If you are searching for someone who is in jail, and you want to find them for free, you have a few options. First, it will depend on where the person is incarcerated. If you are searching for someone who has been placed in a county jail, VINE is going to be your best resource to find them. If you are searching for someone who has been put in federal prison, you will need to go to the Bureau of Federal Prisons.
Using VINE To Find Someone In Jail For Free
VINE is the acronym for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It is a notification network that allows you to seek information about criminal offenders. By using it, you tap into criminal records that span 48 states and more than 2900 agencies. One of the benefits of using the database is that it gives you up to date information regarding incarcerations.
When you use the system, it produces the following information:
– Inmate ID
– Date of birth
– Race
– Gender
– Custody status
– Location
– Scheduled release date
You’ll need to register for VINE before you can use it. To receive notifications regarding the individual you are inquiring about, you will need to have a phone or email address. Unfortunately, the system is not equipped to handle federal prisons, you will only find information for state and local institutions.
Locating Federal Prisoners For Free
One of the best ways to find someone in federal prison is by going to the Bureau of Federal Prisons website, which is located at www.bop.gov. This is a free website that allows you to search for prisoners by name or inmate number. Begin by using the inmate locator option. After you enter in their required information, you will receive a list of results that give the following information:
– Inmate name
– ID number
– Age
– Sex
– Release date
– Prison location
By clicking on “prison location,” you will be taken to the website for that prison. This will allow you to locate details regarding the person who you are searching for.
Daily Updates And Other Options
The VINE website and the BOP website are constantly updating their database every day. This allows you to stay abreast of current information for free. However, if you already know the facility where the person you are looking for is located, it may be easier to just go to the internet and search for that facility. If it is a county jail, you would enter “the county’s name” and the keyword “jail” to begin your search.
Unfortunately, not all databases are the same for different counties and cities. Some smaller counties do not have the budget to list information regarding each offender. In these type of cases, you should be able to find contact information on the website so that you can call the facility.
Jim Treebold is a North Carolina based writer. He lives by the mantra of “Learn 1 new thing each day”! Jim loves to write, read, pedal around on his electric bike and dream of big things. Drop him a line if you like his writing, he loves hearing from his readers!