How to Find Out Where Someone Is Located When FCI Milan Shows "Not in BOP Custody"

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator tracks people incarcerated in the federal system from 1982 to the present. If you're searching for someone connected to FCI Milan and the results aren't what you expected, here's the key thing: the locator only covers BOP custody. It's not a master directory for every jail, prison, or law-enforcement agency in the country.

When the locator shows

• ✓ They may be in the custody of another correctional or law-enforcement agency (not the BOP).
• ✓ They may be held in a different criminal justice system outside the BOP.
• ✓ They may be on parole or supervised release, meaning they’re not housed at a BOP facility.
• ✓ Your ability to visit, send mail, or get updates will depend on who has custody (or what supervision they’re under), not on FCI Milan.

A "Released" or "Not in BOP Custody" result means FCI Milan can't treat them as a current inmate - no facility visits, no mail through the prison. If they've been transferred to another agency, you'll need to contact that agency directly to confirm their location and learn the rules. If they're on parole or supervised release, there may not be a facility at all. Your question shifts from "Which prison are they in?" to "Who's supervising them now?"

1. Re-check the BOP Inmate Locator entry - confirm it shows “Released” or “Not in BOP Custody” and that no facility location is listed.
2. Treat it as a custody change, not a dead end - this status means they are no longer in BOP custody, even if you expected them to be at FCI Milan.
3. Follow the most likely path next - if you know of another agency involved, start there; if the situation points to supervision rather than incarceration, focus on confirming whether they’re on parole or supervised release and who is handling that supervision.

1. Search the BOP Inmate Locator (1982–present) - the locator is designed to find federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present.
2. Write down exactly what you see - especially whether it says “Released” or “Not in BOP Custody,” and whether a facility is listed.
3. Check back periodically - if you’re trying to confirm a change in status, repeat checks can help you spot updates as they appear.

Need help making sense of a locator result that doesn't match what you were told? Contact the BOP Central Office at (202) 307-3198. You can also write to: Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534.

• ✓ If the person is no longer in BOP custody, contact the agency you believe may have custody now (another correctional, criminal justice, or law-enforcement entity).
• ✓ If you think they may be on parole or supervised release, focus your inquiries on confirming that supervision status and who is supervising it.
• ✓ If you’re trying to verify what “Released” or “Not in BOP Custody” means in their specific situation, the BOP Central Office can be a starting point for website or locator questions: (202) 307-3198, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534.