What it Means When the BOP Locator Shows 'Released' or 'Not in BOP Custody' — and Why Release Dates Change

When the BOP Inmate Locator shows “Released” or “Not in BOP Custody” and there is no facility listed, it means the person is no longer in the Bureau of Prisons’ custody. That does not always mean they are “home” in the everyday sense. They may still be in the custody of another correctional or law enforcement agency, or they may be on parole or supervised release.

The BOP Inmate Locator is designed to locate federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present. So for most modern federal cases, it’s the right place to start when you’re trying to confirm someone’s status and whether the BOP currently has them.

If you’re watching a projected release date and it suddenly changes, the BOP has a specific warning about that. Because of the First Step Act, sentences are being reviewed and recalculated to address pending Federal Time Credit changes. As a result, the release date shown in the locator may not be up to date at any given moment, even if nothing “new” has happened on your side.

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• ✓ Use the required BOP register number format: #####-###
• ✓ Enter the numbers and hyphen exactly as shown, then run the search again

1. Check back periodically - The BOP specifically recommends checking the locator again over time to see whether anything has changed.
2. Confirm the register number format - The locator uses the format #####-###. Make sure the hyphen is in the right place.
3. Re-enter the register number carefully and search again - A small typo can send you down the wrong path, so it’s worth doing a clean re-check before you assume the status is final.

If the locator says “Released” or “Not in BOP Custody” with no facility listed, focus on what that status actually tells you: the person is not in BOP custody right now. They could still be held somewhere else (another correctional or law enforcement entity), or they could be on parole or supervised release. If what you need is something operational, like visiting procedures or mail rules for a particular institution, the BOP directs those questions to the specific facility’s web page in the Locations area of the BOP site.

If your question is about information found (or not found) on the BOP website, you can contact the BOP Central Office. The listed contact information is: Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534, phone (202) 307-3198. If you choose to email, expect it to be handled like written correspondence, which can take about 20 to 30 working days for a response.

For questions about BOP website information, the BOP Central Office can be reached by mail or phone at: Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534, (202) 307-3198. The BOP also notes that emails are processed the same way as written correspondence, and a response may take about 20 to 30 working days (even if some action happens sooner depending on the request).

Before you make plans based on what you see, verify two things: whether the person is currently in BOP custody, and whether there is a specific BOP facility listed. “Released” or “Not in BOP Custody” with no facility means they are not in BOP custody, even if they may still be under another agency or on supervised release. If you do have a facility name and you’re trying to follow that facility’s rules, use the facility’s web page in the Locations area for the most direct, location-specific procedures.