Official Lookup Guide
County, state, and federal paths
Find an Inmate
Use the right facility type first so you do not waste time searching the wrong jail, prison, or federal locator.
County Jail
Best for recent arrests, pretrial detention, and short local sentences.
State Prison
Best for people serving longer state-level sentences after conviction.
Federal BOP
Best for federal custody and Bureau of Prisons facilities.
Best Process
How to Narrow the Search
1
Determine the likely facility type
Recent local arrest usually means county jail. Sentenced custody often means state prison or federal BOP.
2
Use the full legal name
If available, pair the name with date of birth, booking number, or register number.
3
Confirm transfer timing
People may move from arresting agency to county jail, then later into state or federal custody.
Find the Correct County First
Use the directory to identify the county sheriff office or related local agency tied to the arrest location before expanding your search.