Manatee County Inmate Search
A Manatee County inmate search is used by residents to find persons held by law enforcement or incarcerated in the county jail or other correctional facilities in the county. People typically lookup Manatee County inmate locators to know whether a person is in custody and which facility they are held at.
Employers may search Manatee County public records for inmate information about prospective employees to know their criminal history. Inmate searches are also used by government agencies during criminal investigations and housing considerations. Anyone may conduct an inmate search just to satisfy their curiosity.
The Manatee County sheriff is the custodian of arrest records for inmates held within the County's jurisdiction. Under Florida State law, inmate records are public. Therefore, the sheriff's office makes them available for inspection both online and physically at the office premises:
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office
600 Highway 301 Boulevard
West Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: (941) 747-3011
Email: Rick.Wells@manateesheriff.com
Manatee County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
According to the 2019 crime and incarceration statistics report, Manatee County recorded a total of 1,368 and 4,650 arrests for violent and property crimes respectively. Arrests made for aggravated assault cases were the most frequent under violent crimes, with a total of 1,006 arrests.
Under arrests made for property crimes, there were a total of 3,659 arrests made for larceny-theft, making it the most frequent. The table below gives a summary of the Manatee County crime and incarceration statistics for 2019.
| Crime | Arrests made |
|---|---|
| Violent Crimes | 1,368 |
| Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter | 10 |
| Degree 1 Rape | 179 |
| Robbery | 173 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,006 |
| Property Crimes | 4,650 |
| Burglary | 648 |
| Larceny-theft | 3,659 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 343 |
| Arson | 15 |
Manatee County Prison System
The Manatee County Jail is the main correctional facility in the county, with a total bed capacity of 1,300. Overseeing the operations of the county jail is the County Sheriff, Rick Wells. The facility is mainly a pretrial holding facility, holding inmates charged with misdemeanor offenses who can not make bail.
Aside from the main jail, Manatee County has a Juvenile Detention Center, located at Bradenton. The detention center is a 60-bed facility used to detain youths pending disposition, adjudication, or placement in a commitment facility.
How to Find an Inmate in Manatee County
The office of the Manatee County Sheriff manages all records for inmates held at jails located within the county and makes them available for physical inspection at the office location. Additionally, the same office helps interested persons locate any inmate held in any of the correctional facilities in Manatee County online. Lastly, the Sheriff offers mail-in and phone call options for inquiries regarding inmates.
How Does a Manatee County Inmate Search Work?
Florida State law dictates that all inmate information is made available for public inspection and copying. Inmate information commonly found during an inmate search includes booking numbers, names, the facility at which an inmate is held, arrest date, release date, charges, and date of birth.
To locate an inmate during a search, an inquirer must be able to provide the official name and/or booking number of the inmate upon request. Obtaining inmate records at the Office of the County Sheriff is not free of charge and the cost varies with the number of pages.
Where to Find a Manatee County Inmate Locator
Persons who wish to conduct a Manatee County inmate search physically should visit the office of the county sheriff or the jail facility. There, they will be attended to by the appropriate personnel. Visits at the Office of the County Sheriff can be made Monday through Friday during business hours. To access the records, visitors are required to fill out the Open Records Request Form and submit it online, in person, or through the mail.
At the office, records are available at $0.15 per page. Records delivered upon requests made through mail cost $1 per 4 pages. For online inmate inquiries, searchers can find inmate records on the website of the county sheriff when they search for inmates by name or booking number. The site allows searchers to filter results by booking date. The results page usually has limited information displayed on it.
Clicking on the booking number on this page takes a searcher to another page with more detailed information which includes an inmate's mugshot, full name, date of birth, race, gender, hair color, height, weight, and gender. The page also displays booking information such as the booking number, booking date, release dates, violated statutes, and bond. Alternatively, there are many other third-party inmate locator websites that can be found using a simple Google search.
How to Send Jail Mail in Manatee County
Inmates held in the Manatee County Jail are allowed to receive jail mail from family and friends. However, all mail sent to inmates must comply with certain mail guidelines promulgated by the jail authorities before they can be delivered to an inmate. All unacceptable mail is returned to the sender. Senders are advised to address all inmate mail as follows:
(Inmate’s Full Name) & Booking Number
Manatee County Central Jail
14470 Harlee Road
Palmetto, FL 34221
The guidelines below regulate mail sent to inmates in the Manatee County Jail.
- Senders are mandated to print a return address on their mail.
- Only postcards are allowed (letters are not allowed).
- Only postcards written in black/blue ink or typed will be accepted.
- Postcards must not be too small (smaller than 3.5" x 4.25 ") or too large (larger than 4.25" x 6").
- Money orders are accepted.
- Prison officials may censor all mail sent to and from inmates.
- Publications written in code are unacceptable.
- Hardcover books are not accepted.
- Publications that depict violence, nudity, illicit substances, and the like are not accepted.
Manatee County Jails and Prisons
Manatee County has one central jail which is its main incarceration facility. Within the jail are various sections that house different categories of inmates. The physical addresses of jails and detention centers located in Manatee County are as follows:
Manatee County Jail
14470 Harlee Road
Palmetto, FL, 34221
Phone: (941) 747-3011
Manatee Regional Juvenile Detention Center
1803 Fifth Street West
Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: (941) 741-3023
Fax: (941) 741-3061
