How to Find Someone in Federal Custody: Using the BOP Inmate Locator

The BOP Inmate Locator is designed to help you locate a federal inmate incarcerated from 1982 to the present. That date range matters: if the person you’re looking for was in federal custody before 1982, they may not show up in this tool. For most current federal cases, though, it’s the starting point for finding where someone is housed now.

A search tells you whether the person is currently in BOP custody, which facility they're assigned to, and basic identifying details. Most people use it to confirm they've got the right person before planning mail, phone calls, or a visit - especially helpful when dealing with common names or multiple possible matches.

Inputs Needed

• ✓ Full legal name, plus any common spelling variations (try with and without hyphens or middle names)
• ✓ The person’s BOP register number (this is the most precise way to search)
• ✓ The register number in the required format: #####-### (five digits, a dash, then three digits)
• ✓ Date of birth, if you have it (helpful for sorting out people with the same name)

1. Start with the register number if you have it - It’s the cleanest match. Enter it in the required format #####-### (five digits, a dash, then three digits).
2. If you don’t have the number, search by name - Use the person’s legal last name and first name, then try common variations if nothing appears.
3. Narrow it down with extra details - If multiple results come up, use the identifying information shown in the results to pick the correct record.
4. Open the matching record and note the basics - Once you’ve found the right person, write down what you’ll need for next steps, like the facility location and the register number (so future searches are faster).

Once you select a result, focus on the fields that confirm identity and custody status. If multiple matches come up, slow down and compare details carefully. Having the register number - or at least a date of birth - makes a big difference here.

If the locator shows

1. Recheck your search details - Try a different name spelling, or search again using the register number if you find it later.
2. Look at other custody systems - If they’re not in BOP custody, check state or county inmate locators where the case is based.
3. Consider supervised release as a possibility - If they’re not incarcerated, they may be on parole or supervised release, which won’t show a current prison location.
4. Check back later - Status and release information can change, so it’s worth re-running the search periodically.

Once you know the facility, direct your questions there - not to the central BOP contact page. Whether it's visitation rules, mail procedures, or a recent transfer, the facility handles those specifics. Each facility has multiple addresses and phone numbers depending on what you need, all listed on their individual page in the BOP