Federal Jail Inmate Search & Booking Lookup 2026

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United States · BOP, U.S. Marshals and federal court search guide

Federal Inmate Locator, Booking Status, Prison Location and Release Help

A federal arrest does not always lead directly to a federal prison. The person may first be held by the U.S. Marshals Service in a county jail, regional detention center, private contract facility or Bureau of Prisons detention center while the criminal case is pending.

This guide explains the complete search path: how to use a BOP register number, what “In Transit” or “Not in BOP Custody” means, how to locate a pretrial detainee, how to check the federal case, and what to do next for visits, mail, money, calls, transfers, release dates, medical concerns and older records.

Search the federal inmate locator No inmate result? Find the federal case
Federal custody is not one database. The BOP locator is the main public search for Bureau of Prisons records from 1982 forward, but many people awaiting federal trial remain in U.S. Marshals custody at local or contract jails. A missing BOP result does not prove that the person is free or was never federally detained.
Record coverage

BOP federal inmate records from 1982 to the present.

Best identifier

BOP register number in the format 12345-678.

Data refresh

The BOP states that locator data is updated daily.

Pretrial custody

Often controlled by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Information checked

August 1, 2026 against federal sources.

Start with the correct system

Which federal inmate search should you use?

1
Sentenced or at a BOP facility

Use the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. Search by register number whenever possible.

2
Recently arrested or awaiting trial

Check the BOP locator, then the federal court case and the U.S. Marshals district connected with the prosecution.

3
Released before 1982

Prepare a National Archives request because many older federal records are not available in the online locator.

Fastest route: A complete BOP register number is more reliable than a common name. Keep the number because it is also required for federal mail, money and many institution inquiries.

Federal inmate search and family-help menu

Choose the action you need instead of opening multiple government pages.

Official lookup steps

How to run a federal jail inmate search

Open the BOP Inmate Locator Use the official Federal Bureau of Prisons search. It covers federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present, including many people who have already been released.
Choose number search when possible Enter the complete BOP register number in the displayed five-digit, hyphen, three-digit format. Check every digit before submitting.
Use the committed name for a name search Enter the legal name used in the federal record rather than a nickname. A middle name or initial can reduce duplicate results.
Begin with fewer filters Start with first and last name. Add age, race or sex only when the search returns several possible people.
Try precise name variations Test a middle initial, full middle name, former surname, hyphenated surname, suffix or alternate spelling. The BOP warns that the name must match its record.
Open the matching result Compare the register number, current age, race, sex, release information and location. Do not identify someone from a name alone.
Save the register number and location Copy the result exactly. You will need it to locate the institution page, address mail, send funds and communicate with the facility.
Recheck before taking action Transfers and sentence calculations can change. Confirm the displayed institution before mailing, visiting or sending institution-specific property.
Run the live BOP search

Information to prepare before searching

Full committed or legal name
Middle name or middle initial
BOP register number
Date of birth or current age
Federal arresting agency
Federal court district
Approximate arrest or sentencing date
Known local or contract detention facility
Register-number format: A BOP register number normally appears as five digits, a hyphen and three digits—for example, 12345-678. Electronic money services often require the same eight digits without the hyphen.

How to understand a federal inmate locator result

BOP inmate-locator fields explained
Result field What it means What to do next
Name The name associated with the federal inmate record. Compare the register number and physical identifiers before assuming it is the correct person.
Register number The primary BOP identifier displayed for the person. Save it for mail, deposits, facility questions and future searches.
Age Current age calculated from the recorded date of birth. Remember that this may be the person’s present age even when the listed release occurred years ago.
Release date in the future A projected date based on current BOP sentence calculations. Treat it as subject to recalculation, court action, credits and administrative updates.
Release date in the past The person was released from BOP custody on the displayed date when no current facility appears. Check whether the person remains on supervised release or entered another jurisdiction’s custody.
Unknown release date The confinement term is not determined, which can occur in pretrial, civil-commitment or unsentenced situations. Use the federal court docket and contact the relevant facility or U.S. Marshals district.
Facility name The current publicly displayed BOP institution. Open the institution page for mailing address, phone, visiting rules and local instructions.
Regional Office The BOP says this can indicate a person serving a concurrent state sentence in a state prison. The state correctional system may provide the usable physical location.
CCM Community Corrections Management supervises contract community placement; the person is not necessarily housed at the CCM office. Do not mail or visit the CCM office without confirmed placement instructions.
In Transit The person has moved from a BOP facility and the destination is not publicly displayed. Pause visits, packages and facility mail until a destination appears.
Released The person is no longer in BOP custody. The person may still be on supervision or in another criminal-justice system.
Not in BOP Custody No current BOP institution is shown. Check U.S. Marshals custody, the federal court docket, state or local custody and supervised-release information.
Release-date warning: The BOP says First Step Act and Federal Time Credit reviews can affect projected dates. A displayed date is not a guaranteed pickup date.
Critical distinction

BOP inmate, federal detainee or U.S. Marshals prisoner?

“Federal inmate” is often used for several different custody stages. The correct search method depends on where the person is in the federal process.

Who controls the person at each federal custody stage?
Situation Likely custodian Where the person may be housed Best next check
Recently arrested on a federal charge U.S. Marshals Service after court-ordered detention Federal, county, regional, local or private contract jail Federal court docket and the local U.S. Marshals district
Awaiting trial Usually U.S. Marshals Service Often a non-BOP contract detention facility Detention order, court district and Marshals office
Sentenced but awaiting designation May remain with the Marshals pending BOP designation and transport Current detention center until movement BOP locator periodically and defense counsel
Serving a federal sentence Federal Bureau of Prisons BOP institution, prison camp, medical center or administrative facility BOP Inmate Locator
Halfway house or community placement BOP community corrections system Residential reentry center or approved community placement Locator status and confirmed community-placement contact
Released to supervision No longer physically in BOP custody Community residence under federal supervision Federal court judgment or U.S. Probation information when public
Why this matters: The U.S. Marshals Service states that most of its pre-sentenced prisoners are housed in state, local or private facilities. A person can therefore be a federal detainee without appearing at a conventional federal prison.
Troubleshooting ladder

No federal inmate result found? Use this order

Check exact spelling The BOP search is sensitive to the recorded name. Try the full committed name, middle initial, former surname and suffix.
Use the register number Check court papers, prior mail, counsel correspondence or earlier search results for the eight-digit BOP identifier.
Confirm federal versus state charges A federal agency may assist an investigation without the person ultimately entering federal custody.
Check recent federal court activity A newly filed criminal case or detention order may identify the district before the BOP locator becomes useful.
Consider U.S. Marshals custody A pretrial prisoner may be housed in a county or private contract facility with no publicly displayed BOP institution.
Check local jail systems near the court Contract detainees may appear in the roster of the county or regional jail that physically houses them.
Look for an In Transit status During movement, the BOP may withhold the destination from the public result for security reasons.
Check records before 1982 Many older federal files are held by the National Archives rather than the online inmate locator.
Useful U.S. Marshals district call script “I am trying to identify the detention facility for [full legal name], who has a federal case in the [court district] and was detained on or around [date]. I have the case number [number] and date of birth [date]. Which facility or office should receive a family, attorney or medical inquiry?”
Security limitation: Staff may not disclose transport schedules, routes or temporary movement details. Ask for the proper facility or communication procedure rather than movement timing.

How to find the correct federal prison or detention facility

Copy the exact location from the inmate result Do not rely on an old letter, social-media post or previous institution because federal transfers are common.
Search the BOP facility directory Enter the facility name or filter by state, region, security level or institution type.
Open the institution page Confirm the main phone, physical location, inmate-mail address, visiting schedule and local visitor instructions.
Separate the addresses A federal institution can publish different addresses for inmate correspondence, staff mail, freight and the physical entrance.
Check the exact housing component A complex may include a penitentiary, correctional institution, detention center, satellite camp or medical component with different mail wording.
Call before traveling Confirm visiting status, operational modifications and the correct entrance before starting a long trip.
Common federal facility labels
Label General meaning Family planning implication
FPC Federal Prison Camp, generally minimum security. Use the camp-specific mail line when a complex has multiple components.
FCI Federal Correctional Institution, often low or medium security. Confirm whether the person is at the main institution or an attached camp.
USP United States Penitentiary, generally high security. Visiting, property and communication restrictions can be more controlled.
FDC Federal Detention Center, commonly used for detention and court-related custody. Court movement can interrupt visits and calls.
MCC or MDC Metropolitan Correctional or Detention Center. Often serves major federal court districts and pretrial populations.
FMC Federal Medical Center. Medical placement may affect visiting and communication availability.
FCC Federal Correctional Complex containing multiple institutions. Use the exact institution and register number, not only the complex name.
RRC Residential Reentry Center, commonly called a halfway house. Rules differ from secure institutions and the locator may show community-management information.
Search the federal facility directory

What to do after you locate the federal inmate

ID
Verify identity

Match the register number, age, sex, race and known case details before sending funds or personal information.

⌂
Confirm the institution

Open the facility page and check the exact component, phone and inmate-mail address.

☎
Call the facility

Ask about local visiting, mail or emergency-contact procedure rather than requesting protected inmate details.

$
Send money correctly

Wait until physical arrival at a BOP-managed institution and use the centralized deposit instructions.

✉
Address mail exactly

Use the committed name, register number and facility-specific inmate correspondence address.

§
Check the court case

Use PACER to review public docket entries, counsel, court orders and sentencing information.

Federal visitation

How to visit a federal inmate

There is no single nationwide visiting schedule. The BOP establishes general approval rules, while each institution publishes its own days, hours, point system, dress code details and local procedures.

Confirm the current location Search again before planning the trip. Program needs, medical care, security decisions and court movement can cause a transfer.
Wait for the inmate to propose the visitor The inmate must place the person’s name on a proposed visiting list. A visitor cannot simply arrive and request approval at the entrance.
Complete the required screening The institution reviews the proposed visitor. Providing incomplete or inaccurate information can delay or prevent approval.
Confirm approval Do not purchase nonrefundable travel merely because the inmate submitted a name. Confirm that approval is complete.
Read the institution rules Check visiting days, arrival cutoff, identification, clothing, children, permitted property, vehicle rules and special housing restrictions.
Call before traveling Lockdowns, weather, staffing, security incidents or public-health restrictions can interrupt visits without much notice.

Visitor preparation checklist

Current BOP location confirmed
Visitor approval completed
Institution schedule checked
Government photo identification ready
Clothing complies with local rules
Children’s documents prepared when required
Only permitted property carried inside
Trip reconfirmed with the facility
Do not copy visiting hours from another federal prison. Even institutions in the same state or correctional complex may have different schedules and procedures.
Federal inmate funds

How to send money to a BOP inmate without using the wrong address

Wait for physical arrival. The BOP instructs families to wait until the inmate is physically at a BOP-managed facility before sending money through the federal deposit system.
BOP inmate deposit methods
Method Information required Processing detail Main mistake to avoid
MoneyGram Eight register-number digits without the hyphen followed immediately by the inmate’s last name; full committed name; receive code 7932. BOP states that qualifying transfers sent between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern are generally posted within two to four hours. Do not use a nickname or an incorrect account-number format.
Western Union Eight register-number digits without the hyphen followed by last name; full committed name; code city FBOP, DC. BOP states that qualifying transfers are processed seven days per week, including holidays. Do not select the individual prison as the company or code city.
USPS lockbox Full committed name and eight-digit register number on the negotiable instrument and envelope. Money order, U.S. government check, certified or cashier’s check, or bank draft is accepted under BOP rules. Do not send cash, a personal check, a letter or additional property in the funds envelope.

MoneyGram details

Account-number format

Eight register-number digits with no spaces or hyphen, followed immediately by the inmate’s last name.

Example: 12345678DOE

Federal payment details

Company: Federal Bureau of Prisons

City and state: Washington, DC

Receive code: 7932

Western Union details

Account-number format

Eight-digit register number without the hyphen followed by the inmate’s last name.

Federal collection details

Attention: inmate’s full committed name

Code city: FBOP, DC

Mailing an acceptable payment

Centralized BOP lockbox address
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Inmate’s full committed name
Inmate’s eight-digit register number
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001
Use the full committed name
Print the register number clearly
Add your return name and address
Use USPS for the mailed deposit
Send no personal letter or photographs
Keep the receipt or tracking information
Hold periods: The BOP states that non-U.S. postal money orders and non-government checks can be held for 15 days, while foreign negotiable instruments payable in U.S. dollars can be held for 45 days.
Wrong-inmate risk: BOP warns that incorrect information can result in rejection or deposit into the wrong account, and the money may not be returned. Verify the register number and committed name before payment.
Start an official BOP deposit action BOP deposit help: 202-307-2712
Federal inmate correspondence

How to address mail to a federal inmate

Unlike inmate funds, ordinary correspondence is sent to the institution-specific inmate-mail address. Federal facilities often use a post-office box for inmate letters and a separate physical address for staff, freight or visitors.

General inmate-mail format
Inmate’s full committed name and register number
Exact institution name or housing component
Institution inmate-mail street or PO Box
City, state and ZIP code
Confirm the institution on the day you prepare the letter Do not use an address from old correspondence when the locator shows a different facility or In Transit status.
Open the institution page Find the “Inmate Mail” section and copy the exact address shown for the main institution, camp or other component.
Write the committed name and register number Place both on the envelope and correspondence. Avoid nicknames as the primary recipient name.
Add a complete return address Include the sender’s full name and mailing address so rejected or undeliverable mail can be returned.
Do not combine funds with correspondence BOP inmate-account payments sent by mail go to the centralized Des Moines lockbox, not the prison’s inmate-mail address.
Check publication and package restrictions Magazines and hard- or paperback books generally must come directly from a publisher or approved source. Packages usually require prior authorization.
General and special federal inmate mail
Mail category General treatment Important preparation
General correspondence Ordinary letters from family, friends and community contacts are subject to institutional inspection and rules. Use the exact facility address, committed name and register number.
Special mail Certain properly marked legal, court, government or qualifying official correspondence receives special handling under BOP rules. The sender and envelope must meet the applicable special-mail requirements.
Books and magazines May be received under BOP publication rules, generally directly from a publisher or authorized source. Confirm the institution’s current restrictions before ordering.
Packages Usually limited and commonly require prior institution authorization. Do not send clothing, food, electronics or personal property without written approval.
Inmate funds Processed through electronic services or the centralized federal lockbox. Never place money or a negotiable instrument inside ordinary inmate correspondence.

Federal inmate phone calls and TRULINCS email

Telephone calls

BOP telephone privileges help inmates maintain family and community ties. Ordinarily the inmate pays, although some arrangements may charge the receiving party.

TRULINCS electronic messaging

Approved inmates can exchange monitored text messages with approved contacts. Inmates do not receive general internet access.

Federal phone rules families should understand

  • Calls are generally monitored, except qualifying unmonitored attorney communications under applicable procedures.
  • Telephone access may be limited by security, discipline, institution operations or account restrictions.
  • Third-party call arrangements and prohibited forwarding methods are not permitted.
  • A person outside the institution normally cannot call through to an inmate like an ordinary household call.
  • Do not share account credentials, payment details or sensitive personal information with an unverified caller.

TRULINCS email workflow

The inmate requests the contact The inmate enters the proposed person’s contact information through the institution system.
The outside contact gives permission The recipient must accept participation and monitoring before messages can be exchanged.
Messages remain text only The BOP states that TRULINCS messages cannot include attachments.
Message length is limited BOP currently describes a 13,000-character limit, approximately two pages of text.
Messages are screened Both the inmate and outside contact must consent to monitoring.
Do not treat TRULINCS as confidential. Routine messages are monitored and screened. Legal strategy and privileged attorney communication should use approved legal-communication procedures.
Federal court lookup

How to find the federal booking case, detention order and sentence

The BOP locator shows custody information. PACER provides public access to federal court cases, docket entries and filed documents.

Use the specific court when known When you already know the federal district and case number, search that court directly for the most focused result.
Use the PACER Case Locator when the court is unknown The nationwide index searches federal district, bankruptcy and appellate courts and is generally updated daily.
Search by the defendant’s legal name Narrow by state, filing date or region when a name returns many cases.
Record the court and case number The national result identifies where the matter was filed and provides the case number needed for the detailed court docket.
Open the docket report carefully Look for the complaint or indictment, initial appearance, detention hearing, release or detention order, counsel, plea, judgment and sentencing entries.
Use date filters to control cost PACER charges can apply to searches and documents. Filtering the docket by date and using the case number can reduce unnecessary pages.
Federal docket entries that answer common family questions
Docket item What it may tell you Important limitation
Initial appearance When the defendant first appeared before a magistrate judge. It may not identify the physical jail.
Detention hearing Whether the court considered release or continued detention. Conditions and later orders can change.
Order of detention The court ordered the person held pending proceedings. The U.S. Marshals Service decides or arranges the physical detention location.
Appearance bond or release order The court authorized release under stated conditions. Administrative release may not be immediate.
Indictment or information The formal federal charges filed in court. A charge is an allegation and does not establish guilt.
Judgment The sentence, imprisonment term, supervision and financial penalties ordered by the court. BOP calculations and credits determine the operational projected release date.
Attorney appearance The defense counsel or appointed attorney listed in the case. Counsel cannot disclose protected information without authorization.
PACER cost: PACER currently charges $0.10 per page for many searches and documents. Registration itself is free, but immediate online access may require payment information.
Search the PACER Case Locator Register for PACER PACER help: 800-676-6856
Release and movement

Federal release dates, transfers, halfway houses and home confinement

Future release date The date is projected using current calculations. It can change because of court orders, good conduct time, Federal Time Credits or other sentence events.
Unknown release date The person may be pretrial, unsentenced, civilly committed or otherwise without a final calculable confinement term.
In Transit The destination is withheld during movement. Do not send facility mail or arrange a visit until the destination becomes public.
CCM location The person may be in a contract halfway house or community placement supervised through Community Corrections Management.
Released The person is no longer in BOP custody but may remain under federal supervised release or another jurisdiction.
Home confinement The person may remain under BOP authority while serving part of the sentence at an approved residence, subject to applicable rules.

Why projected dates change

  • Federal Time Credit reviews under the First Step Act.
  • Good conduct time calculations.
  • Retroactive sentencing or court orders.
  • Residential Drug Abuse Program sentence-reduction eligibility.
  • Compassionate release or reduction-in-sentence orders.
  • Parole decisions for eligible older-law cases.
  • Concurrent state or federal sentence calculations.
  • Detainers or release to another jurisdiction.
Transfer request limitation: BOP states that an inmate, not the family, must initiate a request for transfer closer to the primary release residence. Placement decisions also consider security, programs, medical needs, bed space and other statutory factors.
Do not promise a release time. A locator date does not show the hour, transportation arrangements, pickup location or whether another agency will take custody.

Medical, mental-health, safety and staff-conduct concerns

Immediate danger

Life-threatening emergency: Contact the detention facility directly and use emergency services in the area where the prisoner is physically housed. For a suicidal or emotional crisis, 988 may also provide crisis support, but it does not replace notifying the institution or emergency responders.

Non-emergency concern workflow

Confirm the actual custodian Determine whether the person is in a BOP institution, a U.S. Marshals contract jail, a local detention center or another correctional system.
Contact the physical facility first Medical and operational matters should generally be reported to the facility where the person is housed.
Provide identifying information Include the full committed name, register number, date of birth, facility, housing information when known and a concise description of the concern.
Describe urgency and observable facts State symptoms, statements, dates, missed medication or known diagnoses without exaggeration.
Use the appropriate federal escalation For BOP custody, use the institution and BOP concern process. For Marshals custody, contact the local U.S. Marshals federal district office.
Keep a contact record Save dates, times, names, confirmation numbers and copies of written messages.
Support coordinators: BOP’s Support Coordinator Program assists families, friends and advocates with access, questions and referrals, but it does not replace the institution as the first contact for an individual inmate’s immediate issue.
Submit a BOP concern Find a U.S. Marshals district

How to request additional federal inmate records

The public locator provides a limited set of fields. Additional records may require a Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act request, and privacy rules can restrict disclosure about another person.

Publicly available locator details
  • Name
  • BOP register number
  • Current age
  • Race and sex
  • Release date or release status
  • Current publicly displayed location
Records that may require a formal request
  • Historical custody records
  • Selected institutional records
  • Records about a former inmate
  • Records about yourself
  • Additional non-public details subject to exemptions
  • Older files held by the National Archives

Requesting your own record

BOP says a request about yourself should verify identity and include the full name, current address, date and place of birth and, for a current or former federal inmate, the register number.

Requesting information about another person

Privacy protections and FOIA exemptions can limit what is released. A signed authorization or proof of death may be necessary for records that would otherwise invade personal privacy.

Presentence reports: A presentence investigation report is not automatically available to an unrelated member of the public through an ordinary inmate search. Court, probation, privacy and disclosure rules apply.
Start a BOP records request
Historical records

Federal inmate records from before 1982

The online BOP locator is designed for records from 1982 to the present. Many older records were never entered into the modern inmate-management system and have been transferred or are being transferred to the National Archives.

Information to include in an older-record request

Complete inmate name
Middle name or initial
Date of birth or approximate age
Race
Approximate incarceration dates
Known federal prison or court district
Do not assume every BOP record means a prison sentence. BOP explains that records can also exist for a pretrial detainee whose charges were dismissed, a material witness or a person held for civil contempt.
Research older federal prison records

Federal inmate search mistakes that waste time or money

Searching only the BOP

A newly detained federal defendant may be in U.S. Marshals custody at a local contract jail.

Using a nickname

The name must match the federal record. Use the legal or committed name and try a middle initial.

Mailing money to the prison

Mailed BOP funds go to the centralized Des Moines lockbox, not the inmate correspondence address.

Mailing during In Transit

Wait for a destination because forwarded federal inmate mail can be delayed or returned.

Traveling without approval

A visitor must be approved and should reconfirm local visiting operations before departure.

Treating release date as guaranteed

Sentence credits, court decisions, detainers and recalculations can change the displayed date.

Using one name match as proof

Compare the register number, age, race, sex and known federal case information.

Ignoring the court docket

PACER can reveal detention orders, counsel, sentencing and court activity that the inmate locator does not show.

Calling BOP Central Office first

Facility-specific questions should be directed to the institution where the person is housed.

Federal custody contact directory

Which federal office handles each question?
Your question Best office or system What to prepare
Where is a sentenced BOP inmate? BOP Inmate Locator Committed name or register number
Where is a recent federal detainee? Local U.S. Marshals district and federal court docket Full name, birth date, district and case number
What are the prison’s visiting hours? The specific BOP institution Facility name, inmate name and register number
How do I send money? BOP centralized deposit system Committed name and register number
What happened in the federal case? PACER or the filing court clerk Court district, defendant name and case number
How do I report a medical concern? Physical detention facility first Identifying details, symptoms, dates and urgency
How do I request additional records? BOP FOIA or National Archives Identity, record description, dates and authorization where required
I have a general BOP website question BOP Central Office Concise issue and relevant page or record details
Federal Bureau of Prisons Central Office
320 First Street NW
Washington, DC 20534

General phone: 202-307-3198

Do not use Central Office as an inmate-mail or deposit address.

U.S. Marshals Service

General prisoner-program contact: 703-740-8400

For a specific detainee, use the federal district office connected with the court case.

PACER Service Center

Phone: 800-676-6856

Hours: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Central Time.

BOP inmate-deposit questions

Phone: 202-307-2712

Hours: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Federal Bureau of Prisons Central Office map

Map purpose: This is the BOP administrative headquarters, not a jail, prison visiting entrance, inmate-mail address or location for posting bond. Use the facility directory for the inmate’s actual institution.

Official federal actions used in this guide

The key procedures are explained above. These links are retained only for searches, registrations, payments, scheduling, record requests or current institution-specific details that must occur on an official external system.

Custody and location actions
Court and record actions
Family action systems
Source-review status

Reviewed: August 1, 2026

Primary authorities: Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Courts/PACER, Department of Justice and National Archives.

Live custody, transport, visiting, fees, institution procedures and release calculations may change.

Federal jail inmate search and booking FAQs

How do I search for a federal inmate?

Use the official BOP Inmate Locator for federal records from 1982 to the present. Search by register number whenever possible, or use the exact committed name and narrow duplicate results by age, race or sex.

Does the BOP locator show people awaiting federal trial?

Some may appear, but many pretrial detainees are controlled by the U.S. Marshals Service and housed in local, state, private or contract detention facilities.

What does Not in BOP Custody mean?

The person is not presently shown at a BOP institution. They may have been released, transferred, returned to Marshals custody, entered another correctional system or moved to community supervision.

What does In Transit mean?

The inmate has moved from a BOP facility and the destination is not publicly displayed. Wait for a confirmed destination before mailing or planning a visit.

How current is the federal inmate locator?

BOP states that locator information is extracted from its main database and updated daily, but court movement, transfer and release calculations can still create temporary gaps.

Why can I not find the person by name?

The spelling may not match, the person may be in Marshals or local custody, the case may be state rather than federal, or the record may predate 1982.

How do I send money to a BOP inmate?

Wait for physical arrival at a BOP-managed facility. Use MoneyGram, Western Union or an acceptable negotiable instrument mailed through USPS to the centralized Des Moines lockbox.

How do I visit a federal inmate?

Confirm the institution, wait for the inmate to place you on the proposed visitor list, complete approval, and review the institution’s local schedule, ID, dress and property rules.

How do I find the federal criminal case?

Use PACER. Search the specific court when the district and case number are known, or use the PACER Case Locator for a nationwide search.

How do I find federal inmate records from before 1982?

Contact the National Archives with the complete name, date of birth or approximate age, race, approximate incarceration dates and known institution or court district.

Independent federal custody guide: This website is not the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Justice, a federal court, PACER, a detention contractor or a law firm. Custody, housing, transfer and release information can change. A federal arrest, complaint, indictment or charge is an allegation and does not establish guilt. Do not use public custody information to harass, threaten, exploit, discriminate against or unlawfully identify any person.

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