Understanding Release Dates and Locator Status for Someone at RRM Philadelphia
When you're checking on someone connected to RRM Philadelphia and the BOP inmate locator doesn't match what you've been told, it's frustrating. Here's how the locator actually works, why dates shift, and what to do when the status doesn't make sense.
The BOP Inmate Locator is designed to show the whereabouts of federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present. That coverage includes people who have been at RRM Philadelphia, so it’s a useful starting point when you’re trying to confirm where someone is in the federal system - or whether they’re still in it.
See a release date that doesn't seem right? The locator may just be behind. Under the First Step Act, sentences are being reviewed and recalculated for pending Federal Time Credit changes - and the BOP acknowledges this can make locator dates outdated. You might see a date that changes later, or a change might happen before it shows up online. Check back periodically for updates.
When the locator shows
- Re-check the locator periodically - release dates can change during First Step Act reviews and Federal Time Credit updates, so what you see today may not be the final number.
- Use the BOP’s official “how-to” pages for next actions - the BOP site publishes guidance on how to call, e-mail, send mail, send a package, send money, visit, and find an inmate.
- Match your next step to your goal - if you’re trying to verify contact options, use the communications guidance; if you’re trying to confirm where someone is housed, start with “Find an Inmate.”
- Contact the location listed in the locator when a facility appears - use the official BOP-provided contact methods for that location to ask about status and next steps.
- Use the BOP Central Office for questions about BOP website information (or missing information) - you can call or send written correspondence to: Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534. Phone: (202) 307-3198.
- Plan for a wait on replies - the Bureau processes emails the same way it processes written correspondence, and a response may take about 20–30 working days.
Note: Locator release dates can lag behind while First Step Act reviews and Federal Time Credit changes are processed. If you reach out for confirmation, give it time - Central Office responses typically take 20–30 working days.
Checklist Ready Info
- ✓ Full legal name (spell it exactly as used in court paperwork)
- ✓ BOP register number (if you have it)
- ✓ Approximate date of birth (or at least the birth year)
- ✓ Any recent facility/location information you’ve been given (even if it might be outdated)
- ✓ A short written log of what you checked and when (locator results, who you called, dates/times, and what you were told)
Find an Inmate at RRM Philadelphia
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
