Understanding the Offender PID on KOOL — What the Person ID Is and Why It Helps

On KOOL, the Offender PID (Person ID) is a number that uniquely identifies an offender in the system. You may also see it called an Offender ID. When you have this number, you don't need to rely on names alone to find the right record.

The PID is a number up to 7 digits. That simplicity is what makes it so useful: one unique identifier you can type in directly, instead of juggling different spellings or name variations.

Searching by name alone can be hit-or-miss. Maybe you're unsure about the spelling, a middle name, or how the name was entered in the system. KOOL's own hint is to enter as little information as needed to get a match. A PID fits that approach perfectly. It narrows the search to one specific person, without extra fields that might accidentally block your results.

1. Enter the Offender PID (Person ID) - Type the PID (up to 7 digits) into the PID/Person ID field if you have it.
2. Keep other fields minimal - KOOL advises entering as little information as needed to get a match, so avoid filling in extra name fields unless you have to.
3. Run the search and confirm the result - Using the PID is designed to uniquely identify the offender within the system, which helps you land on the right record faster.

If you don't have a PID, start with the smallest amount of information you can. KOOL's guidance is to enter as little offender information as needed to get a match, so try a simple search first (just a last name, for example). If nothing comes back, KOOL instructs you to check your spelling, click the RESET DATA button, and redo the search.

• ✓ Try entering as little information as needed to get a match (start simple).
• ✓ Check your spelling if no results come back.
• ✓ Click the RESET DATA button.
• ✓ Redo your search.