another county, city lockup, MDOC state custody, federal custody or immigration detention.

Status changed

Release or Transfer

A person who appeared earlier may have been released or transferred since the prior search.

  1. Search again using fewer name fields.
  2. Check spelling, suffixes and alternate surname formats.
  3. Confirm the arrest actually occurred in Wayne County.
  4. Allow for very recent booking and registry processing.
  5. Call inmate information at 313-224-0797 when the answer is time-sensitive.
  6. Use MDOC OTIS only if state-prison, parole or probation supervision is relevant.
  7. Use BOP or ICE only when those custody systems genuinely apply.
No result does not prove release. It can reflect processing, another agency, transfer, name variation, release or a custody system that is not covered by the Wayne County search.

Wayne County Jail Bond Rules

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office currently accepts bonds at the jail 365 days a year and 24 hours a day, with an important weekday exception.

Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.: cash bonds and fines should be paid at the court of jurisdiction, such as the Third Judicial Circuit or 36th District Court when applicable. After payment at court, the court bond receipt can be presented to the Sheriff for processing.

Current WCSO Bond Payment Rules

Age

18 or Older

WCSO states that only people age 18 or older may post bonds.

Cash

$20+ Denominations

The Sheriff currently accepts cash in denominations of $20 or larger for bond payments.

Checks

Certified / Cashier’s

Checks must be certified or cashier’s checks payable to the Sheriff of Wayne County for the bond amount. A separate check is required for each charge.

Cards

Processing Fee

The current WCSO bond page lists Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express and states that card bonds are subject to an 8% third-party processing fee.

Not Accepted for Bond

  • Money orders
  • Personal checks
  • Loose coins
  • Rolled coins

Identification for the Person Posting Bond

  • State-issued driver’s license
  • State-issued identification card
  • Federal military identification
  • Passport
Bond does not guarantee immediate release. WCSO performs a LEIN inquiry during bond processing to look for additional wants or warrants. A person arriving from court or another agency also cannot be released until Wayne County has processed the person through the Jail Registry Unit.
Bond scam warning: the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office warns that it will not call demanding Bitcoin, gift cards or similar payment to “bond out” a loved one. Verify any payment request using the official Sheriff or court contact before sending money.

Read Official WCSO Bond Rules ↗

Wayne County Court Records: Use the Court of Jurisdiction

Wayne County jail data and criminal-court data answer different questions. A custody listing may tell you that someone is detained. The court record is the better source for arraignment, filed charges, probable-cause proceedings, felony bindover, hearings, court orders and disposition.

Wayne County criminal court routing guide
Situation Best starting court source
Detroit misdemeanor case 36th District Court
Detroit felony at arraignment / preliminary stage 36th District Court handles the initial district-court felony proceedings.
Felony bound over to Circuit Court Third Judicial Circuit Criminal Division at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center.
Case from another Wayne County municipality The district court serving that jurisdiction; MiCOURT may provide public case-search access for participating courts.
Third Circuit online search Odyssey Public Access through the Third Judicial Circuit.

36th District Court — Detroit

36th District Court 421 Madison Street Detroit, MI 48226 Main: 313-965-2200 Criminal arraignment questions: 313-965-5029

The 36th District Court public case system covers public cases filed with that court from 1990 forward. Its online information is not a certified court record and should not be used as a background check.

Third Judicial Circuit Criminal Division

Wayne County Criminal Justice Center 5301 Russell Street Detroit, MI 48211 Criminal Division: Suite 700

The Third Circuit Criminal Division handles felony cases bound over from Wayne County district courts and criminal appeals from district courts.

County Clerk Criminal Records

The Wayne County CJC visitor directory currently places County Clerk Criminal Records in Suite 100 at 5301 Russell Street and lists 313-224-2502.

Some older Wayne County web pages still reference the former Frank Murphy Hall of Justice for criminal records. Because Wayne County moved criminal-justice operations to the CJC, verify the current destination before travelling.
Third Circuit Case Search ↗ 36th District Case Inquiry ↗ MiCOURT Case Search ↗
Arrest charge ≠ final court outcome. Charges can be amended, dismissed, reduced, bound over or resolved differently. Do not present the original jail charge as proof of conviction.

Wayne County Video Visitation

Current Wayne County personal visitation is video-based. Visitors can use the public video-visitation suite at the CJC or, where available through the current visitation platform, participate remotely using their own device.

Social visit

One Per Week

WCSO currently states that a person age 17 or older with acceptable identification may receive one non-contact video visit per week for up to 30 minutes.

Onsite suite

Weekdays

The public Video Visitation Suite on the first floor of the CJC Administration Building is listed as open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., and closed on holidays and weekends.

Identification

Photo ID Required

Accepted examples include a Detroit municipal ID, military ID, passport, state ID or driver’s license.

Published Visit Windows

The Sheriff’s visitation page currently lists ADF social-visitation windows of 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

The CJC facility page separately lists housing-unit video-visitation periods of 8:00–10:30 a.m., 12:30–2:00 p.m. and 6:00–9:00 p.m.

Because Wayne County’s official pages describe different related visitation windows, use the current visitation scheduling system and recheck the available time before travelling.

Items Not Allowed in Restricted Visitation Areas

  • Cell phones and unauthorized electronic devices
  • Laptops and tablets for ordinary social visitors
  • Smoking products and accessories
  • Weapons
  • Any item staff determines creates a jail-security risk

Check Current Visitation Rules ↗

Wayne County Personal Mail and Legal Mail

Wayne County now uses digital delivery for ordinary family-and-friend mail. Personal correspondence is not sent directly to 5301 Russell Street.

Personal mail

TextBehind Processing Address

Wayne County Adult Detention Facility, Detroit, MI Inmate First and Last Name (Booking Number) P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Letters, pictures and drawings from family and friends are digitally delivered through the inmate tablet’s Facility Messages application.

Privileged legal mail

Send Directly to the CJC

Wayne County Adult Detention Facility Inmate First and Last Name (Booking Number) 5301 Russell St. Detroit, MI 48211

Incoming mail from lawyers, public officials or governmental agencies acting officially is handled separately and may be opened and inspected in the inmate’s presence.

Important Mail Rules

  • Every sender must include a full name and physical return address.
  • Personal mail sent directly to the Adult Detention Facility is not accepted and may be returned.
  • The current CJC page says no books, packages, checks or money orders are accepted through the personal-mail process.
  • Pornographic, sexually explicit or implicit, intimidating, disorder-promoting or inciting material can be denied.
  • Mail-delivery problems can be reported to TextBehind support.
Do not mix personal and legal-mail addresses. Family letters go through the Phoenix, Maryland processing route; properly identified privileged attorney-client mail goes directly to the CJC.

Verify Current CJC Mail Rules ↗

TouchPay, Commissary and Care Packages

Wayne County contracts with Canteen Correctional Services for jail commissary. The public WCSO page says commissary sells snack foods, hygiene items, clothing and phone time.

Deposit

TouchPay Online

Use Wayne County facility number 248211 and the inmate’s 10-digit booking number.

Open TouchPay ↗

Telephone

TouchPay Phone

Current WCSO instructions list 866-204-1603 as the alternative telephone deposit route.

Care packs

JailATM

Wayne County links JailATM for approved care-package purchases. Care packages are separate from ordinary TouchPay account deposits.

Open JailATM ↗

Lobby Kiosk

The CJC page says money can also be deposited using lobby kiosks located on the first floor of the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center Administration Building near the Visitation Center.

Keep payment systems separate. Commissary, care packages, phone time, court fines, bond and attorney fees are different purposes. Money placed into an inmate account does not automatically post bond.

Open Official WCSO Commissary Guide ↗

Inmate Property Release

Wayne County’s current CJC page lists inmate-property release Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.. The Property Office is closed on holidays and weekends.

Third-party pickup

Inmate Authorization Required

An inmate can authorize a third party through the official Property Release Form. The authorized recipient must present valid identification such as a driver’s license, state ID or passport.

Deadline

90-Day Property Rule

WCSO states that property or clothing not picked up within 90 days after the inmate’s release can be destroyed or otherwise eliminated through the escheatment process.

Do not travel to pick up property until you have confirmed that the inmate signed the required release, the property is available and the Property Office is open.

Proof of Incarceration

Wayne County permits a proof-of-incarceration request through the inmate tablet or the Sheriff’s proof-of-incarceration request process.

  • Include the inmate’s name.
  • Include the inmate number.
  • Identify the incarceration period being requested.
  • Current processing times are listed as Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
  • The current listed service fee is $10.
A proof-of-incarceration document answers a custody-history question. It is not the same thing as a certified criminal-court disposition or statewide criminal-history report.

MI-VINE Custody Notifications

Michigan’s Victim Information Notification Everyday service is a free, confidential 24-hour system for custody-status information and notifications.

Notifications

Release, Transfer and Escape

MI-VINE can provide supported custody-status notices, including release, transfer or escape information.

Telephone

800-770-7657

Michigan currently lists 800-770-7657 for MI-VINE access and registration.

MI-VINE is not the court docket. Use the appropriate district or circuit court for filed charges, hearings and disposition.

Open VINELink ↗

Wayne County Sheriff FOIA Requests

The Sheriff’s inmate-search page states that information beyond what is publicly displayed must be requested in writing through FOIA when applicable.

FOIA

Online Request

Use the Wayne County Sheriff’s official FOIA page when you need records that are not available through the ordinary inmate-search portal.

Open WCSO FOIA Instructions ↗

FOIA contact

Wayne County Sheriff’s Office

5301 Russell Street Detroit, MI 48211 FOIA: 313-833-0562

PREA, Safety and Emergency Concerns

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse and sexual harassment under the Prison Rape Elimination Act.

If you suspect an incarcerated person is experiencing sexual abuse or harassment, use the Sheriff’s current PREA reporting information rather than posting details publicly.

Open WCSO PREA Information ↗

Emergency: call 911 for an immediate life-threatening emergency or crime in progress. Do not use the Sheriff’s general email inbox for an urgent emergency.

If the Person Is No Longer in Wayne County Jail

Michigan prison

MDOC OTIS

Use OTIS for people who are or were under Michigan Department of Corrections jurisdiction or supervision. OTIS covers prisoners, parolees and probationers within its published retention rules.

OTIS specifically does not contain people held only in county jails or city lockups.

Open MDOC OTIS ↗

Federal custody

Bureau of Prisons

Use the BOP locator only when federal prison custody is relevant. A Wayne County arrest does not automatically create a BOP record.

Open BOP Locator ↗

Immigration custody

ICE Locator

Immigration detention is separate from Wayne County jail custody, Michigan DOC supervision and BOP prison custody.

Open ICE Locator ↗

Release from one system does not prove that all legal obligations ended. A person can leave county-jail custody while a criminal case, another warrant, probation issue or another agency hold continues.

Wayne County Criminal Justice Center Location

The current Criminal Justice Center is at 5301 Russell Street in Detroit. Confirm the department or service you need before travelling because adult detention, Sheriff administration, criminal court and Clerk functions occupy different parts of the complex.

Wayne County’s CJC visitor page says there is no visitor parking or drop-off directly at the CJC site and lists nearby public parking lots. Check the current visitor instructions before driving.

View Official CJC Visitor Information ↗

Michigan Jail Inmate Search

Use the Michigan guide when you need to decide between a county jail, MDOC OTIS, court records, MI-VINE or federal custody.

Michigan jail inmate search

Oakland County

Use when the arrest or jail custody is in Pontiac or another Oakland County jurisdiction rather than Wayne County.

Oakland County jail inmate search

Wayne County Jail Inmate Search FAQs

What is the official Wayne County Jail inmate search?

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office inmate-search page is the official starting point for Wayne County, Michigan jail custody. The Sheriff links from that page to its current Tyler Public Safety inmate-inquiry system.

What is the current Wayne County jail address?

The current Wayne County Criminal Justice Center and Adult Detention Facility are at 5301 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48211. Older Clinton Street jail addresses should not be treated as the default current detention destination.

What phone number can I call for Wayne County inmate information?

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office currently lists 313-224-0797 for inmate information.

Does the Wayne County inmate search provide the final court charge or bond type?

No. The Sheriff specifically says users who need a specific charge, court case or bond type should contact the court of jurisdiction for the most current information.

Can I mail a personal letter directly to 5301 Russell Street?

Not under the current personal-mail process. Family and friend correspondence is sent to the Wayne County Adult Detention Facility digital-mail address at P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131, with the inmate’s name and booking number. Properly identified privileged attorney-client mail uses 5301 Russell Street.

How do I put money on a Wayne County inmate account?

WCSO currently lists TouchPay for deposits using Wayne County facility number 248211 and the inmate’s 10-digit booking number. The Sheriff also lists lobby kiosks at the CJC and JailATM for approved care packages.

Does Wayne County Jail allow in-person contact visits?

Ordinary social visitation is video-based and non-contact. Visitors can use the CJC video-visitation suite or the current remote-visit system where available.

How old must I be to post a Wayne County jail bond?

The Wayne County Sheriff’s current bond policy states that a person must be at least 18 years old to post bond.

Is MDOC OTIS the same as the Wayne County jail roster?

No. OTIS covers qualifying Michigan Department of Corrections prison, parole and probation records. MDOC specifically states that OTIS does not contain people held in county jails or city lockups or people sentenced only to jail.

How can I receive Wayne County custody-change notifications?

Michigan’s MI-VINE service provides supported custody-status information and notifications. Michigan currently lists 800-770-7657 and VINELink for access and registration.

How long does Wayne County keep unclaimed inmate property after release?

The current CJC page states that property or clothing not picked up within 90 days after an inmate’s release may be destroyed or otherwise eliminated through the escheatment process.

Final Wayne County Verification Checklist

  • You used the current Wayne County Sheriff inmate search rather than an old jail-directory page.
  • You recorded the exact booked name and 10-digit booking number where available.
  • You treated the current CJC at 5301 Russell Street as the adult-detention hub.
  • You checked the court of jurisdiction for the current charge, case and bond type.
  • You did not treat an arrest or jail listing as a conviction.
  • You verified every charge and possible hold before posting bond.
  • You did not send ordinary personal mail directly to the CJC.
  • You used the Phoenix TextBehind address for ordinary family/friend correspondence.
  • You used TouchPay facility number 248211 only with the correct 10-digit booking number.
  • You kept bond, commissary, care-pack and court payments separate.
  • You checked the current video-visitation schedule before travelling.
  • You confirmed property authorization and office hours before property pickup.
  • You used MI-VINE when custody-change alerts would be useful.
  • You used MDOC OTIS only for state-prison or MDOC-supervision purposes.
  • You rechecked current custody immediately before paying, mailing or travelling.
Best Wayne County workflow: Sheriff inmate search → confirm the correct person and booking number → identify the court of jurisdiction → verify bond or court status → use the correct CJC, mail, visitation or commissary process → check current custody again before taking action.

Official Sources Reviewed

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