Search Hints
It is better to have too little search criteria than too much. If you know the inmate's OID number that is the only criteria you will have to enter.

First Name/Last Name: In the first name and last name fields, the search will return all matches whose names begin with the letters you type. For example, if you enter Smith, the search will also turn up Smithson. If you enter *Smi* it will search for Smith, Smiths, Smithson, Smithsen and so forth. This is handy if you are unsure of the spelling of a name.

OID Number: This is a six-digit offender identification number assigned by the department. This is the primary means by which the departments identify offenders.

Locating Federal Prison Inmates

The Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552) and the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a) authorize the release of certain information about Federal inmates to any member of the general public who requests it.

This includes information such as name, age, and register number, as well as sentencing and confinement data (offense, date sentenced, institution, etc.).

Only inmates that are convicted of violating Federal laws are sent to Federal prisons. Individuals awaiting trial for violating Federal laws are also held in Federal prisons. The Federal Bureau of Prisons also houses a few state inmates. However, most inmates convicted of violating state or local laws are sent to state prisons or city and county jails.

To locate a Federal inmate from 1982 to the present, contact the National Inmate Locator at 202-307-3126 (due to the large number of requests, you may experience short delays). To obtain information of Federal inmates prior to 1982, contact the Office of Communications and Archives at 202-307-2934 or write to the office at 320 First St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20534. Please provide as much information as possible (name, date of birth, approximate dates in prison, etc.).

Alabama Department of Corrections- 334-240-9500
Alaska Department of Corrections: 907-269-7400
Arizona Department of Corrections- 602-542-5536
Arkansas Department of Correction- 501-247-6200
California Department of Corrections- 916-445-6713
Colorado Department of Corrections- 719-579-9580
Connecticut Department of Correction- 860-566-4457
Delaware Department of Corrections- 302-739-5601
District of Columbia Department of Corrections- 202-673-7316
Florida Department of Corrections- 850-488-5021
Georgia Department of Corrections- 404-656-4593
Hawaii Department of Public Safety- 808-587-1288
Idaho Department of Corrections- 208-334-2318
Illinois Department of Corrections- 217-522-2666
Indiana Department of Correction- 317-232-5715
Iowa Department of Corrections- 515-281-4811
Kansas Department of Corrections- 913-296-3310
Kentucky Department of Corrections- 502-564-4726
Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections- 504-342-6741
Maine Department of Corrections- 207-287-4360
Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services- 410-764-4003
Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety- 617-727-7775
Michigan Department of Corrections- 517-373-0720
Minnesota Department of Corrections- 612-642-0200
Mississippi Department of Corrections- 601-359-5621
Missouri Department of Corrections- 314-751-2389
Montana Department of Corrections- 406-444-3930
Nebraska Department of Correctional Services- 402-471-2654
Nevada Department of Prisons- 702-887-3285
New Hampshire Department of Corrections- 603-271-5600
New Jersey Department of Corrections- 609-292-9860
New Mexico Corrections Department- 505-827-8709
New York Department of Correctional Services- 518-457-8126
North Carolina Department of Corrections- 919-733-4926
North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation- 701-328-6390
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction- 614-752-1164
Oklahoma Department of Corrections- 405-425-2500
Oregon Department of Corrections- 503-945-0920
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections- 717-975-4860
Rhode Island Department of Corrections- 401-464-2611
South Carolina Department of Corrections- 803-896-8555
South Dakota Department of Corrections- 605-773-3478
Tennessee Department of Corrections- 615-741-2071
Texas Department of Criminal Justice- 409-294-6231
Utah Department of Corrections- 801-265-5500
Vermont Department of Corrections- 802-241-2442
Virginia Department of Corrections- 804-674-3000
Washington Department of Corrections- 360-753-1573
West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety- 304-558-2037
Wisconsin Department of Corrections- 608-266-4548
Wisconsin State inmate locater - 608-240-3750
Wyoming Department of Corrections- 307-777-7405