Locating an incarcerated person is a fairly simple task.
If you are ever the victim of a crime or have a delinquent family member, you may eventually need to find an incarcerated person. Fortunately, the Internet has made this task much less difficult than it was in the days where phone calls had to be made to all of the possible institutions at which an offender might be located. Depending upon the source you use, you may need to know the person's first and last name or prisoner identification number. You may also be able to search through a complete list of all currently incarcerated inmates in a particular state or institution.
Instructions
1. Visit the Federal Bureau of Prisons' website, BOP.gov, to find an inmate who is incarcerated in any federal prison. Click on the link in the left toolbar called "Inmate Locator." Enter the person's first and last name or prisoner identification number.
2. Visit the website for the department of corrections for the state in which the person is incarcerated. Use the "Inmate Search" feature on the site to determine if the person is presently incarcerated at any jail or prison in the state. Some states also allow you to search for past offenders as well as current inmates.
3. Visit the website for the sheriff's department of the county in which you believe the person is incarcerated. Use the "Inmate Search" feature on the site to determine if the person is presently incarcerated at any jail or prison in the county. Some counties also allow you to search for past offenders as well as current inmates.
4. Visit the National Victim Notification Network's homepage at VineLink.com and click on the state in which the person is incarcerated. This site is recommended by the court systems of many states. This service will allow you to search for an incarcerated person directly from the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) website. It will also provide you with a phone number you may call for additional help locating an inmate in a particular state.
