Ada County, Idaho Inmate Search
An inmate search is the process of reviewing a county’s jail records to confirm whether a person is currently being held in the detention facility. In Ada County, these records are managed by the Ada County Sheriff’s Department, which also oversees the jail. The Sheriff’s Department allows public access to inmate records per the Idaho Public Records Act. Individuals generally can access these records in person or online. A county inmate search typically reveals basic details about an inmate’s detention, such as their name, age, charges, mugshot, and bail information.
How to Find an Inmate in Ada County Jail
Individuals can find an inmate in the Ada County jail using the Sheriff’s Office Inmate Roster. The roster contains information on adult offenders currently being detained in the jail facility. It does not display juvenile offender information or bail information for offenses where release is not an option. The portal also does not disclose an inmate’s status. Individuals interested in such information will have to inquire from the Sheriff’s Office in person or by phone at (208) 577-3000.
Additionally, researchers may use the Current Arrests portal to obtain information on persons arrested and detained in jail within the past five days. This makes it easier for individuals to locate recently incarcerated inmates. To obtain more detailed information, individuals may make a Public Records Request to the Sheriff’s Office. This method allows requesters to describe the sort of information they need that may not be readily available online.
Below is the address of the jail and the Sheriff’s Office, which are located on the same campus.
7200 Barrister Drive
Boise, ID 83704
How to Use the Ada County Jail Roster
Individuals who want to search for an inmate using the Ada County jail roster may navigate to the Sheriff’s website using a mobile device or computer. Once on the website, users may click the jail drop-down menu and select "Inmate Roster" (to access inmate information) or "Arrest Report" (to access the Current Arrests page).
On the Inmate Roster portal, users can search by the inmate’s full name or the first letter(s) of their last name. The Current Arrests portal allows searches by the inmate’s name, city of arrest, age, and arrest date. Individuals can configure the portal to display persons arrested within the last 4 hours, 24 hours, or 5 days and to sort the search results by name, age, arrest date, and status.
Information on juveniles detained in jail or the status of an inmate is not available online and may only be obtained in person or by phone from the Sheriff’s Office.
What Information is Included in the Ada County Inmate Roster
In Ada County, the following information is usually found when searching the inmate roster.
- The inmate’s name, age, and mugshot
- The inmate’s Jail Identification (JID) number
- The arresting agency
- The specific charges, their severity, their type, and the charge county
- Bail information
Access to Ada County inmate records is governed by the Idaho Public Records Act (Idaho Code § 74-101, et seq.). These records are generally presumed public under the Act; however, some information is redacted from public viewing. For example, under Idaho Code § 74-105, the records of an inmate cannot be disclosed to another inmate. Also, under Idaho Code § 74-113, current inmates are often barred from inspecting or amending their own records unless they are involved in active litigation. The Public Records Act also states that a record may be restricted if "public interest in confidentiality, public safety, security, and rehabilitation clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure."
Contact Details for Ada County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
The Ada County jail is managed by the Sheriff’s Office, so individuals who want to speak to jail staff or need a contact point to obtain information about an inmate or ask a general question about jail may contact the Sheriff’s Office at
7200 Barrister Drive
Boise, ID 83704
Phone: (208) 577-3000
Non-Emergency Dispatch Phone: (208) 377-6790
Fax: (208) 577-3009
For information regarding inmate visitation, individuals may call (208) 577-3113. Parents or guardians of a juvenile in custody may call the detention center at (208) 577-4948.
Jail Facility Overview in Ada County
The Ada County jail is the primary detention facility serving Ada County. The jail was established in 1977, housing up to 160 inmates and 32 work release inmates. It has since grown over time and is currently the largest jail in Idaho, with a 1,116-bed capacity, housing both male and female inmates. Bed space is allocated according to the jail’s inmate classification system and individual medical needs.
Every person booked in Ada County undergoes a classification process that assigns a security level (minimum, medium, or maximum). The jail accommodates both male and female inmates. There are four main dorms for men and two for women designated for minimum-security inmates, accounting for more than half of the available bed space. Minimum-security inmates have the most privileges, while maximum-security inmates have the least. This process is designed to ensure the safety of both inmates and staff.
Ada County also operates a Community Transition Center for inmates preparing for release. This facility contains 100 beds, with 68 designated for men and 32 for women.
Youth arrested in the county are housed separately at the Ada County Juvenile Detention Center, which has a 36-bed capacity across two units. While the Sheriff’s Office maintains the adult jails, the Juvenile Detention Center is managed by the Juvenile Services department, which reports to the Ada County Board of Commissioners. Juveniles do not have the right to bail in Idaho, and their stay or leave is usually determined by the judge.
|
Agency |
Office and Mail Address |
Phone Number |
Office Hours |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ada County Jail |
7200 Barrister Drive, |
(208) 577-3000 |
24 hours a day |
Individuals can send an email to the jail using the Sheriff’s Public Information Officer’s email address. |
|
Ada County Juvenile Detention Center |
6300 West Denton Street, |
(208) 577-4948 |
24 hours a day |
Email inquiries to the Juvenile Detention Center may be made via the Juvenile Clerk’s email address. |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Ada County Jail
There are two primary ways to send money to an inmate in Ada County jail: in person and online. For in-person deposits, the Sheriff’s Office has a kiosk where cash or card payments can be made. Depositors should ensure they provide the inmate’s accurate name or Jail Identification number so the money is deposited into the right account. Alternatively, individuals can make deposits online through the jail’s third-party provider.
Additionally, family and friends can directly purchase items, such as food, clothes, or books for an inmate from the jail commissary online. To make a purchase, individuals may visit the third-party provider’s website, find the inmate, and choose the package they wish to gift.
Any questions or inquiries about the process can be made to the Sheriff’s Office by phone.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
The Ada County jail and the Juvenile Detention Center are the primary facilities holding both adult and juvenile offenders in the county. Some offenders may also be housed in the Community Transition Center; however, these are exclusively inmates preparing for release.
Individuals can search for inmates housed in the Ada County jail or the Community Transition Center using the Sheriff’s Inmate Roster or Current Arrests portals. Information on an inmate on either portal may be obtained using the inmate’s name. Inquirers may also obtain information on an inmate by visiting the Sheriff’s Office or making a public records request online.
For juvenile offenders in the Juvenile Detention Center, access is more restricted because Idaho law, specifically Idaho Code § 74-105, prevents the disclosure of juvenile information to the public. As a result, the only non-law-enforcement personnel privy to such information are the offender’s parents or guardians. Parents may obtain information about their child’s confinement by calling the Juvenile Detention Center.
Ada County Visitation Rules and Schedules
When a person is incarcerated in jail, their interaction with the outside world is generally limited, which can hamper their relationship with family and friends. Ada County makes room for this relationship to be sustained through its visitation program.
The Ada County jail uses a video visitation system, where visitors have to schedule a visit via a third-party provider. Inmates are allowed two free visitations per week, each visitation lasting a maximum of 25 minutes. Additional visits are allowed but will cost a fee. Individuals may call (208) 577-3113 to obtain more information about visitations in the Ada County jail.
Youths at the Juvenile Detention Center can be visited by family on Sundays, between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., and Wednesdays between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. In addition, juvenile offenders are also allowed to call their parents or guardians free of charge for 10 minutes twice a week. Individuals may call the Juvenile Detention Center to talk with their children about visitation.
Mailing and Commissary Information
Inmates in the Ada County jail are permitted to receive and send mail to individuals outside the facility. However, the process is strictly regulated to ensure safety and adherence to jail rules. All mail received from outside the jail is scanned to verify compliance before being delivered to the inmate electronically. Any mail that falls short of the requirement is not delivered to the inmate. Jail staff usually check for the following prohibited information in the mail:
- Sexual content
- Escape plans
- Intimidating and harassing statements
- Overly complex messages or those that include hidden codes
- Content that violates jail rules or local, state, and federal laws
- Plans to move contraband in and out of jail
- Gang-related writings or drawings
- Unauthorized references or material
Individuals sending mail to an inmate should address it as specified on the jail’s website. The address is the scanning address where the mail is checked before being delivered to the jail. Senders unsure of the inmate’s JID can search the Inmate Roster by name. Individuals who wish to send books, newspapers, or magazines to an inmate may send them directly to the jail, provided the items are sent by the publisher or bookstore. Loved ones may send commissary to an inmate through the jail’s third-party provider.