How to Conduct a Federal Inmate Search

A federal inmate is an individual who has been accused of violating the federal laws of the United States of America, and is confined in a federal prison. Those awaiting trial for violation of federal law are also held in federal prison. There are a few instances in which state offenders have been incarcerated in federal prisons; however, most offenders who break state law are held in state prisons or county jails.

The federal inmate search allows one to gather information about any federal inmate. One can conduct a background check of an individual and thus will be aware of any federal crimes on the individual's record, which can be useful before entering into deals or contracts.

Those interested in conducting a federal background check can visit http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/LocateInmate.jsp and search for a federal inmate by name or identity number. The Federal Bureau of Prisons may still hold a record of an individual who was held for trial in a federal prison but did not face any federal sentence since his or her criminal charges were dismissed.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, or BOP, is an agency of the US Department of Justice. The aim of the BOP is to protect society by confining federal criminals. It also aims to take proper care of inmates and ensure their welfare through self-improvement programs. The mission of the Federal Bureau of Prisons is to make the offenders into respectful citizens, abiding by the laws, rules, and regulations of the nation.

To obtain information about a federal inmate who has been incarcerated at some time since 1982, you can mail your request to:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First St. NW
Washington, DC 20534

You can also send an e-mail to info@bop.gov. The telephone number of the BOP is (202) 307-3198 and their website is http://www.bop.gov. The Central Office, or headquarters, of the Bureau of Prisons is under the management of Director Harley G. Lappin.

If you require information about a federal inmate who was released before the year 1982, you should write to Federal Bureau of Prisons and address your question to the Historic Inmate Locator Request.

Federal Inmate Locator

Records on federal inmates can be obtained instantly through the Bureau of Prisons website. The type of information that an individual can access is:

* The list of persons who have violated federal laws
* The different types of offenses and their descriptions
* Dates of conviction and disposition
* Sentence duration and date of release
* Parole and probation information

If a search for a particular inmate fails to yield results, the inmate may be incarcerated in a state correctional facility or county jail. In such cases, those seeking the information will have to search state or county records for the inmate.