Lima, Ohio Inmate Search
In Lima, individuals arrested by the Lima Police Department and detained are often taken to the Allen County Jail. Requesters may locate these people through the Allen County Sheriff's Office online inmate inquiry tool.
Inquiries on the portal often yield an inmate's basic identifying information, such as name, subject number, date of birth, age, gender, race, height, and weight. Other search results may include booking information, charges, bond information, case details, and custody or release status.
Inquirers seeking information about persons who have not yet been transferred to the county jail may contact the Lima Police Department at:
Lima Police Department
117 East Market Street
Lima, OH 45801
Phone: (419) 227-4444
How to Find an Inmate in Lima Jail
Lima does not maintain a separate public inmate roster for a city-operated jail. The Allen County Jail, operated by the Allen County Sheriff's Office, houses individuals arrested and detained by the Lima Police Department. This suggests that requesters looking for someone arrested in Lima should begin their search with the county's official inmate inquiry tool.
Requesters may search using an inmate's name, subject number, booking number, booking-date range, In-custody status, or housing facility. Searches typically display the person's basic descriptors (e.g., gender, race, weight, and height), booking information, release dates, charges, bond information, case disposition, and the arresting agency.
Interested parties who wish to make inquiries about a recent arrest that has not been entered into the jail system or transfers from the county jail to other state- or federal-owned facilities may contact the Allen County Sheriff's Office at:
333 North Main Street
Lima, OH 45801
Phone: (419) 993-1407 (Inmate inquiry)
Phone: (419) 227-3535 (Sheriff's Office main line)
How to Use the Lima Jail Roster
Lima does not maintain an online jail roster for persons arrested and remanded in custody. Such individuals are incarcerated in the Allen County Jail, which is searchable through the County Sheriff's inmate inquiry tool.
To search the portal:
- Navigate to the Corrections Division page of the Allen County Sheriff's Office and click on "Inmate Search" to open the search page.
- Enter a first and last name to find the exact person or partial names if uncertain of the exact spelling.
- Users may refine search results with a subject number, "booking from and to" dates, "In Custody" status, or housing facility.
- Next, click "Search" and select the right record to display available booking and custody details.
Searches often yield details, such as an inmate's demographic information (e.g., name, subject number, date of birth, age, gender, race, height, and weight), booking details, and a description of charges. Other details include bond information, case information, and custody or release status.
What Information is Included in the Lima Inmate Roster
Some components of the Allen County inmate roster are as follows:
- Full name: An inmate's official name recorded during booking.
- Subject number: A unique number that links a person to their criminal history and physical characteristics; it helps distinguish between individuals with similar names.
- Booking number: A tracking number assigned to an offender for a specific jail booking.
- Booking photograph: A passport-sized picture of the inmate taken during the booking for identification.
- Physical description: Personal identifying traits, such as gender, race, height, and weight.
- Age and date of birth: An inmate's age at the time of arrest and complete birth date.
- Booking date: The date and time the person was booked and processed into the jail system.
- Release information: Inmate's actual or scheduled release date, when available.
- Booking origin: This refers to the police department, sheriff's office, or other agency responsible for a specific booking.
- Housing facility: The jail where the person is being held.
- Charges: A brief description of an alleged offense someone was arrested for, including the count, offense date, offense classification, and docket number.
- Bond information: This refers to a service that allows a defendant to pay a portion of the bail amount to the court through a third party.
- Bail information: The amount a defendant must pay to secure his release until trial.
Contact Details for Lima Jail or Sheriff’s Office
The Allen County Jail and the Sheriff's Office operate from the same address. Individuals wishing to make inquiries about someone detained after an arrest in Lima city should contact the law enforcement agency at the following address:
Allen County Jail and Sheriff’s Office
333 North Main Street
ima, OH 45801
Sheriff’s Office main line: (419) 227-3535
| Contact point | Details |
|---|---|
| Sheriff’s Office main line | 419-227-3535 |
| Booking desk and general prisoner information | 419-993-1407 |
| Jail administration | 419-993-1410 |
| Inmate Services | 419-223-8573 |
| Records Bureau | 419-227-3535 |
| Records email | records@acso-oh.us |
| Fax | 419-227-2004 |
| Official website | https://acso-oh.us/ |
| Jail information | https://acso-oh.us/sheriffs-office-divisions/corrections-division/ |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Allen County Jail?
As of September 2026, all Allen County Commissary transactions go through Inmate Cateen. This authorized online payment service provider offers several convenient methods for depositors to send money to inmates in the jail facility.
Online Deposits
Depositors may make payments online at any time through the Inmate Canteen website. New users must create an account, while existing users only need to log in. To make a payment online, select the state (Ohio) and agency where the recipient is located (e.g., Allen County Jail, OH). Next, enter the inmate's identifying information, such as the complete name or Sheriff's Office ID, to find them. Once the right person is displayed, select their trust account, enter the amount, and pay with a debit or credit card. Review the details of the transaction before confirming payment.
Please note that a service charge may apply to online transactions.
Jail Lobby Kiosk
Friends and family may send money to inmates via the kiosk in the Allen County Jail lobby at 333 North Main Street, Lima, OH 45801. According to the Sheriff's Office, the lobby kiosk accepts cash. Visitors should contact the Booking Desk before traveling to confirm lobby access and current kiosk availability.
Money Order by Mail
Depositors may mail money orders to the jail for commissary accounts, using the following format:
Inmate's Full Name
In Care of the Allen County Jail
P.O. Box 1234
Lima, OH 45801
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
The Allen County Sheriff's Office operates the County Jail through its Corrections Division. This facility is searchable under a single online inmate inquiry tool. Therefore, inmate information for individuals arrested in Lima and other cities in the county is stored in the same database. The Allen County Sheriff's inmate search tool does not cover juvenile detainees, residents of community-corrections programs, and state prisoners.
The Allen County Juvenile Detention Center does not maintain a public list of detained children. Eligible parties (e.g., a parent, guardian, attorney, or other authorized person) should contact the Allen County Juvenile Court or detention program. Access may be limited because juvenile custody and court information is protected.
| Facility or program | Separate search option? | Where to find or request information |
|---|---|---|
| Allen County Jail | Yes | Allen County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Inquiry |
| Allen County Jail inmate work program | No | Use the regular county Inmate Inquiry or contact Inmate Services |
| Allen County Juvenile Detention Center | No public detainee roster | Contact the Allen County Juvenile Court or detention program |
| Allen-Oakwood Correctional Institution | Yes, through the state system | Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Offender Search |
| WORTH Center | No separate public resident search found | Contact the WORTH Center directly |
Lima Visitation Rules and Schedules
Visitation for people arrested from Lima takes place through the Allen County Jail, the county's main adult detention facility. The jail offers in-person visits, free video visits from lobby kiosks, and paid remote video visits.
Who May Visit
- Each inmate is eligible for two in-person visits per week with no more than 5 visitors per visit, including children.
- Only visitors listed on an inmate's visitation list may visit.
- A parent or legal guardian must accompany children for visits.
- The jail administration must approve video visitors. A court-issued no-contact or restraining order between an inmate and a proposed visitor will prevent the visit.
Identification and Arrival
- All in-person visitors must sign in at least 15 minutes before the scheduled visit. Late visitors may be denied entry or lose part of their scheduled time.
- The Sheriff’s Office does not list a specific type of acceptable identification on its published in-person visitation page. Visitors should bring a valid government-issued photo ID and confirm requirements with the Booking Desk before travelling.
Dress and Conduct Rules
Visitors should wear shirts, shoes, undergarments, and clothing suitable for a public facility. Items prohibited by the jail include:
- Tube tops, see-through tops, and low-cut tops
- Clothing that exposes the cleavage or midsection
- Provocative or excessively tight clothing
- Shorts shorter than mid-thigh
- Hats, sunglasses, or face coverings intended to conceal identity
- Food and drinks are not allowed in the video-visitation lobby.
- Tobacco products and matches/lighters are prohibited in jail visitor areas. Visitors may not photograph, record, or capture video visits by screenshot.
Religious or national head coverings are permitted, but additional identity verification may be required.
Visit Duration and Schedule
- In-person visitation: An inmate's housing block determines their weekend in-person appointment times. Visitors should confirm the correct time from the Sheriff's official visitation page or at (419) 993-1407 (Booking Desk), as housing assignments and visitation privileges may change.
Video visitation
- On-site lobby Video Visitation hours: Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for all inmate housing units.
- Off-site Video Visitation hours: Monday through Sunday; 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for all inmate housing units.
Please note that the jail administration may change, restrict, or terminate the visitation hours above without notice.
Mailing and Commissary Information | Lima Jail
Sending Mail to an Inmate
The Allen County Sheriff’s Office allows inmates to receive letters, greeting cards, money orders, and a limited number of photographs. Friends and families are expected to send their mail using the format below:
Inmate’s Full Name
In Care of the Allen County Jail
P.O. Box 1243
Lima, OH 45801
Sender must use the inmate's full legal name and include a return name and address on the envelope.
Items Allowed
- Typical handwritten or printed letters
- Greeting cards that do not contain prohibited materials
- A maximum of four photographs per mailing
- Money orders intended for the inmate’s commissary account
Items Not Allowed
- Any letter or card containing contraband
- More than four photographs in one mailing
- Illegal drugs, weapons, tobacco products, matches, or lighters
- Items hidden or sealed inside a card or envelope
- Cash or personal checks not listed as approved mail-deposit methods
- Money orders brought to visitation rather than mailed
Note: The Sheriff's Office opens and searches all incoming correspondence for contraband.
Depositing Commissary Funds
Depositors may fund an inmate's account by visiting the authorized payment provider's website. Another option is to visit the kiosk in the Allen County jail lobby to deposit funds (by cash) into an inmate's account. Alternatively, family and friends may send a money order, including the inmate's full name and date of birth on the money order, to the jail's P.O. box using the approved mail format.