If you have not heard from your cousin in a long time, the first step is to confirm where he is currently housed. You can do that using the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator, which will show his facility if he is still in federal custody.
Once you know the facility, your options to check on his wellbeing are limited but there are a few things you can do:
- Call the facility and ask for the unit team or case manager. They will not share detailed personal or medical information, but they can sometimes confirm that he is there and generally okay.
- Ask for the unit secretary, who can often pass along a message or let you know if there is any reason you have not heard from him.
- Send him a letter. Even if email communication stopped, regular mail is still reliable and often the best way to reconnect.
Regarding email, the federal system uses a service called Corrlinks. It is not open internet email. The inmate has to initiate contact by adding you, and you must accept the invitation. If you have not heard from him in over a year, it is possible:
- He no longer has email privileges
- He changed units or facilities and lost access temporarily
- The Corrlinks connection expired or was never reestablished
It is not uncommon for communication to stop due to transfers, restrictions, or personal circumstances inside.
The most effective next step is to send a letter to his facility. That is the one form of communication that always works, regardless of housing status or privileges.
If you are still concerned after that, calling the facility is appropriate. They may not give details, but they can usually confirm whether everything is okay at a basic level.