How to Locate a Federal Inmate

It isn't unusual for federal inmates to be transferred from facility to facility during the time they are incarcerated. However, locating an inmate is not difficult. The U.S. Department of Justice maintains an Inmate Locator website to aid in your search. Use it to locate federal inmates that have been incarcerated any time from 1982 to the present.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• A need for the infomation

Instructions

1. Open a Web browser and navigate to the U.S. Department of Justice Inmate Locator website.

2. Search by ID number or by name. The site recommends using the ID Number or Register Number, if you have it, for a better match in the search results. The ID Number or Register Number is located on written correspondence from the inmate and on records concerning him. You can also search by name. First and last names are required, and the match must be exact. Supply the race, sex and age of the inmate, if they are known. Click "Search."

3. A page with the search results appears. If the inmate has been released, the results will say "released." If the inmate is still incarcerated, a link appears after the inmate's name. Click the link to get the location of the prison and the mailing information.

Tips & Warnings

• Use information wisely

Resources

• U.S. Department of Justice: Inmate Locator