Public Records Guide
How to Find an Inmate
Locating someone who’s incarcerated is free if you know where to look. This guide walks the three systems — federal, state, and county — the official locators for each, and how to search by name when you don’t know the facility. Our own directory carries incarceration records on 1,297,226 people across 50 states.
Jump to your stateThe fastest way to find an inmate
1. Figure out where they’re held
Custody determines which system to search. Federal convictions → the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). A state prison sentence → that state’s Department of Corrections (DOC). Awaiting trial or a short sentence → the county jail. When you’re unsure, start with the state DOC and the county where the arrest happened.
2. Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons (free)
The BOP Inmate Locator covers federal inmates from 1982 to today. Search by name or by BOP register number. It shows the facility, register number, age, and release date.
3. Use VINELink for nationwide lookups
VINELink aggregates jail and prison custody status across most states and counties, and can notify you of custody changes (transfer, release). It’s free and a good second stop when you don’t know the exact facility.
4. Search the state DOC inmate locator
Every state runs a free offender/inmate search on its Department of Corrections website. The reliable way to find it: search “[State] Department of Corrections inmate search.” Below, each state links to our records for people incarcerated there.
5. Check the county jail roster
For pre-trial detainees and short sentences, the person is usually in a county jail, not a state prison — and they won’t appear in the DOC locator. Most sheriff’s offices publish a current “jail roster” or “who’s in jail” page. Search “[County] sheriff jail roster.”
6. Search by name across public records
If you only have a name, a public-records search can surface incarceration history, mugshots, charges, and the facility across jurisdictions at once — useful when you don’t know which system holds them.
What an inmate record shows
Find an inmate by state
Each state links to the people we have incarceration records for there. For the official search, look up “[State] Department of Corrections inmate search.”
Counts reflect first-party incarceration records in our directory; official DOC/BOP tools are authoritative for current custody.
Frequently asked questions
Is inmate search free?
Yes. The Federal Bureau of Prisons locator, VINELink, and every state DOC inmate search are free public tools. Some third-party sites charge for a consolidated report, but the official locators cost nothing.
How do I find a federal inmate?
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc. Search by name or BOP register number; it covers federal inmates from 1982 onward.
Can I find someone in a county jail?
Often yes — but not through the state DOC locator. County jail detainees appear on the county sheriff’s jail roster (“who’s in jail”) page, not the state prison system. Search “[County] sheriff jail roster.”
How current are inmate records?
Custody status changes constantly (bookings, transfers, releases). Official locators are the most current; aggregated records may lag. Always confirm time-sensitive details against the facility or the official DOC/BOP tool.
Can I remove my own record?
If a record about you appears in our directory and you want it suppressed, you can opt out — we honor removal requests for your own listing.