Please read this before you write to us. This is a private reference site, not a government office. We do not run the Bay County Jail, and we have no tie to any sheriff's office or corrections agency. That means we cannot confirm whether a person is in custody, we cannot release anyone, we cannot post bond, and we cannot pull official booking records for you. When you need any of those things, reach out to the correct government office directly. The contacts below point you to the right place.
Reaching the Right Bay County Office
Most people who land here are trying to find a person, a charge, or a record. The fastest path is to go straight to the agency that actually holds the information. In Bay County, the Sheriff's Office runs the jail and answers questions about people held there. A separate records custodian handles formal public records requests. Both sets of contact details are listed below so you can pick the one that fits your need.
Bay County Sheriff's Office and Bay County Jail
5700 Star Lane
Panama City, FL 32404
Jail main line: (850) 785-5245
Jail information line: (850) 215-5140
Sheriff's Office website: https://bayso.org/
Inmate search: https://www.baysomobile.org/is
For copies of official records, the Sheriff's Office has a dedicated public records custodian. Many requests can be filed online through the GovTransfer portal linked on the records page. You can also call, fax, or mail the office during normal business hours.
BCSO Public Records (Custodian: Mrs. Beth Nelson)
3421 N. Highway 77
Panama City, FL 32405
Email: beth.nelson@bayso.org
Phone: (850) 747-4700
Fax: (850) 914-2093
Online requests: https://bayso.org/public-records/
Records pickup and refund window: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Not every question belongs with the Sheriff's Office, though. Where you look depends on who you are searching for and what stage their case has reached. Here is a quick guide to the right starting point:
- Someone booked into the county jail: start with our page on jail inmate records.
- Booking photos: see the page on jail roster mugshots.
- Charges that were filed after an arrest: check court records after a jail arrest.
- A specific lockup in the county: use the detention facility pages listed in the footer.
- A sentenced state prisoner: search the statewide Florida Department of Corrections locator.
- A federal or immigration detainee: try the federal Bureau of Prisons locator or the ICE locator.