❌
☰

🏛 State Directory

Prisons and Jails in North Dakota.

North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation manages the North Dakota state correctional system. North Dakota DOCR offender search searches by DOCR number or name. North Dakota has one of the smallest state prison populations in the country - fewe
Search a specific facility
5
State facilities
47
County jails
0
Federal facilities
2K+
State inmates

North Dakota State Prisons

5 facilities

North Dakota County Jails

47 facilities

North Dakota Department of Corrections

North Dakota DOCR offender search searches by DOCR number or name. North Dakota has one of the smallest state prison populations in the country - fewer than 2,000 state inmates. The state has invested in behavioral health and reentry programming. The oil boom influenced crime rates and correctional resources.

The official inmate search is available at www.docr.nd.gov/offender-search. Federal inmates from North Dakota are often housed at FCI Yankton (SD) or FCI Sandstone (MN).

Visitation in North Dakota Facilities

DOCR visitor approval requires a visitor application. Processing takes 2 - 3 weeks given the smaller system. Background checks for adult visitors.

Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our North Dakota prison directory.

Sending Mail to North Dakota Inmates

North Dakota DOCR mail requires the DOCR number. Standard 4x6 photos accepted. North Dakota's small system means relatively straightforward mail policies.

InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to North Dakota facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.

Phone Calls from North Dakota Facilities

North Dakota is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. GTL/ViaPath holds the North Dakota DOCR contract.

Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our North Dakota prison directory.

Sending Money to North Dakota Inmates

Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for North Dakota:

  • JPay (primary for DOCR)
  • Money orders mailed to facility
  • Lobby kiosks

See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.

Reentry Resources in North Dakota

Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in North Dakota:

Frequently Asked Questions About North Dakota Prisons

What is a DOCR number in North Dakota?

DOCR stands for Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - the unique identification number assigned to every person in North Dakota state prison custody. It must appear on all mail sent to DOCR facilities. Find it through the DOCR offender search at docr.nd.gov. County jail detainees have their own booking numbers that are separate from DOCR numbers - county detainees don't have a state DOCR number until they enter state custody after sentencing. Once assigned, the number is permanent for the sentence regardless of facility transfers within the North Dakota system.

How has the oil boom affected North Dakota's prison system?

North Dakota's Bakken oil boom, accelerating after 2008, transformed the western part of the state demographically and economically - bringing tens of thousands of workers to a sparsely populated region along with increases in drug trafficking, domestic violence, DUI, and property crime. The state's prison population grew during peak boom years. North Dakota has responded with expanded drug courts and behavioral health programming within corrections, recognizing that addiction treatment is a more cost-effective intervention than incarceration for a large portion of the incarcerated population. The boom's effects are still working through the system in terms of population and programming needs.

Does North Dakota have free prison phone calls?

No - North Dakota has not eliminated phone call fees. GTL/ViaPath holds the North Dakota DOCR contract. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps apply to interstate calls from state facilities, reducing costs from historical highs, but calls are not free. North Dakota's small prison population - fewer than 2,000 state inmates - means the political and economic dynamics for phone reform are different than in larger states. Set up a GTL ConnectNetwork account rather than accepting collect calls.

Where is Dakota Women's Correctional and Rehabilitation Center?

DWCRC is in New England, North Dakota - a town of about 500 people in Hettinger County in the southwestern corner of the state, about 90 miles southwest of Bismarck. It is North Dakota's only facility exclusively housing women. The remote location creates significant hardship for families - Fargo or Grand Forks families face 4+ hour drives. Video visitation through GTL is strongly recommended. Contact DWCRC at 701-579-4494 for visitor applications and visiting schedules.

How do I find someone in a North Dakota county jail?

North Dakota has 53 counties, most operating their own jails. The DOCR offender search covers state prison inmates only. Contact the county sheriff's office directly for county detainees. Cass County Jail in Fargo and Burleigh County Detention Center in Bismarck are the largest county facilities. Many North Dakota counties are rural and small - some county jails hold only a handful of people. Most county sheriff offices maintain online inmate rosters.

What is North Dakota's approach to rehabilitation?

North Dakota DOCR operates under an explicit rehabilitation philosophy - the 'R' in DOCR stands for Rehabilitation. The department has invested in evidence-based programming including cognitive behavioral therapy, substance abuse treatment, education, and vocational training. The state's small system size - about 1,800 state inmates - allows for more individualized case management than is practical in large systems. Ask your inmate's case manager about specific programming available at their facility and how it maps to their release plan - programming completion affects earned time calculations.

View all questions ›