Find Lake County Inmates

How to Search the Lake County Jail Roster

The Lake County Sheriff's Office runs the only official jail roster for the county. The Sheriff's Office home page links out to law-enforcement bureaus, the corrections operations page, and the inmate search tool. See the public-facing site at lcso.org. The Sheriff is Peyton C. Grinnell, and the main office sits at 360 W. Ruby St. in Tavares.

The jail roster page is at lcso.org/inmate-search. It is a name-only search. The result list shows people held at the Lake County Detention Center at 551 W. Main St., Tavares. Bookings move on and off the list as people are admitted, bond out, or get released. The roster is a live custody list, not a long-term arrest history.

The Sheriff's main site sits at lcso.org and acts as the front door to the inmate search and corrections links.

From this home page, the top menu links to the corrections operations page, the inmate roster, and bureau pages that explain how the jail is run.

1. Open the LCSO inmate search at lcso.org/inmate-search.
2. Type the inmate's first name and last name in the search fields.
3. Pass the reCAPTCHA check to prove the search is not a bot.
4. Click Search and look over the result table for the right person.
5. Click a row to open the arrest-details view and see booking, bond, and charge facts.
6. Use the printable details link if a hard copy is needed for a bondsman or lawyer.

LCSO Inmate Search Fields

The public roster takes a short list of fields. First name and last name are both required, and the form has strict rules on input length and the kind of characters that pass. A booking number field exists in the code, but the live form does not let the public search by booking number. Field rules below match what the LCSO page tells the user.

The result table lists First Name, Last Name, Arrest Date, Age, Race, Gender, Charges, and Booking Number. An alternate view adds a charge preview. Clicking any row opens an arrest-details modal with the full profile.

What an Inmate Profile Shows

An open profile gives a wide view of who is in custody and why. The arrest-details panel groups data into tracking, photos, physical description, arrest info, charges, and bond totals. Each charge line links out to the Florida Statutes lookup, so the cited code can be read in full. The list below maps the main fields shown on a Lake County jail profile.

Lake County Detention Center Facts

The Lake County Detention Center sits in downtown Tavares, just across from the Judicial Center. The corrections operations page at lcso.org/bureaus/corrections_operations lists the core facility numbers. The jail was built in 1992. It has a capacity of 960 inmates, and the average daily population is 828. It books both misdemeanor and felony inmates, and houses male, female, and juvenile inmates.

Staffing is large for a county jail of this size. LCSO reports 239 personnel: 179 sworn and 60 non-sworn. The facility has been accredited by the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission since 2006. The National Commission on Correctional Health Care gave the inmate medical department its accreditation in 2017. In 2019, 9,169 people were booked into the facility. That mix of fast turnover and long-term holds is why the public roster is live and not a static list.

Search by Name Rules and Scam Warning

LCSO moved its inmate search to name-only on purpose. Public arrest data can be used by bad actors to target families. The Sheriff's Office warns that scammers pretend to be bail bondsmen or Sheriff's Office staff and call loved ones asking for bond money. The ask is often for gift cards or a wire transfer. No bail bond agent or LCSO worker will collect bond by phone in this way.

Because the roster is name-only, a search needs the legal first and last name as booked. Nicknames will not match. If the name is common, use the date of birth shown on a profile to confirm the right person. If a name is spelled in more than one way, try each spelling. Note: scams often spike in the hours right after a booking, so verify any urgent payment request with the jail before sending money.

Booking Process and Charges

After arrest, a person is taken to the Lake County Detention Center for intake. Intake covers a search, medical screen, photos, and prints. The booking officer logs the charge sheet from the arresting agency, the case number, and any detainer holds. A booking number is set at that point, and the new record posts to the jail roster. From there, the jail moves the inmate into housing based on a classification review.

Charges are tied to Florida Statutes, and each charge line on the profile shows the statute number and the degree. First appearance is held within 24 hours for most people held in custody. At first appearance, a judge sets or holds bond and reads the rights. Some charges, like certain violent felonies and capital cases, are no-bond at first appearance. Others get a standard bond schedule or a custom amount based on the case facts.

Pretrial release options vary. Some people get released on their own recognizance. Others get a supervised release plan with check-ins. The case number set during booking carries over to the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, where the formal court file lives. For more on the criminal case side, see the criminal records page. To check if a warrant is open on another person, see the warrant records page.

How to Post Bond

There are two ways to bond a person out of the Lake County jail. The first is to contact a licensed bonding agency. A bondsman posts a surety bond and charges a fee, often 10% of the bond amount. The second is to pay the full bond amount in person at the detention center lobby. The jail accepts cash, a cashier's or certified check, or a money order. Checks and money orders for local charges must be made out to the Clerk of Courts. Out-of-county charges need a payee of Lake County Sheriff.

Call 352-742-4024 to verify the bond amount and payee before driving over. Bond amounts can change after first appearance. If an inmate has enough money in the commissary account, the inmate can post bond from that account. The corrections operations page at lcso.org/bureaus/corrections_operations lists the bond rules and the verify-the-amount note. Note: the Sheriff's Office tells the public to always call and verify the right amount and payee before sending any funds.

Inmate Accounts and Commissary

When a person is booked into the jail, a commissary account is set up under the booking number. The account can be used to buy commissary items, post bond, or pay other costs. There are two ways to put money on the account. The first is the lobby kiosk at the detention center. The kiosk takes cash bills of one dollar or more and credit or debit cards. The cash fee is two dollars. Card fees vary by card. The kiosk is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The second option is online deposits at commissarydeposit.com. Choose Florida, then Lake County Sheriff's Office - Jail, then enter the booking number or the last name. A receipt is sent by email. Online fees are set by the vendor, not the Sheriff's Office. To send legal mail with payment, use a money order made out to the proper payee and sent to the jail's mailing address. Money orders count as money, not as personal mail, and follow the legal-mail rule below.

Mail to Lake County Inmates

The Lake County Detention Center no longer accepts personal mail or publications at the jail's street address. Personal mail goes through the Securus Digital Mail Center. The mail is scanned and printed, then handed to the inmate. Photos and drawings are accepted and printed the same way. A return name and address must be on every envelope. Mail without a proper return is sent back to the sender. To get the original mail back, a self-addressed stamped envelope must go with it.

The mailing address for personal mail is:

• Inmate Legal Name & Inmate ID Number
• C/O Securus Digital Mail Center - Lake County Detention Center
• PO BOX 22997
• Tampa, FL 33634

Legal mail, publisher-direct publications, and money orders still go to the jail. Use the inmate's legal name and inmate ID, then the jail address at 551 W. Main St., Tavares, FL 32778. For mail questions, call the Inmate Mail Department at 352-742-4000.

Inmate Phones and Messaging

Inmate phone service is run by Securus Technologies. Calls are collect calls to the outside. To take collect calls on a cell phone, a friend or family member must set up a Securus account. Securus takes cash, money orders, credit cards, MoneyGram, and Western Union. Customer service is at 1-800-844-6591 and runs 24/7. The online account portal sits at securustech.net. LCSO does not set call costs or fees. Securus sets prices.

Inmate messaging is a separate service. Messages run through inmateinbox.com, and the FAQ explains how to set up an account, buy stamps, and check delivery. As with the phone service, fees are set by the vendor.

Video Visitation and the Visitation Center

The Lake County Detention Center no longer hosts in-person visits. Visits are now done by video. Visitors can connect from home through Securus, or use the Lake County Detention Center Visitation Center at 28129 County Rd 561 in Tavares. Each inmate is allowed two free video visits per week at the Visitation Center. Each visit can last up to one hour. Inmates on disciplinary confinement are not allowed video visits.

Visitor rules are strict. Each visitor age 18 or older must show a current government photo ID. Minors can not be left alone, and a parent or guardian must stay with them at all times. Tank tops, spaghetti-strap or strapless tops, see-through tops, short dresses, short skirts, and short shorts are not allowed. Cell phones must be on vibrate. Visitors may not take pictures of inmates or use a phone to bring another caller into the visit. Remote video uses Securus. Set-up needs a current photo and a government-issued ID. Securus support is 800-844-6591 or 877-578-3658.

State and Federal Inmate Searches

The Lake County jail roster only covers people held in the county facility. People sent to state prison are tracked by the Florida Department of Corrections. The FDC offender search menu sits at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch/inmateinfomenu.aspx and links to inmate population, inmate release, escape, and supervised search tools. The FDC inmate release search is updated nightly and covers people who have been released or are set to be released from state custody.

The FDC release lookup at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com handles state release data.

The release tool is a state tool, so it will not list people held only in the county jail. Use the county roster for those.

Federal inmates are tracked by the Bureau of Prisons. The BOP locator at bop.gov/inmateloc covers federal inmates from 1982 to the present. It allows a search by number or by name. BOP warns that First Step Act reviews can shift release dates, so dates may not be live.

The BOP locator at bop.gov/inmateloc handles federal custody lookups.

Federal results show holding facility or a Released flag. A Released flag with no facility means BOP custody has ended, though other supervision may still apply.

Victims and families who want alerts on custody status can sign up for VINELink. LCSO links to the same tool on its corrections page.

VINELink, at vinelink.com, is the official victim alert tool used by LCSO.

Sign up by inmate name and number to get alerts on release, transfer, or court dates.

FDLE also runs background checks that pull in arrest history beyond a single jail stay.

FDLE background checks are linked from the Clerk's site at cchinet.fdle.state.fl.us.

FDLE results pull statewide criminal history, not just one county. For recent county releases, see the released inmates page. For ADP and capacity data, see the inmate population page.

When to Call the Lake County Jail

The online roster is good for quick name checks. It is not always good for timing-sensitive questions. Call the jail when the answer needs to be live. Common reasons to call include verifying that a person has been booked but not yet posted to the roster, confirming a bond amount before a payment trip, asking about a release time, or getting mail or money rules read back. Note: the Sheriff's Office reminds the public to verify amounts and payees before any bond payment, since amounts can change.

• Jail main line: 352-742-4000
• Corrections operations: 352-742-4006
• Bond verification: 352-742-4024
• Visitation Center: 352-609-2177
• LCSO non-emergency: 352-343-2101
• LCSO information desk: 352-343-9500

For broad questions on Lake County records and access rules, see the FAQ page. For arrest history that goes past the current custody list, the criminal records page walks through the Clerk's court file lookup.