UsDirectoryFinder gathers public information on people from across the country and displays it in a user friendly interface. Tools here can help you gather knowledge on someone’s current incarceration status, past jobs, addresses, criminal records, sheriff bookings, contact information including phone number and email, genealogical data, court findings and much more.
The inmate locator directory gathers all the necessary resources from sheriff’s departments and courthouses to look up an inmate Nationwide. Each state has a department of corrections that makes it easy to conduct a search for inmates and arrest history. This is a directory of free resources provided to the public. A more comprehensive background investigation can be done here with a small fee to our website sponsors. With an account you can conduct unlimited searches on inmates. All searches are completely anonymous. No one will ever find out you did a search on them.
Finding a person who is being held in jail or prison can be challenging. This website has been created to help you get the information you need. Even if you know the name and location where the inmate is being detained, there are other pieces of information needed in order to be able to schedule a visit, call the inmate, or send them mail or money. Each facility has its own set of regulations regarding these things. In order to successfully contact the inmate, it is necessary to become familiar with the rules for the specific correctional facility. This can prevent disappointment; if you don’t know the rules, you may travel to visit the inmate and find you are turned away at the door, or send mail only to have it thrown away because it does not meet regulations.
If you need to locate an inmate, there are several ways to do so online. Some of the data that may be available via the Internet includes the inmate’s date of incarceration, pending charges, type of offense, length of sentence, and a photograph. Many county jails post inmate information through the sheriff’s office website. Each state has a website for its department of corrections, with an inmate lookup for the state run facilities. In a few states, the department is known by a slightly different name; however, a search for the state name, followed by “department of corrections” will guide you to the correct website. For information on federal inmates, visit the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Even if the only information you know is an inmate’s name and the state in which they are incarcerated, and even if you think they may be in a county facility, you are likely to be able to locate them through VINElink. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday, and provides information about an inmate’s location, changes in custody, and other details, subject to state laws on public records.
Most jails and prisons include a list of rules and regulations on their website. Before sending mail, carefully read the rules. Nearly every facility allows an inmate to receive a standard postcard. Beyond that, the rules vary a great deal. Some inmates may receive letters or even packages, but be aware that these are usually opened and read or searched. Including anything that is not allowed may mean that the entire letter or package will wind up in the trash. Be sure you are following directions carefully when addressing any type of mail. Facilities often use a post office box, rather than a physical address, for inmate mail. You may be required to include the offender’s jail ID number in the address, as well. In regard to phone calls, usually prisoners are not allowed to receive a call. Some, but not all, facilities will allow prisoners to make limited collect calls, where the charges must be accepted by the person receiving the call.
Requirements for scheduling a visit also differ widely. In some facilities, an inmate can only have visitors if he or she has included them on a visitor list and they have been approved. You may not know if you have been approved until the inmate informs you. In other facilities, you may be able to send an application by mail or online to request approval for a visit. In some small county facilities, you may simply need to call and ask permission. Most larger facilities schedule visits according to the pod or section in which the inmate is held. For example, you may see on the website that the prisoner is housed in “Pod D”, and when you check the schedule, you may find that inmates in Pod D can only have visitors on Thursday afternoons. Most jails require that visits be scheduled 24 hours (or more) in advance. Some facilities allow minor children to visit, as long as they are supervised by an adult relative.
Inmates in most jails and prisons are required to pay a daily fee to help with food and housing costs. Many facilities have canteens, where inmates may purchase snacks, personal hygiene items, and other things, provided they have money in their jail account. They are generally not allowed to have any cash. You may send money to an inmate in one of several ways, depending on the rules of the facility in which they are incarcerated. Many facilities have set up a way to send money online. This sometimes means that you have to pay a fee to add the money to the inmate’s account, but it is convenient and often the only accepted way to send funds. Some jails will accept cash in person at the front desk, and some will accept checks or money orders by mail. Do your research to find the regulations for the specific facility before trying to send money.