How Often Is the InmateAid Inmate Locator Database Updated?

The InmateAid database is updated weekly, which covers the majority of facilities that report transfers and releases on a regular schedule. That said, not every jail and prison pushes updates at the same pace. Some facilities are slower to report transfers through official channels, which means there can be a lag between when an inmate actually moves and when that move shows up in any public-facing database including ours.

If you know your son has transferred to a new facility and the InmateAid locator is still showing the old location, the fastest fix is to email aid@inmateaid.com directly with his name and the new facility information. The team will update the record manually so it reflects his current location without waiting for the next automated data pull.

This is worth doing for practical reasons beyond just keeping the locator accurate. If you are sending letters, postcards, or photos through InmateAid, having the correct facility on file ensures everything goes to the right place. Mail sent to an old address after a transfer is one of the most common reasons items do not reach an inmate, and updating the record proactively prevents that problem before it happens.

For tracking federal inmates, the Bureau of Prisons locator at bop.gov is updated more frequently than most third party databases and is worth bookmarking as a primary reference. For state inmates, the relevant state DOC website is similarly reliable for current placement