Finding an incarcerated loved one or friend in the prison system can be challenging, but there are resources available to help locate inmates. Being able to communicate with an inmate provides important emotional support and helps maintain family bonds during their period of incarceration. This guide will explain the various ways to find and contact someone in jail or prison.
Search for Inmates Using Online Prison Directories
Most state and federal prisons have online search tools to help locate inmates. These databases allow you to search by the inmate’s first and last name or their identification number.
Some things to keep in mind when using inmate locators:
- The prison system may use different naming conventions – try alternate name spellings or nicknames if you can’t find the inmate on the first search.
- Not all prisons participate in the online directories, so you may need to call if you don’t find the person online.
- Online prison directories are updated regularly but may not reflect very recent facility transfers.
Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has an inmate locator to find someone incarcerated in the federal prison system. It provides information on the facility, release date, and mailing address.
State Department of Corrections Sites
Most states have an online inmate lookup tool on their Department of Corrections website. These systems allow you to search for inmates housed within state facilities.
For example:
Check with your state’s DOC website for their inmate search options.
Call the Facility Directly
If you cannot find the inmate using the online locator tools, calling the facility directly is the next step. Explain you are looking for information on an inmate and provide the individual’s name and any other identifying details you may have.
The prison staff can check their internal database and provide information on the inmate’s housing location within the facility, as well as options for contacting the inmate.
Hire a Private Investigator
For more challenging searches, a private investigator who specializes in prison record searches may be able to help locate the individual. They have access to additional databases and resources beyond what is available to the general public online.
This service comes at a cost, with fees typically starting around $50/hour. While expensive, a private investigator may be able to find the whereabouts of an inmate when other options have failed.
Consult the Arresting Agency
If you’re unsure where the inmate may be located, get in touch with the arresting agency – either the police department, sheriff’s office, or other law enforcement body who made the arrest.
Explain you are seeking information on the location of an arrested individual and they may be able to point you in the right direction of the facility where they were transferred after processing. This can serve as a starting point for your search.
Resources by State
Inmate search procedures can vary by state. Here are some state-specific tips for locating inmates:
California
- Search the California Inmate Locator for those in the state system.
- Call the facility directly if not found online – use the CDCR directory to get contact info.
- Check the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s site for those in LA County jails.
Florida
- Florida has an inmate search tool to find people in state prisons and the county jail system.
- If not found, call the Department of Corrections for assistance.
New York
- Use the NYS DOCCS inmate lookup for state prisons.
- Search for NYC inmates through the Department of Corrections.
- Contact the Office of the NYC Sheriff for jail inmate information.
Texas
- The Texas DOC offender search provides info on state inmates.
- County jails each have their own lookup sites – Google “[county name] inmate search” to find the right one.
- Call the Texas DOC headquarters for additional assistance.
Send Mail to Inmates
Once you’ve identified where an inmate is housed, you can begin sending letters and postcards to them through mail. Look up the facility’s mailing instructions on their website or call to confirm policies.
General tips for writing to inmates:
- Use their full legal name and inmate ID on all correspondence.
- Address mail clearly with sender name and return address.
- Ask what items and photos can be received – policies vary greatly.
- Send self-addressed stamped envelopes to make it easy for inmates to write back.
Maintaining letter correspondence can mean so much to an incarcerated loved one.
Schedule Phone Calls with Inmates
If allowable by the facility, you may be able to arrange phone calls with the inmate you are trying to reach.
Options include:
- Collect calls – inmate initiates the call which is billed to the recipient. Rates are typically very high.
- Prepaid accounts – set up a prepaid phone account to receive calls at lower per-minute costs.
- Remote video visits – some jails and prisons allow scheduling video call sessions online.
Reach out to the facility to learn about their approved communication methods and any accounts or scheduling procedures needed.
Plan an In-Person Visit
If geographically feasible, you may be able to visit the inmate in person. Every facility will have their own unique visitation policies and procedures.
Some common visitation rules:
- Government-issued photo ID required.
- Visitors must be on the inmate’s approved list.
- You may need to complete a background check.
- Visits must be scheduled in advance.
- Certain days/hours set aside for visits.
- Strict dress code enforced.
- Your belongings will be searched.
- Physical contact may be restricted.
- Conversations could be monitored.
Getting to visit an incarcerated loved one can mean the world to both parties. Make sure to follow all the facility policies so your visit goes smoothly.
Hire an Attorney
If you are having exceptional difficulty locating an inmate and normal channels are not working, consider hiring a criminal defense attorney to assist. They have legal means to access inmate records and location data that general citizens do not.
An attorney can petition the facility directly or file motions with the court to get information on an inmate’s whereabouts. This will come at a legal cost, so only use as a last resort option.
Don’t Get Scammed
Unfortunately, some shady websites claim they can find incarcerated people for you – for a fee. They will call prisons on your behalf and charge exorbitant amounts. Avoid these scams.
Legitimate inmate locators are free online search tools or facilities you can call directly yourself. Don’t pay anything to find public prisoner records.
Join an Inmate Locator Facebook Group
For hard-to-find cases, social media may help. Join Facebook groups like “Federal Inmate Locator” and “LOCATE A FEDERAL INMATE” and post the person’s info there. Group members often have useful locator tips and insights they will kindly share.
Request Info Via Freedom of Information Act
As a last resort, you can file Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with federal and state agencies requesting any records related to the individual’s location.
This is a complex bureaucratic process and likely the least efficient option, but FOIA requests have helped some locate missing incarcerated individuals when all other avenues failed.
Maintain Hope in Your Search
Searching for an inmate can sometimes feel like a hopeless task. But maintaining persistence and strategically using the resources available gives you the best chance at finding your incarcerated loved one.
Don’t give up hope. With concerted effort, the information you seek is out there through proper public records and government agency channels.
How do I find someone in prison for free?
The best free option is searching online prison inmate locators, which are public databases provided by correctional systems. You can search by first and last name or inmate ID number. Calling facilities directly is another free way to request information.
What is the fastest way to find someone in jail?
Online inmate lookups allow you to quickly search for someone in jail or prison. These systems index inmate names and IDs, letting you rapidly look up their location if they are in custody. Calling the jail is another fast option.
Can I get an inmate’s address?
Most facilities provide inmate mailing addresses on their online lookup tools or will give the address over the phone. Always use the inmate’s full legal name and ID when requesting their mailing address.
How do I find someone on death row?
Those on death row will be housed at their state’s maximum security prison. Check your state Department of Corrections website – they typically provide a list of death row inmates and where they are located. You can also call the department headquarters.
How do I find someone in prison in Mexico?
Searching for inmates internationally can be challenging. For Mexico, a good resource is the Mexico Federal Prison Search. You can also call Mexican consulates for assistance. An attorney or private investigator who specializes in Mexico may be able to run detailed searches.
How do I find an inmate not in the system?
If someone was recently arrested but not yet entered into the inmate locator systems, call the arresting agency directly to find out their booking location. Police stations and sheriff’s offices can provide info on the jail where new arrestees are housed.
How do I confirm if someone is in federal prison?
The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator allows you to search the federal system and confirm if an individual is in BOP custody. If not found there, they are likely in a state, county, or private facility instead of federal prison.
What can you find out about an inmate?
Online prison lookups provide basic information like inmate location, ID number, custody status, and earliest possible release date. To get full details on an inmate like their full prisoner file, specific charges, sentence details, etc. you typically need to make a formal records request.
How do I find someone’s inmate ID number?
If you don’t know the ID number, the inmate locators still allow you to search by first and last name. Or you can call the facility directly and they can provide the ID number associated with a name. If you have the previous facility they were housed at, you can call there to get the ID number as well.
Conclusion
Finding an incarcerated loved one is often the first step in maintaining connection with them during their period of incarceration. While the prison system can seem imposing, using the right mix of online tools, phone contacts, legal assistance, and community support allows you to successfully locate inmates.
Never hesitate to keep calling facilities, following leads, and asking questions in your search. The information exists through proper channels to find where an inmate is housed. Maintain hope and be persistent in pursuing every angle, and you will eventually get the answers you need to correspond with an incarcerated friend or family member.