Wayne County Inmate Population

Wayne County, Michigan operates the largest county jail system in the state, with four detention facilities holding an average of 1,700 inmates daily. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office manages all facilities, which together serve Detroit and dozens of surrounding communities. Anyone can search the current inmate population, look up booking records, or check custody status through the county's dedicated inmate search portal. This page covers each facility, how to search, and the key state tools that supplement the county system.

Wayne County Sheriff's Office

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Raphael Washington, oversees all county detention facilities. The main administrative office is at 5301 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48211. You can reach the general line at (313) 224-8426 and the jail information line at (313) 224-0797. The sheriff's office handles booking, classification, housing, visitation, and release across all four facilities.

Wayne County processes some of the highest booking volumes of any county jail system in Michigan. The 3rd Circuit Court, Michigan's largest circuit, generates a substantial caseload that keeps the jail population near capacity. The average daily population is around 1,700 inmates, though it can climb to 2,200 or more during high-volume periods.

Under MCL 15.231, most booking records and inmate roster data are public. The sheriff's office must respond to formal FOIA requests within five business days. Basic custody information is available by phone and through the county's online inmate search system.

Wayne County Inmate Search Portal

Wayne County uses SheriffConnect to provide online access to jail roster and booking data. The inmate search is at https://www.sheriffconnect.com/dashboard/inmate-search/. The main site is https://www.sheriffconnect.com/, which also includes general jail information at https://www.sheriffconnect.com/wayne-county-jail-inmate-information/.

The portal lets you search by full name, subject number, booking number, booking date, or housing facility. Results show which of the four facilities a person is assigned to, along with basic booking details. The jail dashboard is updated daily and includes population demographics, length-of-stay data, and housing availability information.

For questions not answered by the online portal, you can reach the jail information line at (313) 224-0797. Staff can confirm custody status and provide basic booking details by phone. Written FOIA requests are needed for more detailed records. Contact information for the online portal is at https://www.sheriffconnect.com/contact-us/.

The Four Wayne County Jail Facilities

Wayne County operates four separate detention facilities, each with its own address, phone number, and security classification. Knowing which facility someone is in is key before calling or making a visit.

Wayne County Jail I, formally named the Andrew C. Baird Detention Facility, is at 570 Clinton St., Detroit. The direct number is (313) 967-6672. It holds approximately 867 inmates and operates as a medium-security facility. This is one of the county's primary booking locations.

Wayne County Jail II is at 525 Clinton St., Detroit, reachable at (313) 224-2247. Built in 1929, this older structure operates under a linear supervision model and holds around 770 inmates. It has been in continuous use longer than the other county facilities.

Wayne County Jail III, named the William Dickerson Detention Facility, is located at 3501 Hamtramck Dr., Hamtramck, MI. The number is (313) 224-2222. This facility uses a direct supervision model and holds roughly 896 inmates. It is the largest of the three adult facilities.

The Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility is at 1326 St. Antoine St., Detroit, with a contact number of (313) 967-2040. It holds around 194 juveniles and operates separately from the adult facilities under different classification and programming standards.

Visitation at Wayne County Facilities

Wayne County Jail facilities allow non-contact visits. Each visit is 30 minutes. Visitors are limited to one visit per week. Visits are scheduled Monday through Friday. Anyone visiting must be at least 17 years old and present a valid government-issued ID. Minors under 17 are not permitted to visit.

Check the SheriffConnect site at https://www.sheriffconnect.com/wayne-county-jail-inmate-information/ for current visiting hours and facility-specific instructions. Rules can change, so confirm details before arriving. Visits may be denied if the inmate is on restriction or if the visitor is not on the approved list.

Wayne County jails do not accept physical mail for inmates. All personal mail is scanned and delivered digitally to inmates via tablets inside the facility. Send mail through the county's authorized digital mail system. Do not send physical letters or packages directly to the jail, as they will not be accepted or forwarded.

Sending Money to Wayne County Inmates

Money deposits for Wayne County jail inmates must be made online through an authorized third-party service. Cash and checks are not accepted at the facility. When making a deposit, you will need the inmate's booking number and the facility code, which is 248211, for Wayne County.

Funds deposited to an inmate's account can be used for phone calls, commissary items, and digital tablet services. The deposit process is handled entirely online. For current deposit instructions and approved vendors, check the SheriffConnect website or call the jail information line at (313) 224-0797.

OTIS State Inmate Search

Michigan's Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) covers people in state prison, not county jail. Wayne County residents sentenced to more than a year are transferred to an MDOC facility and become searchable in OTIS. Use the free search at https://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2.aspx.

Search by name or MDOC number to find current facility, expected release date, and status. For anyone in county custody, use the SheriffConnect portal or call (313) 224-0797. OTIS updates once MDOC completes intake, typically a day or two after transfer from the county jail. Note: with Wayne County's high volume, transfers to MDOC happen frequently, and OTIS is the most reliable tool for tracking those state-sentenced individuals.

VINELink Victim Notification

VINELink provides free, automatic custody alerts for registered users. You can sign up to receive notifications when an inmate is released, transferred, or escapes from any Wayne County facility or Michigan state prison. Register at https://www.vinelink.com/ or call 1-800-770-7657.

You'll need the inmate's name or ID number to register. Alerts go out by phone, text, or email. The system pulls from live custody data, making it faster and more reliable than calling the jail for updates. Given the volume of transfers and releases at Wayne County's four facilities, VINELink is especially useful for tracking someone's location across the system.

Court Records for Wayne County

The 3rd Judicial Circuit Court is the largest in Michigan and handles all felony matters in Wayne County. Misdemeanors go through one of several district courts. Both are searchable through Michigan's One Court of Justice at https://courts.michigan.gov/case-search/.

MiCOURT shows case filings, charges, court dates, and case outcomes. If someone is in Wayne County custody awaiting trial, their case will appear here. Court records and jail records are separate. Someone may be in custody on a detainer, hold, or out-of-county warrant that doesn't appear as an active local charge. Always cross-reference both systems for a complete picture.

Michigan Sex Offender Registry and ICHAT

The Michigan State Police runs the public Sex Offender Registry at https://www.michigan.gov/msp/services/sex-offender-registry. You can search by name, zip code, or address. The registry shows offenders' current addresses, offense history, and registration status, but does not show current custody status.

For criminal history, ICHAT at https://www.michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat gives public access to statewide conviction records. A fee applies per search. ICHAT shows felony and misdemeanor convictions but not pending charges or jail status. Wayne County has a large number of ICHAT records due to its population size. For custody status, use SheriffConnect or call the jail.

Michigan Department of Corrections

Wayne County accounts for a significant share of MDOC commitments each year, given the size and caseload of the 3rd Circuit. The MDOC oversees all Michigan state prisons and parole supervision. Their website is at https://www.michigan.gov/corrections, and the prison list is at https://www.michigan.gov/corrections/Prisons.

After sentencing, Wayne County inmates are transported to an MDOC receiving facility for intake and classification before receiving a permanent prison assignment. State prison rules for visitation, mail, and phone use vary by facility. Check the MDOC website for the specific prison where someone is housed before attempting contact. OTIS will reflect the facility assignment once intake is complete.

The OTIS portal at the Michigan Department of Corrections website allows the public to search for state inmates from Wayne County. Anyone sentenced to more than a year from Wayne County's 3rd Circuit Court will appear in OTIS after MDOC completes intake at the receiving facility, typically within one to two days of transfer from the county jail.

Cities in Wayne County

Wayne County includes several major Michigan cities. Each city listed below has its own inmate population page with details specific to that community. All inmates in these cities are held in the Wayne County Jail system.

Nearby Counties

Wayne County borders three southeast Michigan counties. Each has its own jail, court system, and inmate population records.