Milwaukee County Jail Inmate Search & Roster 2026

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Milwaukee County, Wisconsin · Custody and family action guide

Milwaukee County In-Custody Lookup: Booking, Bail, Visits, Mail and Release Help

A Milwaukee County jail search is rarely only about finding a name. Families need to know whether the person is still in custody, which booking number to use, how bail works, where mail should go, how video visitation is scheduled and who to call when the public result is unclear.

This guide brings the important Sheriff’s Office procedures into one practical page. The live county portal is used only to perform the current search; the sections below explain the result and the next steps without sending readers through a long list of government pages.

Run official in-custody search Call Jail Records No record found?
Verify identity before taking action. An in-custody result or charge entry is not proof of guilt. Compare the legal name, booking number, age, booking date, case information and custody status before paying bail, sending money, publishing an accusation or traveling to the jail.
Live search

Official Milwaukee County In Custody Search.

Jail Records

414-226-7070

Jail address

949 N. 9th St., Milwaukee, WI 53233.

Deposit limit

$300 daily commissary-account limit.

Source review

Official information checked July 15, 2026.

Fast answer

Choose the quickest way to locate the right Milwaukee County occupant

1
You know only the name

Search the legal last name first. Add the first name only when the result list is too broad.

2
You already have a booking number

Use it to verify the exact booking and keep it for mail, money, calls, property and jail-record questions.

3
You know the court case

Search custody first, then use Wisconsin Circuit Court Access to review the criminal case and future court activity.

Best search habit: Use fewer fields on the first attempt. A spelling variation, suffix, compound surname or incorrect birth date can prevent a valid match.

Choose the problem you need to solve

Jump directly to the practical task instead of reading the entire guide.

Official search workflow

How to search the Milwaukee County Jail roster correctly

Open Milwaukee County’s live custody search Use the Sheriff’s Office In Custody Search rather than a copied jail roster, mugshot page or people-search website.
Start with the last name Enter the person’s legal last name first. Avoid adding every known detail on the first attempt.
Add the first name when needed Use it to narrow a large result list, but also try shortened names, compound surnames and alternate spellings.
Compare the booking details Review the booking number, age or birth information, booking date, custody status, charges and other available identifiers.
Save the booking number Write it down. Milwaukee County requires it for the mail address and it is useful for deposits, records, property and communication questions.
Check whether the person is at the jail or another facility Milwaukee County also operates the Community Reintegration Center in Franklin. Confirm the actual location rather than assuming every county occupant is at 949 N. 9th Street.
Call when the result is unclear Contact Jail Records at 414-226-7070 with the full name, date of birth, arrest date, agency and booking number.
Open live custody search Call Jail Records

How to read a Milwaukee County in-custody result

Common custody fields and what to do with them
Field What it usually means Practical next action
Booking number The identifier assigned to the current booking. Use it for mail, commissary deposits, records and facility calls.
Booking date When the person entered the county booking process. Compare it with the known arrest date to avoid confusing a new record with an old one.
Charge An allegation associated with the booking or case. Use Wisconsin Circuit Court Access to check later filings and case status.
Bail The currently displayed cash-bail or court condition information. Confirm every case and hold before paying.
Housing unit and cell The current internal location used for services and mail. Include both in the mail address and recheck before sending because housing can change.
Custody status Whether the person remains held, is pending release or is no longer in county custody. Call Jail Records before arranging pickup or travel.
Court case The Wisconsin criminal case connected to the arrest or booking. Use the case number in Wisconsin Circuit Court Access.
Do not rely on the charge line alone: Charges can be amended, dismissed, reduced or resolved. The jail record answers custody questions; the court record shows the legal case history.
Troubleshooting

No Milwaukee County inmate result found? Use this decision path

The arrest happened recently Booking, identification, medical screening and record entry may still be underway. Retry the search and call Jail Records.
The name may be recorded differently Search only the last name. Try a maiden name, compound surname, hyphen variation, suffix or shortened first name.
A local police department made the arrest The person may not yet have reached the county jail or may have been released before county booking.
The person was previously visible They may have posted bail, been released, transferred to the Community Reintegration Center or entered state or federal custody.
A Wisconsin court case exists The case may remain open even when the defendant is no longer in custody. Check the court portal separately.
The person may be at a state facility Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility and Wisconsin Department of Corrections facilities are not the Milwaukee County Jail.
Useful phone script “I am trying to confirm whether [full legal name], date of birth [date], is currently in Milwaukee County custody. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. I have booking or case number [number]. Can you confirm the current facility, release or transfer status?”

Milwaukee County Jail address, records office and facility distinctions

Milwaukee County Criminal Justice Facility
949 N. 9th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233

Services: County jail, Jail Records Office, bail cashier, kiosks, mail and property activity.

Jail Records Office

Location: G-Level of the Criminal Justice Facility.

Phone: 414-226-7070

Handles: Occupant information, in-person and phone inquiries, bail assistance, warrants and identification records.

Community Reintegration Center
8885 S. 68th Street
Franklin, WI

This is a separate Milwaukee County correctional location. Confirm which facility holds the person.

Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility

This is a Wisconsin Department of Corrections state facility, not the Milwaukee County Jail.

A person may appear in state custody after leaving county detention.

Local navigation tip: The Criminal Justice Facility, Safety Building and Milwaukee County Courthouse are close to one another but serve different functions. Confirm the exact building, room and level before parking.

What happens after booking into Milwaukee County Jail?

Identification and booking record The person is identified, entered into the jail-management system and assigned a booking number.
Property and money processing Personal items are inventoried. A commissary account is created when the occupant is booked.
Medical and mental-health access Occupants receive access to medical, dental and mental-health services through the jail’s contracted health provider.
Housing assignment The person is assigned a housing unit and cell. These details are needed for mail and may change during custody.
Court, bail, release or transfer The occupant may remain pending court, post bail, receive release, move to the Community Reintegration Center or transfer to another authority.
Bail and refund

How Milwaukee County Jail bail payment works

Payment location

Jail Cashier’s Office or kiosk on Level G of the Criminal Justice Facility.

Accepted methods

Cash, cashier’s checks, money orders and major credit cards.

Identification

The person paying bail must present a valid form of identification.

Verify the correct occupant Use the legal name and booking number. Do not rely on a text message or caller-provided name.
Check every case and bail amount One occupant may have several cases. Paying one amount may not resolve another hold or case.
Ask whether the person can actually be released Another jurisdiction, warrant, probation matter or court condition may prevent release.
Prepare the accepted payment Cashier’s checks must be payable to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.
Keep the receipt Save the case number, booking number, payment amount, date and proof of payment.
Confirm physical release separately Bail payment does not guarantee that the person has already left the facility.
Jail Cashier

414-226-7172

Use for money-related jail inquiries.

Jail Records

414-226-7070

Use to verify custody and bail-processing questions.

When Milwaukee County bail is refunded

Bail-refund outcomes explained
Situation Refund outcome What to expect
Court orders bail returned Refundable A check is generally mailed to the person who posted bail.
Case dismissed and all appearances made Usually refundable unless the court orders otherwise Allow processing after the case closes.
Guilty with no fine or judgment Refundable Refund follows the county processing timeline.
Guilty with a fine and money remains Remaining balance refundable Bail is applied to the fine or judgment first.
Defendant fails to appear Not refunded The court may also issue a bench warrant.
Case remains open Normally not refunded yet An exception may apply if the court reduces bail and orders a partial refund.
General timing: Refundable bail is normally mailed within about three weeks after the case closes. For eligible refunds above $1,000, Milwaukee County may send an affidavit that must be completed before the refund is processed.
Criminal misdemeanor or felony bail-refund questions

Safety Building, 821 W. State Street, Room 117

414-278-4538

Video visitation

Milwaukee County Jail visit rules, setup and common problems

Milwaukee County Jail provides off-site video visitation. Visits are arranged through GettingOut and are monitored and recorded.

Confirm the occupant remains in custody Check the live roster and save the booking number before creating the visitation account.
Create a GettingOut account Use accurate contact and identity details. Follow the provider’s verification process.
Find the correct Milwaukee County occupant Match the legal name and booking details rather than choosing the first similar name.
Select an available visit Review the available date, time, equipment requirements and current fee before confirming.
Test the device early Check camera, microphone, internet connection and provider app or browser permissions.
Join from a suitable location Use a quiet, private place with appropriate clothing and no prohibited activity or visible contraband.
Never record the visit: Milwaukee County states that personal recording is strictly prohibited and can result in permanent loss of all visitation privileges for the occupant.
Confirm current custody before paying a visit fee
Use the correct occupant identity
Check camera and microphone permissions
Join early enough to resolve technical problems
Do not display weapons, drugs or prohibited content
Do not make screenshots or recordings
Create account or schedule visit
Commissary deposits

How to send money to a Milwaukee County Jail occupant

Milwaukee County creates a commissary account when an occupant is booked. The account can be used to order commissary items, pay self-bail and cover approved miscellaneous expenses.

Milwaukee County deposit methods
Method How it works Important limit or timing
Access Corrections online Use the occupant’s correct booking information and make an electronic deposit. Daily commissary-account deposit limit is $300.
Telephone Call 866-345-1884 and pay with Visa or MasterCard. Available 24 hours a day.
Criminal Justice Facility kiosk Use the lobby or G-Level kiosk at 949 N. 9th Street. Lobby kiosk access is available 24/7.
Community Reintegration Center kiosk Use the lobby kiosk at 8885 S. 68th Street in Franklin. Available 24/7.
CashPayToday retailer Register, obtain a barcode and make a cash deposit at a participating store. Retailers may include Dollar General, Family Dollar, CVS and 7-Eleven.
Posting time: Milwaukee County says it may take up to 24 hours for a deposit to appear in the occupant’s account.
Avoid wrong-person deposits: Verify the legal name and booking number before submitting money. A completed third-party transaction may be difficult to reverse.
Make Access Corrections deposit Deposit by phone
Occupant mail

Milwaukee County Jail mailing address, photos, books and rejection rules

Correct mail format
Occupant’s full name, booking number, housing unit and cell number
949 N. 9th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Do not omit housing details: The county’s format requires the full name, booking number, housing unit and cell number. Recheck the current housing information before mailing.

What may be received

Letters

Ordinary correspondence sent through an accepted delivery service with a complete return address.

Photographs

Non-Polaroid photos measuring 4 × 6 inches or smaller, subject to content and safety review.

Cashier’s checks and money orders

Milwaukee County lists these among the items occupants may receive through the mail.

Envelope and delivery requirements

Include the sender’s full legal name
Include the full return address and apartment number
Use USPS, UPS or Federal Express
Include the occupant’s booking number
Include the current housing unit and cell
Avoid prohibited or unsafe content

Books, newspapers and magazines

  • They must be sent directly from a publisher, distributor or other verified commercial source.
  • The named occupant must be the intended recipient.
  • Books must be softcover.
  • The jail may verify whether the sender is a legitimate commercial source.
  • Materials containing pornography, weapons content or content that threatens jail safety may be rejected.
  • A sender with a known history of introducing contraband into correctional facilities may be rejected.

Greeting cards

Greeting cards are not permitted. If one is received, Milwaukee County says the occupant will receive a copy and the original card will be secured in the occupant’s property.

Mail rejection and appeal

Rejection notice For rejected commercial publications, notice is sent to the intended occupant and sender within three business days.
Sender appeal The sender may appeal the rejection in writing within 14 days to the Jail Commander or designee.
County response The Jail Commander or designee provides a written response within 10 business days after receiving the appeal.
Occupant grievance The intended recipient may also challenge the rejection through the jail grievance process.
Contraband screening: All incoming mail is scanned for contraband before delivery.

Milwaukee County Jail phone-call rules

Outgoing calls only

Occupants may place outgoing calls. Milwaukee County does not allow ordinary incoming personal calls to an occupant.

Collect and prepaid calls

Friends and family can fund the occupant’s account for prepaid phone privileges. Other calls may be collect calls.

When you receive a jail call

Listen to the recorded identification Confirm that the call is from the person you expect before accepting charges.
Review the pricing prompt The system provides options to accept, hear pricing or refuse the call.
Avoid prohibited call features Three-way calls, forwarding or other unsupported features may disconnect the call or restrict future service.
Do not share sensitive financial details Verify any bail or money request independently through Jail Records or the cashier.
Emergency family information: Because ordinary incoming calls are not allowed, call Jail Records or the relevant jail office and ask what procedure applies to a documented family emergency.
Property and clothing

Drop off jury clothing, release clothing or collect occupant property

Jury-trial clothing

Clothing for a jury trial may be delivered no earlier than 48 hours before the scheduled trial. Drop it at the visiting desk at 949 N. 9th Street and present valid photo identification.

Jury clothing accepted and rejected
Accepted Not accepted Pickup detail
Suitcoats, sweaters, shirts and pants Hangers, shoes, belts, ties and socks A signed receipt is provided when clothing is accepted.

Release clothing

When an occupant needs weather-appropriate clothing at release, family or friends may drop off items such as a coat, boots and other suitable clothing.

Occupant property-release process

The occupant requests a property-release form The request must be made at least 24 hours before the planned pickup.
The occupant names the recipient The designated person must be at least 18 years old.
The occupant lists the items Only the property specifically authorized on the completed form will be released.
The recipient brings valid photo ID Accepted examples include a driver’s license, state identification card or passport.
Call before pickup Property questions should be directed to 414-226-7171.
No completed form means no release: Milwaukee County states that property will not be released unless the form is properly completed.
Inmate Property

414-226-7171

Currency questions

Property staff do not handle currency.

Call the cashier at 414-226-7172.

Medical and safety

Milwaukee County Jail medical, dental, mental-health and PREA help

Occupants have access to medical, dental and mental-health services while incarcerated. Milwaukee County lists Inmate Health Services as the contact for health-related jail questions.

Inmate Health Services

414-226-7134

Jail shift commander

414-226-7047

Family or friends may use this number to report a PREA concern.

How an occupant can report sexual misconduct

Notify the housing-unit officer or supervisor
Notify a mental-health professional through a free medical request
Dial *789 on the PREA hotline
Submit a grievance or request through the housing-unit kiosk
Write to the Milwaukee County Jail Administrator
Ask a family member to call the shift commander

Details that improve a PREA report

  • Names and locations of the people involved.
  • Date and approximate time of the incident.
  • Names or descriptions of possible witnesses.
  • A concise explanation of what happened.
  • Any immediate medical or safety need.
Civilian PREA report by mail
Milwaukee County Jail
Prison Rape Elimination Act Coordinator
949 N. 9th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233

Phone: 414-226-7047

Immediate danger: An occupant should notify staff immediately. A person outside the facility facing an active emergency should call 911 rather than wait for routine email or mail processing.

Education, recovery, religious and support programs

Milwaukee County says the jail provides education, health, religious and support-group opportunities.

High-school education

Instruction is provided through Milwaukee Public Schools. Occupants ages 14 to 17 may work toward high-school credits or a diploma.

General education

Volunteer services may include tutoring, teaching, academic testing and parenting classes.

Health education

Programs may address HIV/AIDS prevention, sexually transmitted diseases, nutrition and risky behavior.

Recovery support

Listed groups include Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

Behavior and family support

Available topics may include anger management, domestic-violence support, self-esteem and women’s or men’s issues.

Faith-based services

Volunteer programming includes Bible study and spirituality classes.

Court case lookup

How to check a Milwaukee County criminal court case

Use the jail search for current custody. Use Wisconsin Circuit Court Access for public court information such as case numbers, charges, hearing dates, court activity and disposition history.

Copy the case number from the custody record A person may have more than one case, so save each number.
Open Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Choose Milwaukee County and search by case number when possible.
Match the defendant carefully Compare name, date of birth when displayed, filing date and case type.
Review court events Check the next hearing, assigned judge, charge history, cash-bail information and docket entries.
Recheck before court Hearing dates, rooms and status may change.
Jail record versus court record: A jail entry may show the booking charge, while the court docket may later show amended charges, dismissals, pleas, sentencing or another case.
Search Wisconsin Circuit Court Access

Release, transfer and pickup: what families should expect

Bail has been paid The jail must still verify payment, check holds, process paperwork and return approved property.
The result says pending release Do not treat this as completed release. Call Jail Records before driving to the facility.
The occupant disappears from the roster They may have been released or transferred. Ask Jail Records which agency or facility received custody.
Weather clothing is needed Family or friends may drop off appropriate release clothing, including a coat or boots.
Property is needed before release The occupant must complete the property-release form at least 24 hours before pickup.
The person moved to state custody Search Wisconsin Department of Corrections resources rather than continuing to rely on the county roster.
Pickup tip: Keep transportation plans flexible. A court order or bail payment does not guarantee a precise exit time.

Milwaukee County Jail contact directory by problem

Call the office that handles the specific issue
Your question Office Phone
Is the person in custody, released or transferred? Jail Records and Information 414-226-7070
How do I collect authorized property? Inmate Property 414-226-7171
What happened to jail money or currency? Jail Cashier 414-226-7172
How do I report a medical concern? Inmate Health Services 414-226-7134
How can a family member report sexual misconduct? Jail Shift Commander / PREA 414-226-7047
Is there an active warrant? Warrants 414-278-4713
How do I request a jail record? Public Records 414-226-7085
What is the Sheriff’s general number? MCSO General Information 414-278-4700

Milwaukee County Criminal Justice Facility map and arrival checklist

Confirm the occupant remains in county custody
Save the booking number and housing details
Know whether you need Jail Records, cashier or property
Bring valid government photo identification
Confirm the room or level before parking
Keep receipts and paperwork together

Live actions and official systems

The important instructions are already included above. Use these external systems only when the task must be completed live.

Custody, visits and money
Court and notifications
Information reviewed: Milwaukee County Sheriff Detention Services, Sheriff telephone directory, bail procedures, PREA instructions and Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. Review date: July 15, 2026. Live custody, housing, vendor fees and court information can change.

Milwaukee County Jail inmate search FAQs

How do I search for an inmate in Milwaukee County Jail?

Use the official Milwaukee County In Custody Search. Start with the last name, then compare the booking number, age, booking date and custody details.

What is the Milwaukee County Jail records number?

Call Jail Records and Information at 414-226-7070.

Where is the Milwaukee County Jail?

The Criminal Justice Facility is at 949 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233.

Why is someone missing from the roster?

The person may still be in intake, listed under another name, released, transferred or held by another correctional agency.

Can I visit an occupant in person?

Milwaukee County’s public instructions emphasize off-site monitored video visitation through GettingOut.

Can I record a video visit?

No. Milwaukee County says personal recording is prohibited and can cause permanent loss of visitation privileges.

How much can I deposit daily?

The county lists a daily commissary-account deposit limit of $300.

How long does a deposit take to appear?

Milwaukee County says it may take up to 24 hours.

What is the occupant mail address?

Use the full name, booking number, housing unit and cell number, followed by 949 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233.

Can I send greeting cards?

No. The occupant may receive a copy, while the original card is placed in property.

How do I pick up occupant property?

The occupant must complete a release form at least 24 hours beforehand and name an adult recipient with valid photo ID.

How do I report a PREA concern?

An occupant can dial *789 or notify staff. Family and friends may call the jail shift commander at 414-226-7047.

Independent information and presumption-of-innocence notice: This website is not Milwaukee County, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, a court, GettingOut, Access Corrections or a live detention database. Booking and charge information may be delayed, corrected, dismissed, sealed or changed. An arrest or charge does not establish guilt. Do not use custody information to harass, threaten, discriminate against, exploit or unlawfully identify any person.

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