Conduct a Free District of Columbia Inmate Search (Resource)

Initiate a free District of Columbia inmate search to reveal who is incarcerated; such a search can generally be performed at no cost through online databases. Whether a person is incarcerated in prison or jail, this article will show any interested party how to locate details on the inmate.

As long as researchers know where to look, they will be able to find crucial information on charges, sentencing, facilities, and more. Use the links and steps in this resource to seamlessly find inmates in Washington, D.C.

What’s the Difference Between Prison & Jail Inmates?

When an individual is arrested for committing a crime or violating a court order, they are booked in a jail. Jails are distinctly different from prison. Jails are where individuals are booked, fingerprinted, and held prior to their trial date.

There are instances where an inmate is released from jail prior to their trial date. Under the District of Columbia release prior to trial law, an individual may be released by posting the bond amount or by their own personal recognizance.¹

Jails are generally run by county or municipal governments. Typically a sheriff’s office or local law enforcement agency is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the jail. However, the District of Columbia does not have any counties or municipalities.

On the other hand, prisons are where individuals go when they have been convicted for committing a crime. The conviction can occur at a trial or they can plead guilty to the crime and be sent to prison as part of their sentence.

State prisons are run by the state department of corrections or another agency with similar function. They house inmates that commit state level criminal offenses. Federal prisons are operated by the Bureau of Prisons, and they house inmates that have been convicted of committing federal crimes.

Learn how to perform an inmate search in District of Columbia with the details below.

How To Perform a District of Columbia Inmate Search

An inmate search in District of Columbia must begin with the DC Department of Corrections.² Although the District of Columbia is not a state, it still maintains its own Department of Corrections. This agency controls the jail system, and is responsible for all bookings and transportation to the courthouse for arraignments, trials, and other court proceedings.

The District of Columbia Department of Corrections does not have an online search feature. Interested parties looking to find out if someone is in jail must contact the Records Office at 202.523.7060. It would be wise to have the inmate’s full name and date of birth at hand.

The Department of Corrections is open 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday – Friday.

District of Columbia Department of Corrections
3924 Minnesota Ave, North East, Second Fl.
Washington, D.C. 20019

Phone: 202.698.4932
Fax: 202.671.2043
Email: doc@dc.gov

There are two jails located in the District of Columbia – the Central Detention Facility and the Correctional Treatment Facility.³ The Central Detention Facility is composed of mostly male inmates, while the Correctional Treatment Facility houses mostly female inmates.

In addition to calling the Department of Corrections Records Office to inquire about inmates, researchers may also submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for jail records.⁴ Requests can be submitted online, by fax, by mail, or in person.

Online FOIA requests are submitted through the District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act Portal. Users must create a portal account, which will allow them to submit FOIA requests, check on its status, and message the FOIA office directly.

Interested parties may also submit a written FOIA request to the District of Columbia Department of Corrections FOIA Officer.⁶

The written request must adequately describe the jail records sought by including the name and date of birth of the inmate and any details surrounding the arrest. This includes the location of the arrest and the other subjects involved in the incident.

District of Columbia Department of Corrections FOIA Office
3924 Minnesota Avenue, North East, Second Fl
Washington, D.C. 20019

Phone: 202.671.2055
Fax: 202.671.1705
Email: segun.obebe@dc.gov

There aren’t many jails located in the District of Columbia. However, interested persons may use the free resource – Washington D.C. Arrests, Criminal Records, & Probation Search – to find out some helpful information.

How To Obtain Washington D.C. State Prisoner Details

Nearly all states have a Department of Corrections that provides online searches. Unfortunately, the District of Columbia is not a state, and they do not offer a method to search online inmate details.

As mentioned in the above section, an inmate search requires individuals to contact the DC Department of Corrections.² Anyone can learn prisoner details by calling the number provided or sending a FOIA request.⁴

Find more information concerning inmates in the District of Columbia by using the following links below:

• District of Columbia Department of Corrections Facility Locations³
• Attorney Visitation Information
• Friends and Family Visitation Information
• District of Columbia Department of Corrections Victim Services⁷

How To View Details of Individuals in Federal Prison

Researchers can also locate the whereabouts of individuals incarcerated in federal prisons. These inmates have been convicted of committing federal crimes and sentenced to prison.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons provides a convenient online way to find inmates.⁸ Interested persons can search by an inmate’s name, and further narrow the search by their race, age, and sex. This database provides information on inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present.

The results show an inmate’s name, register number, age, race, sex, facility location site, and release date. Release dates include the dates for those already released from prison, and the projected dates for inmates still incarcerated.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons informs researchers that release dates are subject to change as inmates may earn parole or early release.

There are several federal prison locations of various security levels. This federal prison map can give researchers a good idea of where they are located.⁹

Individuals looking for information about federal inmates incarcerated before 1982 may check the historical inmate records available at the National Archives.

If an inmate’s offense details are not found through the inmate locator, the researcher may use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) to find the record instead. The PACER provides insight into the federal charges that led to an individual’s incarceration. It is accessible to the public with a fee, and users can explore its extensive database upon registering an account.¹⁰

Whether someone is located in a federal or District of Columbia prison, this resource can help you in your search; run a District of Columbia inmate search today by following the guidance above.