How to Find Local Mug Shots

It really isn't very hard to find local mug shots, and it can be very interesting to say the least. You may be surprised to find out just how many of your friends, acquaintances and neighbors have been in jail in the past. Whether you are simply curious, or looking to keep yourself and your family safe, there are several ways to find local mug shots of people that have been to jail or prison. Here's how you can do it on your own.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Visit your local Sheriff's Office website to find local mug shots. As time goes on, more and more departments are posting the information online to keep the public well informed on their jail websites. Search for your area's site and see what you can find. Generally, larger departments are more likely to have the pictures online, but it varies a lot. While some may consider this to be a violation of the offender's rights, the courts have typically maintained that the photo's can be posted, so it's a good way to find local mug shots.

2. Search through the National Sex Offender Registry through sites like Watchdog to find local mug shots. This is one of the very best ways to find the photographs you're looking for. When you use these sites, you can generally enter your zip code or city and state. After you've entered the required info, you'll view a map with little dots on it. The dots, color coded for convenience, show the location of a registered sex offender. By clicking on the dot, you'll see the address and photograph of the convicted sex offender. This really is a great way to get local mug shots, and you can do it from the convenience of your own home. Keep in mind that the local mug shots will be limited to convicted sex offenders, so it's not an all inclusive list.

3. Go to your local Police Department or Sheriff's Office to view local mug shots. This can be hit and miss, as some departments have policies against this. Still, it's worth a shot. Generally, you cannot simply go in and browse all of the photographs, so you'll want to have a specific list of people that have local mug shots. For this reason, this method is best reserved for cases of finding specific people that you know or suspect have been in jail or prison in the area.

4. Try online sources to find local mug shots. Some people will post them on their Myspace or Face Book accounts, so it's worth a shot. In addition, sites like Yahoo and Google have an image section that's worth looking into. Generally these are hit and miss, but still worth a look. There are quite a few ways to find local mug shots, you just have to be willing to put a little effort into your search.

Tips & Warnings

• A local mug shot is not the same as a conviction.