How to Use the Multnomah County Jail Roster
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office posts a free tool called MCSO Online Inmate Data. It lets you search current and recent custody by name. You pick a search type, type a name, and read the results. There is no account to set up and no fee to pay. A booking profile opens when you click a name in the result list.
Have a full name ready if you can. A blank search with a broad search type returns a long list, which is slow to read. The Sheriff's Office books people into Oregon's most populous county jail system, so common names can return many results. When that happens, the booking date and the assigned facility help you confirm the right person.
- Open the MCSO Online Inmate Data search tool.
- Enter a first name, a last name, or both.
- Choose a search type, such as Now In Custody or Booked Last 7 Days.
- Click a name in the result list to open the booking profile.
- Read the charges, court case numbers, bail, and assigned facility.
The Sheriff's Office describes its corrections, civil, and law-enforcement roles on its about page.
You can read the MCSO about page to understand which agency runs the jail roster you are searching.
Multnomah County Inmate Search Fields
The search form is short, but the search type does most of the work. It controls the time window and the custody status you see. The table breaks down the fields and the search-type options.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes / Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Name | Text | Optional | Blank is allowed. |
| Last Name | Text | Optional | Blank returns broad results. |
| Search Type | Dropdown | Required | Now In Custody, Released Last 7 Days, Emergency Releases Last 7 Days, Booked Last 7 Days, Booked Today, Booked Yesterday, and recent weekday options. |
| Search | Button | Yes | Submits the query and returns a result count and names. |
Each result row shows the result count, the name as a clickable link, and the booking date.
The search type matters more than people expect. "Now In Custody" shows who is held at this moment. The "Booked" options let you scan recent arrivals by day or by week. The "Released" and "Emergency Releases" options confirm that someone has left custody in the past seven days. If a name does not appear under one search type, try another, because a person booked and released the same day may only show under a "Booked" window.
Why You Cannot Find Someone in the Roster
A blank result does not always mean the person is free. The county jail tool only covers local custody. Someone may have moved to state prison, transferred to a federal facility, or been released hours ago. A name spelled differently at booking can also hide a match.
Try a few fixes before you give up. Search by last name alone. Switch the search type. Check the "Released Last 7 Days" window. If the person was sentenced to prison, search the Oregon Department of Corrections instead, since state custody is not in the county tool.
Reading a Multnomah County Booking Profile
A booking profile holds the core record for a person in custody. It lists identity descriptors, the arresting agency, the assigned facility, and a charge section. Each charge ties to a court case number and a bail amount. The table lists the fields you will read in a Multnomah County booking profile.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Booking Number | The unique number for this jail stay. |
| SWIS ID | The jail system ID used for mail and account deposits. |
| Name, Age, Gender, Race | Identity descriptors recorded at booking. |
| Height, Weight, Hair, Eyes | Physical descriptors on file. |
| Arresting Agency | The agency that made the arrest. |
| Booking Date / Facility | When booked and where held, such as MCDC. |
| Projected Release Date | An estimate; often listed as Unknown. |
| Charges | Each charge with classification, court case number, and bail. |
The Sheriff posts a sample booking profile so the public can see the layout before searching.
This sample booking profile shows how charges, case numbers, and bail line up on one page.
Multnomah County Jail Facilities
The Sheriff's Office runs two jails. The Multnomah County Detention Center sits downtown inside the Justice Center and handles intake and first appearances. The Inverness Jail is a larger medium-security facility in northeast Portland. The booking profile tells you which one holds a person. In FY 2024, the two jails were funded to house up to 1,130 adults in custody, a number that can sit below the physical bed count because staffing and budget set the funded capacity.
The MCSO jails page lists addresses, bail posting, mail rules, and money deposit options.
Multnomah County Detention Center
1120 SW Third Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
503-988-3689
Downtown intake; design capacity cited at 448 beds
Multnomah County Inverness Jail
11540 NE Inverness Drive
Portland, OR 97220
503-988-5060
Medium security; cited at 1,037 beds
Booking and Bail
When a person is booked, bail may be set on each charge. The Sheriff lists the jail line for bail instructions. Self-bail can be posted through TouchPay Online using MCSO Facility number 297204, and at the Inverness Jail lobby daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. In-person bail is available at the Justice Center lobby 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.
The booking profile shows the bail amount per charge. A note on the portal explains that bail may be the full amount or ten percent of the full amount, depending on the charge. To post bail, call 503-988-3689 for instructions and use official channels only.
Important: Never pay a private party who promises to secure a release; only the court and the Sheriff control custody and release.
Booking Photos and HB 3273
Many people expect a mugshot with each booking. The county does not show one on the public jail page. The Sheriff's portal states that, because of Oregon House Bill 3273, it no longer posts booking photos to the public jail-information section. Names and charges stay public, but the photo does not.
So a Multnomah County inmate search returns identity descriptors, charges, and bail, but not a public booking photo. Sites that claim to sell mugshots are not the official source, and they often pull old data that no longer reflects a person's status.
Visitation at the Multnomah County Jails
Visits are a privilege, and the rules are strict. Social visitors must be on the inmate's visitor list, including minors. Visits are first come, first served, so arrive 30 to 60 minutes early. Each adult must show a current, valid government photo ID. The Sheriff warns that weekend visits may be cut by staffing, so call ahead.
The MCSO visitation page lists social, video, professional, and media visit rules. The schedule below summarizes the key social-visit limits.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visitors per visit | Up to three social visitors, and children count. |
| Visit periods | Two visit periods per weekend per inmate. |
| Visit length | Up to 30 minutes per in-person social visit. |
| Arrival | Arrive 30 to 60 minutes early; first come, first served. |
| ID required | Valid driver's license, state ID, military ID, or passport. |
Video visits run through Securus, from home or from lobby kiosks. They must be scheduled at least 24 hours ahead, and a visitor does not need to be on the social visit list for a video visit. Kiosk visitors should arrive at least 15 minutes early with valid ID, and the session is recorded and monitored. A home video visit needs a Windows or Mac computer, high-speed internet, a webcam, and a registered login.
Sending Mail to a Multnomah County Inmate
The mail rule trips up many families, so read it twice. All inmate mail goes to the Inverness Jail, even for people housed downtown at the Detention Center. Address it to the Inverness Jail at 11540 NE Inverness Drive, Portland, OR 97220, and include the words "Inmate Mail," the booked first and last name, and the SWIS ID.
Other mail rules are firm. Include a return address. Incoming mail is opened and inspected. Use pencil, ball-point pen, or colored pencil. Packages from private parties are rejected, and books or magazines must come from a publisher or an approved retailer. Legal mail must be marked "LEGAL MAIL" and is searched for contraband in the inmate's presence.
Money and Commissary
The Sheriff's Office keeps a financial account for each person in custody. Funds pay for hygiene items, writing supplies, snacks, commissary, fees, or bail. Any money left over is returned at release. The office does not accept cash, personal checks, cashier's checks, or money orders for account deposits.
To add money, use a TouchPay kiosk at the Justice Center, open 24 hours, or at the Inverness lobby during regular hours. You can also use the TouchPay online portal with MCSO Facility number 297204, or call toll-free 1-866-232-1899 with the same facility number.
Keep the SWIS ID handy for deposits, since the system uses it to route money to the right account. The same ID appears on the booking profile and is required on mail. Without it, a deposit or a letter can be delayed or returned.
State and Federal Inmate Searches
The county jail tool covers local custody only. If a person was sent to state prison, search the Oregon Department of Corrections. If the case is federal, use the Bureau of Prisons locator. For recent releases and custody notifications, the released inmates page covers VISOR and the state and federal locators.
See the released inmates page for the state and federal searches, and the jail population page for capacity and demographic data.
About the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Office is more than a jail agency. It runs civil process, river patrol over 110 river miles, courthouse security, and law enforcement for contract cities. The current sheriff is Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell. In April 2025, the office announced accreditation in both law enforcement and corrections.
The sheriff biography page covers the office's roles and leadership.
Inmate Data Questions
The Sheriff posts a FAQ for the inmate data tool. It explains what the search shows, how often it updates, and why some fields are blank or listed as Unknown. It is the best place to confirm how to read a profile.
Read the inmate data FAQ for details on the search tool and its limits.