- 1). Identify the court from which an offender was convicted. There are three levels of courts. Prosecutions occur in municipal, state (oftentimes called county or superior courts) and federal court. Obtain a copy of the sentencing order from the clerk of the appropriate court.
- 2). Telephone the "booking" office of the city or county jail if a defendant's conviction arises from a municipal court. The booking office will confirm whether or not the offender is serving a sentence in that facility.
- 3). Contact the county jail initially if a defendant was convicted in a state, county or superior court. You will also need to make contact with the state department of corrections (which can be accessed online). A defendant in a state case can serve a sentence either in a state facility or in the county jail, depending on the length of the sentence.
- 4). Utilize the U.S. Bureau of Prison (BOP) "Inmate Locator," available on the BOP's website, for a person convicted in federal court. You can readily locate an inmate through this online system.
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