Finding out where someone is incarcerated is often the first and most urgent challenge families face after an arrest or transfer. The Bureau of Prisons maintains a free locator for federal inmates. Every state maintains its own inmate search tool. But knowing which system to search, how to use the locator correctly, and what to do when the search comes up empty requires guidance that most families do not have access to when they need it most. This section covers how to use the BOP inmate locator for federal inmates, how to find state inmates using DOC search tools, what to do when an inmate does not appear in any search system, why someone in transit may be temporarily unfindable, and how InmateAid's free inmate search can help locate a loved one across multiple systems simultaneously. The answers here are written for families searching in real time, often in crisis, who need accurate information fast. See also our sections on Inmate Transfer and General Prison Questions.
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Subject: Inmate search
Call the facility, or give us as much information as you have and we can try and locate them for you. The inmate profiles are set up by the member/users of the website. We do not monitor, verify or update the profiles unless requested by the member/user. If you would like to create an inmate profile, we would be happy to do it for you. Please send us the inmate's name, their ID number and the facility where they are...
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When someone gets transferred to a new facility without warning, it can feel like they have disappeared. The good news is that there are several reliable ways to locate an inmate and track their current location.
VINELink is one of the best free resources available. It is a national victim notification network that also allows family members to search for inmates by name and receive alerts when their status or location changes. It covers most state and county facilities across the...
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The most common is that the inmate is currently in transit. When a federal inmate is being moved between facilities, the BOP system temporarily reflects the transit status rather than a specific location. This can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on the transfer route and whether stopovers are involved. The Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City is a common hub, and inmates can be there for a week or more before reaching their final...
Read moreSubject: Inmate search
We do not have that information available regarding new charges or changes to the TDCJ inmate locator. You will need to speak with your inmate's counselor or case manager to get the details or we recommend using the Background Search button to get accurate information on the offender.
Subject: Inmate search
The information available about an inmate depends on what you are looking for and your relationship to them. Here is a practical guide to finding the most common types of information.
Current location and custody status. For federal inmates, the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator at bop.gov is the most accurate source. For state inmates, search your state's Department of Corrections inmate locator, which is available through the state DOC website. For county jail inmates, most county sheriff's offices maintain an...
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The most accurate and complete source of information about an inmate's charges, case history, and conviction is the official court record. Everything else, whether it is news coverage, online databases, or secondhand accounts, is either incomplete or filtered through someone else's interpretation.
The Clerk of the Court in the jurisdiction where the case was tried is where to start. Call or visit the clerk's office and ask for the case file associated with the person's name and approximate date of arrest...
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The best place to find that information is to call the Clerk of the Court in whatever jurisdiction your offender is located. They should have all the details
Subject: Inmate search
There are two inmate search functions. One is the search of inmate profiles set up by our members. The second are the locators by the jurisdiction. To use them, you will need to know the state they are in and the jurisdiction where they were prosecuted. If you give us some more information we will help you find him.
Subject: Inmate search
The facility itself is usually the clearest indicator. Federal inmates are housed in Bureau of Prisons facilities, which have designations like FCI, USP, FPC, or FMC in their names and are run by the federal government. State inmates are housed in state-operated facilities, and the names typically reference the state system, such as a Department of Corrections reception center or correctional institution.
Chino, formally known as the California Institution for Men or the California Rehabilitation Center depending on the specific unit,...
Read moreSubject: Inmate search
You can begin your [search here](http://www.inmateaid.com/inmate-search). Click on the state and then narrow down your choices to the facility type or name listed.
Subject: Inmate search
We do not have a name to research. if you would like to find and create an inmate profile, we would be happy to do it for you. Please send us the inmate's name, their ID number, and the facility where they are incarcerated and we'll notify you when it's ready. If you need information on someone's whereabouts, we recommend using the Background Search button to get accurate information.
Subject: Inmate search
If you do not know your inmate's release date you can still complete the profile update. Simply enter a placeholder date such as 00-00-0000 in the release date field to move past the requirement. You can update it with the correct date later once you have that information.
How to find the actual release date
For federal inmates the Bureau of Prisons publishes projected release dates in their free online locator at bop.gov/inmateloc. Search by your inmate's name or BOP ID number...
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