Homestead City Florida released inmates are people who spent time in jail or prison and are now back in the community. Homestead sits in Miami-Dade County in southern Florida.
The city has about 85,796 people. It is part of the 11th Judicial Circuit. When someone gets arrested in Homestead, they go to a county jail because Homestead does not run its own jail. After release, you can search public records to see who was let out, when, and why. This page shows you exactly how to do that.
Where Homestead Arrests Are Processed
Homestead does not have a local jail. Every arrest in the city goes through Miami-Dade County. The county runs all booking, holding, and release work for Homestead inmates. Three main detention centers handle this work.
Miami-Dade County Jail System
Miami-Dade County runs the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department. This department handles every inmate from Homestead. They book people, house them, and process their release. The main office sits at 3505 Northwest 107 Avenue in Doral, Florida 33178. You can call the main line at (786) 263-7000 any time you need help.
Three Detention Centers
The county runs three main jails that hold Homestead inmates. The Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center is at 7000 Northwest 41st Street in Miami. It has 1,000 beds and serves as the main booking and release center. The Metro-West Detention Center is at 13850 Northwest 41st Street in Miami with 2,200 beds. It holds male and female inmates at minimum, medium, and maximum security levels. The Pretrial Detention Center sits at 1321 Northwest 13th Street in Miami with 1,400 beds. It holds people waiting for trial or with ongoing court cases.
Why Homestead Has No Local Jail
Homestead is a smaller city. It does not have the budget or space to run a full jail. So Miami-Dade County handles all jail work for Homestead and other cities within its borders. This makes the county system the one place to search for Homestead arrest records.
How to Search for Homestead Released Inmates
Several online tools help you search for people released from Homestead jails. Each tool works a bit differently. Some show current inmates only. Others track state prison inmates and their release dates.
County Inmate Search Portal
The Miami-Dade Corrections website runs the main inmate search for Homestead. You can find it at miamidade.gov/Apps/mdcr/inmateSearch. The search form asks for a last name and first name. You must type at least three letters in each box. The system shows people currently in custody at county jails. It does not show people who have been released. If the person left jail, they drop off this list.
The search results show full details for each inmate. You see the mugshot, full booking name, date of birth, jail number, and booking date. You also see physical details like race, weight, sex, eye color, and hair color. The case section shows charges and case numbers. Bond status tells you if they can post bail. This tool works for current inmates only.
Florida DOC Database
The Florida Department of Corrections runs a statewide database for felony offenders. It tracks people sent to state prison after conviction. The portal sits at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch/InmateInfoMenu.aspx. This database covers people from Homestead who got felony sentences and transferred to state custody. It does not cover county jail inmates.
The FDC system offers several search options. You can search the inmate population, release information, escapes, supervised offenders, and absconders. The Inmate Release Information Search updates every night. It shows past releases and upcoming release dates. You search by name or DC number. The DC number is a six-character ID the state assigns to each offender.
Vinelink Notification System
Vinelink is a free service that alerts you when an inmate gets released or moved. It is run by the Florida Department of Corrections and Appriss Insights. You register at vinelink.com. You pick the person you want to track. You enter their name and birth date. Vinelink sends you an email or text when that person enters custody, moves, or gets released. This works for county jails and state prisons across Florida.
Court Records Search
The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court has case files online. You can search by name or case number. Court files show what happened after the arrest. You see plea deals, trial results, sentencing, and final outcomes. Court records give you the full picture of a Homestead criminal case from start to finish.
Understanding Release Types and Status
People leave jail or prison for different reasons. Each release type carries a different legal meaning. Knowing the type helps you understand what happened with a specific case.
Bond Release
A bond release happens when someone pays money to leave jail while waiting for trial. The court sets a bond amount based on the charges. The inmate or family pays that amount to a bondsman or the court. The person must show up for all court dates. If they miss court, the bond is lost and a warrant goes out for arrest.
Time Served
Time served means the person stayed in jail for the full length of their sentence. Many people in county jail get short sentences. They serve their time and then walk out. This release type happens most often for misdemeanor charges or low-level felony pleas.
Case Dismissed
A case dismissed release happens when the court drops all charges. The state or the judge decides there is not enough evidence or a legal reason to keep the case going. The person goes free. The arrest record still exists in some databases but the case ended without a conviction.
Release on Recognizance
Release on recognizance means the person promised to return to court without paying bond. The judge decides the person is not a flight risk. They sign a paper saying they will show up. This often happens for minor charges or people with strong local ties.
Transfer to State Custody
Transfer to state custody happens when a county inmate gets convicted of a felony and sentenced to state prison. The county releases the person to the Florida Department of Corrections. The state picks them up and moves them to a prison facility. County records stop at the transfer date. State records pick up from there.
| Release Type | Reason | Where Records Go |
|---|---|---|
| Bond | Money paid to leave before trial | County system until court ends |
| Time Served | Sentence finished in jail | County system only |
| Dismissed | Charges dropped by court | Court system only |
| Recognizance | Promise to return without bond | County system until court ends |
| State Transfer | Sent to prison for felony | Florida DOC system |
State Prison Release Records
The Florida Department of Corrections tracks every state prison inmate from arrest to final release. The system covers all Homestead residents who got felony sentences and went to state prison. It shows current location, release dates, and supervision status after release.
FDC Offender Search
The FDC offender search at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com is the main tool for state inmates. You pick the search type from the menu. The inmate population search shows people still in prison. The release search shows past releases. The supervised offender search shows people on parole or probation. The absconder search shows people who violated supervision and disappeared.
Each search returns basic details. You see the inmate name, DC number, current facility, and offense details. Release records show the exact release date, the type of release, and any post-release supervision. The system updates every night with new information.
Release Information Search
The release information search shows release dates and supervision status. You can see if someone was released to parole, finished their full sentence, or got early release. The system also shows the projected release date for current inmates. This helps families plan visits and prepare for a family member’s return home.
Bureau of Admission and Release Contact
For questions about state releases, contact the Bureau of Admission and Release. The phone number is (850) 488-9167. The email is dc.release@fdc.myflorida.com. Staff can answer questions about release dates, supervision status, and the release process. County jails do not manage state inmates once they transfer to prison. The FDC handles everything from that point forward.
Public Records Access and Rights
Florida has strong public records laws. Most inmate records are open to the public. You do not need to be a lawyer or a journalist. Anyone can request inmate information under state law.
Florida Public Records Law
Florida law makes government records public by default. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes says any person can ask for records unless the law says they are exempt. Inmate names, charges, booking dates, and release dates are all public. You can ask for these records without giving a reason. The agency must give them to you within a set time period.
Chapter 119 Protections
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes protects public access. The full text sits at leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0119/0119.html. The law says agencies must provide records on request. They can charge a small fee for copies. They cannot refuse without a clear legal reason. This law applies to every jail and prison in Florida including those holding Homestead inmates.
Section 945.10 Exempt Records
Section 945.10 of the Florida Statutes protects some inmate information. Medical records stay private. Mental health records are confidential. Substance abuse treatment records are exempt. Juvenile records have extra protections. Victim information is also protected. But basic inmate data like names, charges, and release dates for adult Homestead inmates stays public.
Request Process
To request records, send a public records request to Miami-Dade Corrections Central Records. The address is 2525 Northwest 62nd Street, Suite 4200, Miami, FL 33147. You can call (786) 263-5892 to ask about the process. Most basic inmate searches online have no fee. Copies may cost a few cents per page.
Contact Information for Homestead Records
You can reach Miami-Dade Corrections through several phone numbers and offices. Each line handles a different type of request. Use the right number based on what you need.
Miami-Dade Corrections Phone Numbers
The main Miami-Dade Corrections phone number is (786) 263-7000. For inmate records, call (786) 263-4222. For central records, call (786) 263-5892 or (786) 263-6071. Staff can look up inmates by name or jail number. They can tell you if someone is in custody or when they were released. The booking areas stay open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Office Locations
The main headquarters sits at 3505 Northwest 107 Avenue, Doral, FL 33178. Central Records is at 2525 Northwest 62nd Street, Suite 4200, Miami, FL 33147. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The jail booking areas stay open all day and night for new arrests and releases.
Official Website
The official Miami-Dade Corrections website is miamidade.gov. The inmate search portal is at miamidade.gov/Apps/mdcr/inmateSearch. The Florida Department of Corrections website is fdc.myflorida.com. The state inmate search portal is at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch. Vinelink sits at vinelink.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ section covers the most common questions about searching for Homestead City Florida released inmates. Each answer gives you clear steps and real sources. Use these answers to handle the most common release record searches.
How long does a released inmate stay in the county search portal?
An inmate drops off the county search portal as soon as they leave custody. The Miami-Dade inmate search at miamidade.gov/Apps/mdcr/inmateSearch only shows people currently in custody at county facilities. Once someone is released on bond, time served, or transferred to state prison, their name disappears from the active list. To find a released inmate from Homestead after they leave county jail, you need to call the inmate records line at (786) 263-4222 or search court records through the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court. Court records show the final outcome of every case. The Florida DOC database tracks only people who got felony sentences and went to state prison. The county portal will not show them again once they are released.
Can I find out why a Homestead inmate was released?
Yes, you can find out why a Homestead inmate was released. The Miami-Dade Corrections Department tracks the release reason for every inmate. Call the inmate records phone line at (786) 263-4222 or central records at (786) 263-5892. Staff can look up the person by name or jail number and tell you the release date and reason. Court records also show the case outcome. If the inmate posted bond, you see the bond amount and payment date. If they were transferred to state prison, you see the transfer date. Public records law in Florida Chapter 119 makes this information available to the public. You do not need to give a reason for asking. Just provide the inmate’s full name and date of birth for faster lookup.
What is the difference between county jail and state prison release records?
County jail and state prison release records cover different custody levels. County jail holds people arrested for crimes in Homestead and other Miami-Dade cities. These people are usually waiting for trial or serving short sentences under one year. The Miami-Dade Corrections Department handles these records. State prison holds people convicted of felonies with sentences over one year. The Florida Department of Corrections handles these records at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com. County release records show bond, time served, dismissal, or recognizance releases. State release records show sentence completion, parole, early release, or expiration of sentence. The two systems do not share data. You must search each one separately based on the type of release you are tracking.
How do I set up alerts for inmate releases in Homestead?
You can set up free release alerts through Vinelink at vinelink.com. Vinelink is Florida’s official inmate notification system run by the Florida Department of Corrections. Create an account, add the inmate’s name and date of birth, and pick your contact method. The system sends you an email or text when the person gets booked into jail, moves between facilities, or gets released. This works for county jails and state prisons in Florida. You can track up to five people at once. The service is free for personal use. Law enforcement agencies and victim services can also access Vinelink through a paid subscription. The notifications help families stay informed and help victims stay aware of offender status changes.
Are juvenile inmate records from Homestead public?
No, juvenile inmate records from Homestead are not public. Florida law gives juvenile records extra protections under Section 945.10 and other statutes. Only certain people can access juvenile records. Parents, legal guardians, lawyers, and judges can request juvenile records. The general public cannot view them. Juvenile arrests and releases do not appear on the Miami-Dade inmate search portal. Court files for juveniles stay sealed. Only people directly involved in the case can request copies. This protection covers everyone under 18 at the time of arrest. Once the person turns 18, some records may become available depending on the case type and outcome.
Can I request the mugshot of a released Homestead inmate?
Yes, mugshots of Homestead inmates are public records under Florida law. The Miami-Dade inmate search portal shows current mugshots for people in custody. For released inmates, you need to request the booking photo through a public records request. Send your request to Miami-Dade Corrections Central Records at 2525 Northwest 62nd Street, Suite 4200, Miami, FL 33147. Call (786) 263-5892 to ask about the request process. The agency charges a small fee for copies. Mugshots become public after the booking process ends. You can use the mugshot to confirm identity for legal, personal, or safety reasons.
How do I find out if a Homestead inmate was transferred to state prison?
To find out if a Homestead inmate went to state prison, search the Florida Department of Corrections database at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch. Use the inmate’s full name and date of birth. The FDC system shows all people transferred from county jails to state custody. Each record shows the original county, transfer date, current facility, and projected release date. If the person is not in the FDC system, they are still in county custody or were released back to the community. You can also call the Miami-Dade inmate records line at (786) 263-4222 to ask about a specific transfer. Staff can confirm whether a person moved to state prison and when the transfer happened.