- 1). Call or email family and/or friends to identify the name of the prison in which the inmate is being held. Ask for contact information so you can call the prison directly to verify their presence at that location.
- 2). Follow the incarceration trail by contacting the appropriate court system responsible for sentencing the man or woman you're seeking. Provide critical information to refine the search: social security number, prisoner ID number and/or date of birth.
- 3). Visit the Bureau of Prisons website to conduct a cyberspace search. Gather information about any of the facilities under the BOP umbrella, including security levels, visiting hours, judicial district oversight and contact information needed to query staff. This site also offers information about prisoners housed in residential re-entry centers, where inmates are sent to transition from confinement to civilian life.
- 4). Write a letter to prison officials once you believe you've located one or more facilities that likely house the inmate you seek. Address your information request to the warden. Send it via snail or email. Include your contact information so officials can reach you to verify that the inmate is incarcerated at their facility. Cover bases by communicating with several prisons in the same geographic area if you've narrowed the search to the state but not the exact facility.
- 5). Use the Bureau of Prisons website to track down the inmate. Make certain you know the person's full legal name, and be prepared to offer other information to speed up the process (see Step 2). Remember that inmates are not housed under nicknames or aliases. Expect the search to be longer and harder if you don't have the prisoner's real name.
- 6). If all other methods fail, find and hire a private detective You will probably get accurate information faster if you hire a professional with access to restricted sites. As always, the more specific information you have about the person you're seeking, the more efficient your search will be.
Source...