- 1). Go to the county sheriff's Website for the county in which you think a person might be jailed (see Resources). While these Websites generally provide information about inmates incarcerated in that county jail, not all county sheriff's offices have records online, especially if it is a small jail. You may have to contact the jail by telephone to get information.
- 2). Look online for the Website of the Department of Corrections (DOC) in the state in which you think the person might be incarcerated (see Resources). Most states now have a Website for the state department of correctional services which gives the location of every prisoner in that state's prison system. These Websites allow you to do an online search by entering the inmate's name and department of correction's identification number.
- 3). Call the department of correctional services during regular business hours to ask for the location of a prisoner in that state (see Resources). You will need to provide the inmate's name, birth date and the Department of Correction's Identification Number if you have it.
- 4). Search the Federal Bureau of Prison's Website for information about inmates in federal prison (see Resources). The online inmate location service searches by an inmate's I.D. number. This number is typically found on any written correspondence or official records relating to the inmate. If you do not have the inmate's I.D. number, you can search by typing in the inmate's first and last names exactly as they are spelled. Any additional information such as a middle initial, sex, age, and race can help to narrow the search.
- 5). Use the Inmate Locator online (see Resources below) to find an inmate. This Website offers links to every state DOC website and inmate search currently available. While not all states have inmate searches available online, you can use the inmate locator Website to link to each state's DOC website for the names and contact information for the correctional facilities in that state.
- 6). Contact the law enforcement agency in the area in which you think an inmate might be housed in a city or county prison facility. If the person was arrested in that county, the local police should be able to help you.
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