How to Look Up Someone Incarcerated at Sampson Correctional Institution
Need to confirm whether someone is at Sampson Correctional Institution? Start with North Carolina's Offender Public Information Search. It's the fastest way to verify their location and get their offender (OPUS) number, which you'll need for addressing mail.
The NC Department of Adult Correction's Offender Public Information Search (often called the Offender Locator) is the official public database for finding someone's current placement in the North Carolina state system. You can search by name or offender number to pull up matching records. This tool covers state prison offenders, probationers, and parolees. It does not include county jail information. If someone is in state prison custody, the placement shown in the results will tell you whether they're currently housed at Sampson Correctional Institution. The database also includes historical records going back to 1972, which can help if you're looking at older cases or trying to confirm identifying details.
- Open the NC DAC Offender Public Information Search - This is the statewide offender lookup tool for North Carolina.
- Search by name or offender number - If you do not have the offender number yet, start with the person’s name. If you do have the number, use it for a cleaner match.
- Review the search results carefully - Look for the entry that matches the person you are trying to find.
- Find the offender (OPUS) number in the record - Once you open the correct result, note the OPUS/offender number. You will use it to identify the person in other processes, including how you address mail.
Note: If the person does not show up in the Offender Public Information Search, they may be in a county jail, which is not included in this state database.
Once you find the right record, check the placement information. If it lists Sampson Correctional Institution, that confirms the person is currently housed there. I recommend writing down the placement details and the offender (OPUS) number. You'll need these when addressing mail or contacting the prison about visits.
- ✓ Offender’s name
- ✓ OPUS/offender number
- ✓ Full prison name (do not abbreviate)
- ✓ P.O. Box 247
- ✓ Phoenix, MD 21131
Planning to visit someone at Sampson (or any NCDAC facility)? You'll need to schedule it first. Visits are by appointment only, so call or email the prison to set one up. Before you make the trip, call the prison the day before your scheduled visit to confirm visitation status. That quick check can save you a long drive if something changes.
Can't find the person in the NC DAC Offender Public Information Search? The most common reason is that they're not in state prison custody. This database doesn't include county jail inmates. If that's the case, shift your search to the county level. Contact the relevant county jail or local authorities to ask how you can check their custody records.
Find an Inmate at Sampson County Detention
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