Inmate Searches
Inmate SearchesThe Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552) and the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a) authorize the release of certain information about Federal inmates to any member of the general public requesting inmate searches.
This includes information such as name, age, and registration number as well as sentencing and confinement data (offense, date sentenced, institution of confinement, etc).
Who is a Federal Inmate?
With a few exceptions, only inmates convicted of violating Federal laws (laws of the United States) are sent to Federal prisons. Individuals awaiting trial for violating Federal laws are also held in Federal prisons. The Federal Bureau of Prisons also houses a few state inmates.
However, most inmate searches convicted of violating state or local laws are sent to state prisons or city/county jails. If you are not sure whether a particular prison is Federal, check the Prison Directory on this page for a complete list.
How to Perform Inmate Searches
The Federal Bureau of Prisons does not have any information on non-Federal inmates; however, most states have their own locator systems to assist with inmate searches. Contact the department of corrections in your state for further information. For your convenience, use the numbers below to see if individuals have ever been in prison or are currently in prison. Most states just need a name and date of birth.
Depending on the state that you call for inmate searches, they may also provide you with probation information (county level convictions), parole information (state level convictions), and/or all arrests in that state. Florida is a prime example – they can provide you with not only state convictions, but also arrests of an individual.
Many states will release the conviction charges for an individual. On the other end of the spectrum, California will not release conviction information until after a subject has been discharged from parole (i.e. once they are no longer on parole). You will have to contact the archives number below for this information.
Below is the information that most states will provide you if you ask for inmate searches based on the subject’s name and date of birth or SSN:
- DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS NUMBER (DC#)
- PREVIOUS DC#’s( subjects may have discharged a DC# and picked up a new one.Make sure you ask)
- CHARGE(S)
- COUNTY OR REGION THE DC WAS ENTERED FROM
- CASE NUMBER FROM COUNTY
- ADMISSION DATES:(It’s not uncommon that many inmates will have numerous admission dates and release dates extended over many years because of either new cases that they have picked up or from parole violations)
- PAROLE DATE(S)
- PAROLE VIOLATION(S)
- STATUS: In Custody or Out of Custody
- HOUSING LOCATION
- PPD(Possible Parole Date)
- ACTIVE ARREST WARRANTS FOR PAROLE VIOLATIONS
- PAROLE OFFICER
- DISCHARGED DATE
STATE INMATE SEARCH PHONE NUMBERS
Alabama Department of Corrections: 334-240-9501
Alaska Department of Corrections: 907-269-7400
Arizona Department of Corrections: 602-542-5536
Arkansas Department of Correction: 501-247-6200
Colorado Department of Corrections: 719-579-9580
Connecticut Department of Correction: 860-566-4457
Delaware Department of Correction: 302-739-5601
District of Columbia Department of Corrections: 202-673-8270/8269
Florida Department of Corrections: 850-488-5021
Georgia Department of Corrections: Call this number first: 404-656-4569 or 404-656-4593
Hawaii Department of Public Safety: 808-587-1288
Idaho Department of Correction: 208-334-2318
Illinois Department of Corrections: 217-522-2666
Indiana Department of Correction: 317-232-5772
Iowa Department of Corrections: 515-281-4811
Kansas Department of Corrections: 913-296-3310
Kentucky Department of Corrections: 502-564-2433 or 502-564-2433
Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections: 504-342-6741
Maine Department of Corrections: 207-287-4360
Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services: 410-764-4100 or 410-585-3300
Massachusetts Department Of Corrections: 617-727-1950
Michigan Department of Corrections: 517-373-0720
Minnesota Department of Corrections: 612-642-0200
Mississippi Department of Corrections: 601-359-5621
Missouri Department of Corrections: 573-751-8488
Montana Department of Corrections: 406-444-3930
Nebraska Department of Correctional Services: 402-471-2654
Nevada Department of Prisons: 775-887-3285 Archives fax (record info.) 775-687-7615
New Hampshire Department of Corrections: 603-271-5600
New Jersey Department of Corrections: 609-777-5753
New Mexico Corrections Department: 505-827-8709
New York Department of Correctional Services: 518-457-8126 Records: 518-457-5000
North Carolina Department of Correction: 919-716-3200
North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: 701-328-6390
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction: 614-752-1164
Oklahoma Department of Corrections: 405-425-2500
Oregon Department of Corrections: 503-945-0920
Note: Oregon is traditionally very lenient on giving out info. They may give you subjects DOB if you do not have it, possible release date, and charges. You should have at least the subject’s full name.
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections: 717-975-4860
Rhode Island Department of Corrections: 401-464-2611
South Carolina Department of Corrections: 803-896-8555
South Dakota Department of Corrections: 605-773-3478
Tennessee Department of Correction: 615-741-2071
Texas Department of Criminal Justice: 409-294-2101
Utah Department of Corrections: 801-265-5500
Vermont Department of Corrections: 802-241-2442
Virginia Department of Corrections: 804-674-3131/3132/3133
Washington Department of Corrections: 360-753-1573
West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety: 304-558-2037
Wisconsin Department of Corrections: 608-266-4548
Wyoming Department of Corrections: 307-777-7405
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