Gather the inmate’s full legal name
Find the inmate’s date of birth, if available
Identify the state, county, or federal facility where they may be held
Use the official online inmate locator for the relevant jail, prison, or correctional system
Search the state department of corrections website for state prison inmates
Search the county sheriff or jail website for county jail inmates
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator for federal inmates
Contact the facility directly by phone if no online search is available
Check court records for recent custody or transfer information
Contact the arresting agency or local law enforcement for current holding information
Verify spelling variations of the inmate’s name
Check for aliases or maiden names
Search multiple facilities if the inmate may have been transferred
Use booking or case number if available
Confirm the search results with the facility before relying on them