How Does InmateAid Work and How Do I Find the Right Inmate?

InmateAid is a support platform built specifically for families and loved ones of incarcerated people. The site was founded by a former federal inmate and is designed to make every aspect of staying connected easier, from finding where someone is held to sending letters, photos, money, books, and setting up affordable phone service.

Here is how the basics work.

To find a specific person, use InmateAid's facility directory or the inmate search feature. You can search by name and state to locate where someone is currently incarcerated. For federal inmates, the Bureau of Prisons locator at bop.gov is the most accurate source. For state inmates, each state's Department of Corrections maintains its own searchable inmate locator. To confirm you have the right person, cross-reference the full legal name, date of birth, and inmate ID number against what the facility has on file. The inmate ID number is the most reliable unique identifier since names can sometimes be similar.

Once you have confirmed the right person and set up their profile on InmateAid, you can send letters and photos that we print and mail directly to the facility, arrange discount phone service that reduces the cost of calls significantly, send money to their commissary account, and order books and magazines through approved vendors.

If you are ever unsure whether you have located the correct person, call the facility directly with the name and ID number to confirm before sending anything. Getting the identification right upfront saves the frustration of mail going to the wrong person or being returned as undeliverable.