How to Contact an Inmate at Facility

First things first: confirm the inmate's current location. People in federal custody get moved, and the facility you last heard about may not be where they are now. Use the BOP Inmate Locator to verify the current facility before you plan a visit or send anything through a facility-specific process.

You can't just show up for an in-person visit. The inmate has to add you to their approved visiting list, and the Bureau of Prisons must clear you before you're allowed in.

Planning to use TRULINCS electronic messaging? Know the limits upfront. Both the inmate and the outside contact have to consent to monitoring before using TRULINCS. Messages are text-only (no attachments), and each one is capped at 13,000 characters, roughly two pages of text.

Steps to Follow

• ✓ Use the BOP Inmate Locator to confirm the inmate’s current facility before you plan contact.
• ✓ If you want to visit in person, make sure you are on the inmate’s approved visiting list and cleared by the Bureau of Prisons.
• ✓ Call the facility ahead of time to confirm your planned visit will be permitted.

• ✓ Confirm that both you and the inmate have consented to monitoring before using TRULINCS.
• ✓ Write messages as text only. Attachments are not permitted.
• ✓ Keep each message within the 13,000-character limit (about two pages of text).

Any time you're making plans, verify the inmate's current facility first using the BOP Inmate Locator. A transfer changes everything: visiting approval, scheduling, and messaging access can all be affected.

• ✓ Confirm you are currently approved on the inmate’s visiting list and cleared by the Bureau of Prisons.
• ✓ Confirm the date and time you plan to visit will be permitted.

• ✓ Confirm both sides have consented to monitoring for TRULINCS.
• ✓ Confirm you can only send text (no attachments).
• ✓ Confirm the 13,000-character message limit.