Inmates are people who are serving sentences for crimes that were committed. They’re usually held at state prisons, county jails, or local detention centers.
Start with the Department of Corrections website.
You can find out where an inmate is being held by visiting the Department of Corrections’ website. This will give you access to the inmate’s personal information, as well as details about his or her sentence. If you need additional information, you can also contact the department directly.
Inmates are usually housed in one of three types of prisons:
- Correctional facilities (also known as state prisons) are for people who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in prison. These inmates may be serving short sentences or long ones. They are generally located in urban areas.
- Rehabilitation centers (also known as county jails) are for people awaiting trial, those being held on bail, or those who have not yet been found guilty of any crimes. Rehabilitation centers are typically located in rural areas.
- Prisons (also known as federal prisons) are for people convicted of serious offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, etc., and sentenced to serve long terms of imprisonment. Prisons are often located in remote locations.
Search by name or inmate ID number.
To search by name, enter the inmate’s full name into the search box. If you’re looking for an inmate with a certain inmate ID number, enter that number into the search box.
If you want to see all of the inmates in your county, click on the “All Counties” link at the top of the page.
You can also use the drop-down menu below the search box to select which counties you’d like to view.
Check local newspapers and online news sites.
Local newspapers often list inmates who have been arrested. You can also check online news sites, where you’ll find stories about arrests and other criminal activity.
Contact the nearest police department.
If you’re looking for an inmate, contact the local police department. They will be able to tell you whether there’s any record of an arrest or conviction.
You can also check with your state Department of Corrections website. The site has a searchable database that allows you to look up inmates by name and location. You’ll need their full name, date of birth, and social security number.
The National Sex Offender Public Registry is another good resource. This website provides information on convicted sex offenders in every state. It includes photos, addresses
Call the prison directly.
You can also call the prison directly. This is usually done by calling the facility’s main number and asking for the warden.