Thanks to the combination of FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) and the help of the Internet, it is much easier to check the custody status of an inmate or find out if someone is in prison. For starters, there are a number of online resources that are publicly accessible. By providing some details, such as county jail, state or federal prison, you can locate the person you want.
Two examples of free online resources that can help you find out if someone is in prison or give you an inmate’s custody status are the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and VINELink.
VINELink
VINELink is a free online service provided by VINE (Victim Daily Notification and Information), the National Victim Notification Network. Its main objective is to give crime victims access to details about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day. Although this online facility is not available in all US states, at the time of writing, 33 states provide access to VINELink nationwide, while 4 US states have the service in just some of its counties. Only South Dakota and Kansas do not provide the service. In most cases, many of the sheriff’s departments or offices will provide a link to the VINE service on their own websites.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
Do you need access to San Bernardino inmate information? The Federal Bureau of Prisons provides a central, online search database of all federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present. This tool allows you to search inmates by their ID number, name, race, age, and gender. In addition to this, the website contains more general and historical information on inmates, such as a weekly population report.
Public access to criminal records
What if you can’t find out if someone is in prison, but you suspect they may have served a sentence? This is where access to criminal records comes in handy. Since the early days, various levels of the US government have kept and maintained records of their citizens, including criminal records. Searching online (or offline) for these details by case number can easily be done by state, name, or county. Searches of this nature are especially important when you need to run a background check on someone. For example, you may need to conduct a check on a person, primarily if you are entrusting him or her with family members, vulnerable people, or perhaps your business. Typically, this information can be obtained through the courts. Alternatively, there are many third-party companies, such as Intelius, that provide background reports on details of sex offenders and offenders. In either case, a fee would be paid to obtain this information.
As illustrated, there are many sources available to anyone who wants to find out if someone is in prison, in custody, or has served time in the past. This can be a valuable resource for individuals or employers for any reason.