The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCR) operates the 8th-largest jail system in the United States. MDCR books approximately 114,000 people each year across its main facilities in Miami, Doral, and unincorporated Miami-Dade. This page tells you exactly where your person is likely held, how to search for them, and how to handle the first 24 hours after an arrest.
Official MDCR inmate locator covers all county facilities (Metro West, PTDC, TGK, Women's Detention Center)
Open MDCR Inmate Search →Or call our free 24/7 line: (786) 600-3533
Miami-Dade is unique in Florida. Instead of the sheriff running the jail system (as in most Florida counties), Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department is a county department that reports to the Miami-Dade Mayor's Office. This structure dates to the 1970s when the Miami-Dade Charter separated corrections from the Public Safety Department. The sheriff's office and corrections badges look identical because they were one agency decades ago.
3505 NW 107 Ave.
Doral, FL 33178
Phone: (786) 263-7000
Approx. 4,000 to 4,200 current inmates across 4 major facilities, with approximately 114,000 bookings per year (312/day).
All 34 municipalities in Miami-Dade County plus unincorporated areas. Anyone arrested by Miami-Dade PD, Miami PD, Hialeah PD, or any municipal agency is booked into MDCR custody.
Most arrestees pass through central booking at the Pre-Trial Detention Center first. After medical screening and classification, inmates are transferred to the facility matching their custody level and gender.
The oldest and busiest men's jail in Miami-Dade. Most men arrested in the county pass through PTDC first. It sits directly across from the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, so inmates facing felony court appearances are typically held here for proximity to court.
The largest facility in the MDCR system and the largest single jail in Florida. Metro West houses men at all custody levels (minimum, medium, and maximum). It also has a dedicated mental health floor and a medical ward for inmates with ongoing medical needs. The facility includes a section for people serving misdemeanor sentences of one year or less.
TGK serves as the designated booking and release center for MDCR. Inmates being released go through TGK regardless of which facility they were held in. The 9-story building opened in 1989 and includes intake, release, specialized mental health units, a medical ward, and a juvenile unit for youthful offenders charged as adults.
The 4-story Women's Detention Center, opened in 1978, is the primary facility for female inmates in the Miami-Dade system. It houses all female inmates regardless of custody level, both pretrial and sentenced.
Go to miamidade.gov/Apps/mdcr/inmateSearch/. Enter the first and last name (first three characters of each is enough). The search covers all MDCR facilities simultaneously. Results show current facility, booking number, charges, and bond amount. Records usually appear within 2 to 6 hours of arrest.
Write down the booking number, the listed charges, and the bond amount. You will need this for every subsequent call (bond agent, attorney, commissary deposits). Bond amounts under the Miami-Dade bond schedule are set automatically at booking for most non-violent offenses. Higher-level felonies require a judge to set bond at first appearance.
If a bond is set, a Florida-licensed bail bond agent can post bond for a 10 percent non-refundable premium under Florida Department of Financial Services rules. A $10,000 bond costs $1,000 through a bondsman. The bondsman files the bond paperwork at the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts, and the inmate is then processed for release at TGK.
Under Florida Rule 3.130, first appearance must happen within 24 hours of arrest. In Miami-Dade, first appearances happen at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building at 1351 NW 12th Street. The judge confirms probable cause, reads charges, sets or adjusts bond, and advises the defendant of their rights. An attorney present at first appearance can argue for a reduced bond.
MDCR uses Securus Technologies for inmate phone calls. Create a prepaid account at securustech.net before the first outbound call, otherwise the call will not complete. Also register with Florida VINELink at vinelink.vineapps.com, MDCR participates in VINE, so you will get automatic release and transfer alerts.
Miami-Dade is served by the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Circuit Court handles felonies, civil matters over $50,000, family law, and juvenile cases. County Court handles misdemeanors, DUIs, and civil cases under $50,000.
Criminal felony court and first appearances
1351 NW 12th Street, Miami, FL 33125
Phone: (305) 349-7000
Civil court
73 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33130
Clerk of Courts: (305) 275-1155
Court records, case lookup, and online portal
miamidadeclerk.gov
Prosecutor for the 11th Circuit
E.R. Graham Building
1350 NW 12th Ave, Miami, FL 33136
Once you have confirmed your loved one is in MDCR custody, these are the four things to do immediately.
If you can't find your person in the MDCR system, or you are not sure if they are in Miami-Dade, call our free 24/7 line. We search Miami-Dade, surrounding counties, FDC, federal BOP, and ICE simultaneously.
Call (786) 600-3533 →Calls may be answered by a licensed bail bond agent.