Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
Independent records-search resource. This website is not a government agency, police department, sheriff's office, jail, prison or courthouse. Search coverage varies by source and jurisdiction. Some links may lead to third-party services, and compensation may be received when a partner service is used.
Find a Gaston County Jail Inmate and Check Current Custody
If someone was arrested in Gastonia or elsewhere in Gaston County, start with the Gaston County Sheriff’s official Inmate Inquiry. It is the most direct place to confirm whether the person is currently in county custody and to identify the booking record before you call, visit, send money or mail correspondence.
How to Search the Gaston County Jail Roster
- Open the official Gaston County Inmate Inquiry. Use the Sheriff’s public search rather than an unofficial people-search service.
- Start with the person’s legal name. If you know a subject number or booking number, use it because it can narrow the match quickly.
- Use the custody and date filters. The search allows you to filter by current custody, booking-from date, booking-to date and housing facility.
- Open the correct inmate record. Compare identifying and booking information carefully when several people have similar names.
- Use the court system for the criminal case. Jail information reflects detention and booking. Court records are the better source for hearings, filings and the later outcome of the case.
| Search field | When it helps |
|---|---|
| Name | Best starting point when you know the inmate’s correct legal spelling. |
| Subject Number | Useful for separating people with similar names. |
| Booking Number | Best when you already have the exact booking identifier. |
| In Custody | Helps narrow the search to people currently being held. |
| Booking Date Range | Useful for a recent arrest or when the exact booking date is known. |
| Housing Facility | Helps narrow records by the listed detention location. |
If the Inmate Does Not Appear
A missing result does not automatically mean the person was never arrested. Work through these checks before searching random third-party databases:
- Search only the last name, then add the first name.
- Try the person’s full legal name rather than a nickname.
- Check whether booking is still being processed after a very recent arrest.
- Check whether the person has already bonded out or otherwise been released.
- Consider whether the person was transferred to another county, state custody or a federal facility.
- Call 704-869-6800 if current custody cannot be confirmed online.
Gaston County Jail Contact and Local Information
| Need | Contact / location |
|---|---|
| Sheriff’s Office / general jail information | 704-869-6800 |
| Jail information during business hours | 704-869-6868, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. |
| After-hours jail supervisor | 704-869-6869 |
| Visitation assistance / accommodation | 704-866-3550, Monday-Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. |
| Sheriff’s Office address | 425 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Gastonia, NC 28052 |
| Gaston County Courthouse | 325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Gastonia, NC 28052 |
| Clerk / courthouse general number | 704-852-3100 |
| Magistrates’ Office | 704-852-3192 |
Local facility context: a Gaston County detention-services procurement published in 2024 described approximately 488 beds in the main jail and 176 in the Jail Annex. Those figures describe facility capacity, not today’s live jail population.
Charges, Bond and Court Dates
The jail record is useful for custody and booking information, but it should not replace the court record. In North Carolina, bond is normally set after arrest by a judicial official and can later be reviewed by the court.
- Find the inmate in the Gaston County jail search and note the correct name and booking information.
- Review any bond information shown with the custody record.
- Open the North Carolina Judicial Branch online services.
- Use Portal or the court-date service to search the defendant’s Gaston County case.
- For the official charge record or questions not resolved online, contact the Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court.
Gaston County Jail Visitation
The Gaston County Sheriff’s Office uses video visitation. Visitors can register through ICSolutions or at the front lobby of the Jail Annex.
| Housing / visit type | Current published hours |
|---|---|
| Main Jail general population — onsite | Monday-Thursday, 1:05-3:35 p.m. and 5:05-8:00 p.m. |
| Main Jail general population — remote | Monday-Sunday, 1:05-3:35 p.m. and 5:05-8:00 p.m. |
| Annex general population — onsite | Monday-Thursday, 1:05-9:05 p.m. |
| Annex general population — remote | Monday-Sunday, 1:05-9:05 p.m. |
| Closed / protective custody | Onsite only, Monday-Thursday, 1:05-3:35 p.m. and 5:05-8:00 p.m. |
- Schedule the visit at least the day before and no more than two weeks in advance.
- Visits last 25 minutes.
- Most inmates are allowed one visit per week; inmate workers may receive two onsite visits.
- Onsite visits may include up to four visitors, although only two visitors may be in the visitation area at one time.
- Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
- Arrive about 15 minutes before an onsite appointment.
- Remote visitation requires an ICSolutions account; the Sheriff currently states that at least $7.50 must be available in the prepaid account before scheduling a remote visit.
Check the Sheriff’s current visitation rules before traveling, because security needs, court appearances, programs and holidays can change or cancel a visit.
How to Send Money to an Inmate
Gaston County says inmate financial transactions are handled through Tech Friends. Money can be deposited through kiosks located in the main Sheriff’s Office lobby and the Jail Annex lobby, or online.
- Confirm the inmate’s identity in the official jail search.
- Open Inmate Canteen / Team Three.
- Select the correct facility and inmate.
- Review the inmate details again before submitting the deposit.
- Keep the transaction confirmation in case the payment needs to be traced.
Inmate Mail: Use the Current Scanning Address
Gaston County changed its personal inmate-mail process effective March 1, 2024. Regular correspondence is scanned and delivered electronically to inmate tablets. Do not send ordinary inmate mail to the Sheriff’s street address.
Inmate Name, Inmate Identifier
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
- Include the inmate’s name and identifier.
- The sender’s return address must include the sender’s full first and last name; initials are not sufficient.
- Mail that does not meet the addressing requirements may be returned.
- Legal mail is excluded from the electronic-scanning procedure and is handled under separate security procedures.
- If you do not know the inmate identifier, find the “Global Subject Number” in the inmate profile or call jail information at 704-869-6868 during listed weekday hours.
The Sheriff also directs family and friends to GettingOut for available digital messaging services.
Inmate Phone Calls
Gaston County Jail uses ICSolutions for inmate telephone service. Inmates make outgoing calls; callers may accept, refuse or block an incoming inmate call.
- The Sheriff’s current system provides a one-time 60-second complimentary call per inmate per telephone number when the receiving party accepts the initial call.
- Prepaid service can be established through ICSolutions.
- The jail also supports inmate debit calling, allowing an inmate to purchase telephone minutes from available account funds.
- The maximum published call length is 15 minutes.
- Calls are subject to monitoring and recording.
- Avoid three-way calling, call forwarding, call waiting and keypad input during the call because these may disconnect it.
Release Notifications and State Custody
If you need notification when an offender’s custody status changes, North Carolina’s SAVAN service provides free confidential notifications and includes county-jail inmates as well as state offenders. Access SAVAN and the state offender locator through the NC Department of Adult Correction search resources.
If an inmate disappears from the Gaston County roster after sentencing, transfer or release, do not assume the case is over. Search the court case first and use the NCDAC offender locator when state-prison custody is possible.
Which Search Should You Use?
| What you need | Best source |
|---|---|
| Current Gaston County jail inmate | Gaston County Sheriff’s Inmate Inquiry |
| Booking / custody confirmation | Official jail search or Sheriff’s Office |
| Actual criminal charge / case filing | Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court / NC Judicial Branch |
| Court date or hearing | NC Judicial Branch Portal / court-date service |
| Bond question | Current jail record, magistrate or court |
| North Carolina state prisoner | NC Department of Adult Correction offender search |
| Release notification | NC SAVAN |
Gaston County Jail Inmate Search FAQs
1. How do I search for an inmate in Gaston County Jail?
Open the Gaston County Sheriff’s official Inmate Inquiry and search by legal name, subject number or booking number. You can also narrow the results by custody status, booking date or housing facility.
2. Is there a current Gaston County jail roster online?
Yes. The Sheriff’s official Inmate Inquiry is the public roster and booking-search tool for Gaston County detention records.
3. Why can I not find someone who was recently arrested?
The booking may still be processing, the name may be entered differently, or the person may already have been released or transferred. Retry with fewer name fields and call 704-869-6800 if current custody remains unclear.
4. What is the Gaston County Jail phone number and address?
The Gaston County Sheriff’s Office main jail line is 704-869-6800. The Sheriff’s Office and detention complex are at 425 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Gastonia, NC 28052.
5. Can I search Gaston County inmates by booking number?
Yes. The official search includes separate fields for a subject number and booking number, which can be more precise than searching only by name.
6. How do I check an inmate’s bond or court case?
Start with the jail record for current custody and any listed bond information, then use the North Carolina Judicial Branch Portal or contact the Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court for the court case and official charge record.
7. How do I visit an inmate at Gaston County Jail?
Visits are handled by video visitation. Register through ICSolutions or the Jail Annex lobby, schedule at least the day before and up to two weeks ahead, and bring valid government-issued photo identification for an onsite visit.
8. What address should I use to mail a Gaston County inmate?
Regular inmate correspondence should be addressed to Gaston County Jail, Inmate Name and Inmate Identifier, P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Regular mail is scanned and delivered electronically; legal mail follows separate procedures.
9. How can I send money or receive inmate phone calls?
Inmate funds can be deposited through the approved jail kiosks or the Team Three Inmate Canteen system. Inmate telephone service is provided through ICSolutions, and the jail also supports inmate debit calling.
10. Where do I search if the inmate was transferred to state prison?
Use the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Offender Search. NCDAC specifically states that its database covers state offenders and does not include county-jail records.
Accuracy note: Jail custody, bond amounts, visitation availability, service providers and court status can change quickly. Recheck the official Gaston County inmate record before traveling, sending funds or relying on time-sensitive custody information.