A word for counting the prisoners

Question

Is there a word or a phrase for counting the prisoners in a jail to see if anyone is missing. Is prisoner count a valid term?

Answer 1

The term you are seeking is roll call, which applies to any process in which a list of names is checked against the people present.

Answer 2

Headcount or head count:

• The act of counting people in a particular group. (AHD)

Head count reveals prisoner's escape:

• Robert John Dwight, 33, was found to be missing during a head count by prison officers at Silverwater jail about 9.00pm AEST yesterday.

(www.abc.net.au/news)