How to Conduct an Inmate Search

If you are trying to find a specific inmate but aren't sure where he or she is being held, you may need to conduct an inmate search. With the vast opportunities and tools available over the Internet, this is quite possible from the comfort of your own home, for little to no cost. Depending on whether the inmate you want to find is under the care of the state or the federal government, you will use the inmate locator available through the local Department of Corrections (DOC) or the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

Conducting a Federal Search for Inmates

The BOP website at http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/LocateInmate.jsp offers an inmate locator to the public. The two main types of searches you may conduct here are one by name and one by ID number. Searches conducted with the ID number are generally more accurate and reliable-this unique ID number is only associated with one inmate, and it can be found on any type of record regarding him or her.

Of course, if you don't know the inmate's number, you may simply input their name. When searching by name, include both the first and last names and ensure you have spelled them exactly correct. If you know their age, sex and race, you can also input these identifiers to return as accurate a result as possible.

These federal searches allow you to peruse records and information from inmates held in federal prisons across the country from 1982 onward. This may be important for background checking purposes or general research about an individual. The BOP site also includes information about visiting procedures and hours, conjugal visits and conducting background checks using the system.

Searching State Prisons for an Inmate

If you want to locate an inmate who is under the care of the state and/or local county jail, you'll need to visit your Department of Corrections' website, which varies according to which state you live in. Usually you can find this site with relative ease by starting at your state government or sheriff's office online. You should find a link for the DOC or law enforcement, which will enable you to lookup the inmate you're interested in.

In order to ensure your results are as accurate as possible, have as much information as you can about the inmate. First and last name, age, date of birth, type of offense committed , height, weight, eye and hair color are all recorded by the state prisons. If you know the special ID number given the inmate by the DOC, this will likely return all the information you're looking for. Your search results will give the location of the jail or prison where the inmate is being held, as well as recent information regarding his or her sentence and behavior while serving time.